Nicholas Gioacchini didn’t need long to make an impact for his new team, and he’s far from the only American to be able to say that after the weekend’s Americans Abroad results.
Gioacchini came off the bench and helped set up the equalizing goal in Montpellier’s 1-1 draw with Troyes. The U.S. men’s national team forward had only been on the field for three minutes before delivering the decisive pass that Teji Savanier turned into the equalizer.
⚽️ La visita no se amilana tras la expulsión y Teji Savanier le da el empate@estac_officiel 1-1 @MontpellierHSC ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/RCYKUrAiar
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) September 19, 2021
Gianluca Busio also recorded his first assist for Venezia, though it wound up being in a losing effort. The teenage midfielder has settled into a regular starting role for the newly-promoted club and on Sunday it was his well-struck free kick from long range that was headed home by Pietro Ceccaroni.
Gianluca Busio ➡️ Pietro Ceccaroni 💥 pic.twitter.com/g82Q1wGNep
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 19, 2021
There weren’t justs assists delivered by the Americans Abroad contingent. Haji Wright scored his fourth goal in three matches, but the tally couldn’t keep his Antalyaspor from suffering a 3-2 loss to Besiktas. Also, Ian Harkes delivered the winning goal for Dundee United over Dundee FC, and Johan Gomez scored his first goal for German third-division side Zwickau.
Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Americans Abroad action:
England
PREMIER LEAGUE
Christian Pulisic was OUT (Ankle Injury) for Chelsea’s 3-0 win vs. Tottenham on Sunday.
Zack Steffen was OUT (COVID-19) for Manchester City’s 0-0 draw vs. Southampton on Saturday.
Josh Sargent started and played 70 minutes in Norwich City’s 3-1 loss to Watford on Saturday.
LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
Antonee Robinson started and played 90 minutes in Fulham’w 2-1 loss to Reading on Saturday.
Tim Ream started and played 90 minutes for Fulham.
Duane Holmes came off the bench and played 32 minutes in Huddersfield’s 2-0 loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Ethan Horvath dressed, but did not play for Nottingham Forest.
Matthew Olosunde was OUT (Achilles injury) for Preston North End’s 1-1 draw with West Brom on Saturday.
LEAGUE ONE
Lynden Gooch started and played 90 minutes in Sunderland’s 2-2 draw with Fleetwood on Saturday.
Germany
BUNDESLIGA
John Brooks dressed but did not play in Wolfsburg’s 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.
Timmy Chandler dressed, but did not play for Eintracht Frankfurt.
Julian Green dressed but did not play in Greuther Furth’s 1-1 draw with Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
Timothy Tillman dressed, but did not play for Greuther Furth.
Tyler Adams came off the bench and played 5 minutes in RB Leipzig’s 1-1 draw with FC Cologne on Saturday.
Gio Reyna was OUT (hamstring injury) for Borussia Dortmund’s 4-2 win vs. Union Berlin on Sunday.
Pellegrino Matarazzo and Stuttgart suffered a 3-1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.
Chris Richards started and played 90 minutes in Hoffenheim’s 0-0 draw with Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday.
Joe Scally started and played 90 minutes in Borussia Moenchengladbach’s 1-0 loss to Augsburg on Saturday.
3. LIGA
Bryang Kayo came off the bench and played 15 minutes in Viktoria Berlin’s 3-0 loss to Freiburg 2 on Sunday.
Terrence Boyd did not dress for Hallescher 2-1 loss to Mannheim on Saturday.
Johan Gomez started, played 64 minutes and scored a GOAL in FC Zwickau’s 2-0 win vs. 1860 Munich on Saturday.
Spain
LA LIGA
Sergino Dest and Barcelona host Granada on Monday.
Yunus Musah came off the bench and played 75 minutes in Valencia’s 2-1 loss to Real Madrid on Sunday.
Matt Miazga started and played 90 minutes in Alaves’s 2-0 loss to Osasuna on Saturday.
Matthew Hoppe came off the bench and played 30 minutes in Mallorca’s 0-0 draw with Villarreal on Saturday.
SEGUNDA DIVISION
Shaq Moore came off the bench and played 45 minutes in Tenerife’s 2-1 loss to Mirandes on Sunday.
