Photo by Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports
By RYAN TOLMICH
Aron Johannsson made his long-awaited return Monday by finding the back of the net.
In the U.S. Men’s National Team’s forward first action since the World Cup, Johannsson scored a penalty kick for the AZ Alkmaar reserve team, who fell to FC Utrecht, 2-1. The 23-year-old forward, who was substituted at halftime for fitness reasons, converted from the penalty spot after AZ striker Raymond Gyasi was taken down in the box.
Monday’s return represented Johannsson’s first game action since undergoing surgery on an injured groin in August. In addition, Johannsson had been previously suffering from an ankle injury as well as an injury-affected World Cup.
The American forward has missed the club’s first nine games, after which AZ sits ninth in the Eredivisie.
Johannsson has scored 20 goals in 37 games since joining the club from Denmark’s AGF in 2010.
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What are you expecting from Johannsson this season? Where exactly do you see Johannsson fitting amongst the USMNT’s current batch of forwards?
Share your thoughts below.
A Penalty Kick? In a Reserve Match? He’s Baaaaack, baby! Whooo!
A pk?
I guess when your only other “good” striker can’t make the bench for Sunderland scoring a pk in a reserve game it’s motive for celebration.
Obviously Sunderland doesnt see what only JK can.
No. Sunderland cant see what JK, ALkmaar and everyone else sees. Sunderland have no mid and Jozy needs service he is not a creator.
Get a hobby Bell! All this pent up hatred for some dude you’ve never met can’t be good for your health!
Pepito is that you?
lol, you’re obsessed.
Nice to see him back in action and scoring. Think he will play the Dempsey position in the hole under Jozy in 2018.
Hopeful comment placing undue weight on single match! Feverish praise of his technical skills! Anguished hand-wringing over state of MNT striker pool! Nasty criticism of reliance on “foreigners”! Time-tested criticism of Jozy Altidore!!
Man this is a great start for the “Iceman”! His hold up play and first touch are exactly what Jürgen’s system call for. With the wash out of the former up and coming guys like Stefan Jerome, Charles Renken and all the other guys we needed to pan out (Agudelo-work permit issues) we desperately need some good news. Maybe we can find another German American or get one of England’s abundance of youth prospects to switch cause you better believe Lazy Out-the-door won’t be burning it up anytime soon.
GOD HELP US!
That’s an A+ effort. Let’s do it again next week with Terrence Boyd!
+1 Well done, both of you.
Agreed—though I did hope for a dose of arguing over where MLS ranks versus European first, second, and third tier leagues. That debate is like Sriracha sauce: goes well with anything.
Don’t forget pro/rel. It’s the wasabi.
Pro/rel is indeed a perennial favorite, but I think it may not be sufficiently linked to the rest of the “American Abroad” themes. It’s in a different category. “MLS vs. Europe” seems to fit in both categories, though.
This is what I was thinking too. But we can think of pro/rel as the dessert—it may not fit the dinner menu, but it’s dessert so that’s okay. (And since I originally read the commenter’s name as “ZeusBrownie,” it’s a fitting analogy.)
Good to see the Ice Man back in game action. Hoping we get to see him in camp for the Ireland game, even if it’s just to get back to the team if he isn’t ready to contribute.