By FRANCO PANIZO
It might have come in a losing effort, but Juan Agudelo has his first European goal.
Five days after setting up a game-tying equalizer vs. Ajax, Agudelo opened his European scoring account by netting FC Utrecht’s lone goal in a 2-1 defeat to PEC Zwolle on Thursday. Agudelo scored the game’s opener in the 24th minute, receiving a pass from the left before turning and rifling a shot into the top of goal.
Unfortunately for Agudelo and Utrecht, they would go down to 10 men in the second half and that paved the way for PEC Zwolle to not only find an equalizer but a winner as well. The visitors scored twice in a span of four minutes in the second half to leave a frustrated Utrecht side winless in its last six Eredivisie games.
The loss is surely a bitter pill to swallow, but what is positive for Agudelo is that he continues to make an impact while settling in at Utrecht. The goal, and his overall 90-minute performance, should help him in his attempt to make it onto the U.S. Men’s National Team’s roster for this summer’s World Cup.
Here is Agudelo’s goal (and his celebration to the tune ‘La Cucaracha’):
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What do you think of the goal? Expecting Agudelo to continue to make an impact with Utrecht? Do you see him as having a real chance to make the U.S.’s World Cup roster?
Share your thoughts below.