Italy
Serie A
Weston McKennie dressed but did not play in Juventus’ 1-1 draw with AC Milan on Sunday.
Gianluca Busio started, played 75 minutes, registered an ASSIST and drew a YELLOW CARD in Venezia’s 2-1 loss to Spezia on Sunday.
Tanner Tessman dressed but did not play for Venezia.
Bryan Reynolds did not dress for AS Roma’s 3-2 loss to Verona on Sunday.
Serie B
Andrija Novakovich dressed, but did not play in Frosinone’s 2-0 win vs. Como on Friday.
France
LIGUE 1
Tim Weah came off the bench and played 28 minutes in Lille’s 1-0 loss to Lens on Saturday.
Konrad De La Fuente started and played 58 minutes in Marseille’s 2-0 win vs. Rennes on Sunday.
Nicholas Gioacchini came off the bench, played 6 minutes, and recorded the game-tying ASSIST in Montpellier’s 1-1 draw with Troyes on Sunday.
Erik Palmer-Brown did not dress for Troyes.
Portugal
PRIMEIRA LIGA
Reggie Cannon and Boavista visit Benfica on Monday.
Alex Mendez dressed, but did not play in Vizela’s 1-1 draw with Ferreira on Sunday.
LIGA PORTUGAL 2
Sebastian Soto did not dress in FC Porto B’s 4-2 loss to Chaves on Sunday.
C.J. Dos Santos dressed but did not play in Benfica B’s 2-2 draw with SC Farense on Sunday.
Netherlands
Luca De La Torre started and played 85 minutes in Heracles’ 3-2 win vs. AZ Alkmaar on Sunday.
Turkey
DeAndre Yedlin started and played 72 minutes in Galatasaray’s 1-0 loss to Alanyaspor on Sunday.
Tyler Boyd started, played 90 minutes, registered an ASSIST and drew a yellow card in Rizespor’s 3-1 loss to Adana Demirspor on Saturday.
Haji Wright scored a GOAL in Antalyaspor’s 3-2 loss to Besiktas on Saturday.
Austria
ADMIRAL Bundesliga
Brenden Aaronson started, played 90 minutes and scored a goal in Red Bull Salzburg’s 2-0 win vs. Rapid Vienna on Sunday.
2. Liga
Ulysses Llanez came off the bench and played 16 minutes in SKN St. Polten’s 1-0 loss to Lafritz on Friday.
Belgium
Mark McKenzie started and played 90 minutes in Genk’s 2-1 win vs. St. Truiden o Sunday.
Chris Durkin started and played 84 minutes for Sint-Truiden.
Sam Vines was OUT (injured) for Royal Antwerp’s 2-1 win vs. Seraing on Sunday.
Owen Otasowie dressed, but did not play in Club Brugge’s 1-0 win vs. Charleroi on Saturday.
Switzerland
SWISS SUPER LEAGUE
Jordan Pefok and Young Boys didn’t play this weekend.
Denmark
Superliagen
Christian Cappis and Brondby visit Sonderjyske on Sunday.
Emmanuel Sabbi started and played 84 minutes in Odense’s 2-0 loss to Aalborg on Friday.
Jonathan Amon is OUT (knee injury) for Nordsjaelland’s 3-2 loss to Randers on Sunday.
Scotland
PREMIERSHIP
Cameron Carter-Vickers started and played 90 minutes in Celtic’s 1-0 loss to Livingston on Sunday.
Christian Ramirez started and played 90 minutes in Aberdeen’s 1-0 loss to St. Johnston on Saturday.
Ian Harkes started, played 90 minutes and scored the game-winning GOAL in Dundee United’s 1-0 win vs. Dundee FC on Sunday.
Sweden
Allsvenskan
Romain Gall did not dress for Malmo’s 1-1 draw with Djurgarden on Saturday.
Nebiyou Perry is OUT (injured) for Ostersunds’ 3-1 win vs. Elfsborg on Sunday.
Mexico
Liga MX
Sebastian Saucedo was OUT (red card) for Pumas’ 2-2 draw with Mazatlan FC on Saturday.
