Belgian side Eupen’s six-match losing streak came to an end on Saturday with American goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina shining in a shutout victory over Sporting Charleroi.
Slonina made four saves to preserve his first clean sheet as a member of the top-division side as Eupen defeated Sporting Charleroi 2-0. The win moved Eupen up to 10th place in the Pro League standings as they captured their first victory since August 26.
Jan Kral opened the scoring for Eupen in the 45th minute, heading home Isaac Christie-Davies’ cross before halftime. Eupen would double its lead in the 54th minute as Kevin Mohwald finished off Gary Magnee’s assist for a 2-0 lead that it wouldn’t relinquish.
It marked the first goals of the season for both Kral and Mohwald while Slonina also pulled his weight in the result.
Nikola Stulic and Mehdi Boukamir were both denied by the Chelsea loanee in the first half before Slonina also helped Eupen hang onto its lead. A diving save by Slonina on Youssouph Badji paired with some later help from his left post kept Eupen in front for remainder of the match.
Slonina, 19, has made 10 starts since arriving on a season-loan loan from Chelsea.
Up next for Slonina and Eupen is a home clash with Oostende in the Belgian Cup on October 31.
Slonina, Brady, and Odunze are the future of GK for the US
Probably the first choice for the Olympic team. Him.amd Brady are the future along with Odunze.
IV,
“it is hard to get a good read on him until he plays behind a decent team and defense.”
No shit
Chelsea thought enough of him to spend some money. He’s obviously talented but at 19, has 43 total games with the Fire, 0 with Chelsea and 10 with Eupen. So far he looks like he’s doing okay for a 19 year old keeper but that ‘s it. He’s not some phenom like Donnaruma who was Milan’s starter at age 18.
“is a good example where it’s a nightly task and if you’re inconsistent that’s a problem.”
Yeah? This is true for every keeper, everywhere ,all the time.
What does Guzan have to do with this? The Polar Bear was consistently good for a while until he wasn’t.
Brad was 31 in 2015 and already on the downside of his career after having a stellar run in England with Aston Villa. He was named their player of the year for the 2012- 13 season for basically almost single handedly saving them from relegation. But he stayed too long and was shell shocked and ruined by that swiss cheese shooting gallery that was the Villa defense. He went from being very good to being inconsistent. He’s never been the same since.
A better cautionary tale for Slonina would be Zach.
it is hard to get a good read on him until he plays behind a decent team and defense. in belgium he has a GAA >2 and this is his first shutout. chicago was also poor and he was GAA ~ 1.5. he has promise and can be an incredible shot stopper but guzan (in the nets for the depressing GC 15, the mexico playoff loss, the argentina semi loss, the first 2 qualifiers in the final round of 2018 qualifying we lost) is a good example where it’s a nightly task and if you’re inconsistent that’s a problem.