Fernando Arce did not dress for Necaxa’s 3-0 loss host Atlas on Friday.
Argentina
Liga Profesional
Joel Sonora and Banfield visit Defense y Justicia on Monday.
Alan Sonora started, played 90 minutes and scored the game-winning GOAL in Independiente’s 1-0 win Huracan on Sunday.
Brazil
Serie A
Johnny Cardoso came off the bench and played one minute in Internacional’s 1-0 win vs. Fortaleza on Sunday.
All things considered, a positive weekend. At striker, Weah and Hoppe getting on the field, Sargent getting a start, and De La Fuente and Gioachinni making the case for more playing time. At midfield, Busio put in a good shift and Musah, despite a defensive lapse, acquitted himself well in an injury replacement. At defense, a full 90 for Richards and McKenzie. The downer continues to be McKennie digging himself into a hole, as we know, and was riding the bench at Juventus this weekend, and Brooks also a DNP. It may be time for some competition on the depth chart.
Would not be surprised if McKennie & Brooks were both being administratively punished (Sat) by their clubs for their issues (Brooks RC in Champions League & Mckennie his COVID dismissal – 2nd offence).
Getting a little worried with the continued injuries. Pulisic, Reyna, Vines are all still sidelined from the last WCQ window. Dest hasn’t seen many minutes since the last window. With the October window fast approaching these absences are still troubling.
Dest was injured so they were taking it slow. Played 90 minutes on Monday and had his best game of the year.
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Not sure they’d “punish” Wes Saturday after starting him the week before and giving him 30 mins in CL. Juventus just has better players if everyone is healthy. Allegri was trying to move him in August so the discipline problem probably didn’t help but likely didn’t have much effect on his PT at Juventus.
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Tuchel said Pulisic was training on his own and should be back to team training this week. Not sure if he’ll be far enough to play though.
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Vines broke his collarbone which according to WebMd is six to eight weeks recovery so October is almost certainly out, maybe even November.
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Not finding much on Reyna but everything that is being said is he’s out for October
@Jonnyrazor – A broken collarbone is a debilitating injury. Slightest movement is painful…and unless pins were installed you need to wait for fully healed to insure you don’t re-break it. Since shoulder challenges are a prerequisite I’d hazard he’ll be sidelined for a minimum of 8 weeks.
Good to know McKennie has remained a part of the Juve rotation. While I’d prefer him playing every week, his 2nd Covid violation has put him as a risky bet for many clubs as a purchase.
A healthy, but Rusty, Pulisic should still make the October qualifiers. If need be he can be the super-sub for 20-30 minutes in the window.
Thankfully most of our other key (or potentially key) players are starting to see consistent minutes…Aaronson, Konrad, Weah, Pepi, Richards, Scully, Robinson, Robinson, Adams, etc…
Given Juventus’ poor start, we may see a coaching change sooner rather than later. Unsure how that will impact McKennie, but it seems Pirlo held him in higher esteem before the self-inflicted Covid actions. While McKennie still tops the depth chart, his decline may be an opening for Busio and Musah. We’ll see if Musah has earned playing time for Valencia next weekend.
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Dest looks fully recovered and played pretty well Monday, although Barcelona continues to be a shell of their former self. Would GB be bold enough to move him to midfield in a pinch in October? It is all about making the best of opportunities presented to you. Perhaps a Scally could get his debut callup to fill in the back, as other candidates are lacking first team minutes.
Quite a few goals and assists from the lads abroad this weekend considering that guys like McKennie, Pefok, Dest, Pulisic and Reyna weren’t playing.
Norwich City are really in trouble and their manager saying the Watford match was the first match that mattered is ridiculous , as if they have one loss. That team won’t score many goals at this rate.
Plus they keep on playing Sargent as a winger. Ugh.
“they keep on playing Sargent as a winger” That’s why he’s not scoring?
Werder kept playing him as a defensive center forward and his team was generally terrible. That’s why he didn’t score there?
USMNT kept playing him as a winger and his team was generally terrible. That’s why he didn’t score there?
The excuses are all valid but at some point they become just that, excuses, excuses and more excuses.
Josh needs to score more or he will be the new Conor Casey