Toulouse ended its Ligue 1 season on a winning note with Mark McKenzie concluding his first season in France.
McKenzie started and logged 90 minutes in Toulouse’s 3-2 road win over Saint-Etienne, earning SBI Americans Abroad Player of the Week honors. The U.S. men’s national team defender concluded his first season with Toulouse by making 33 appearances across all competitions.
McKenzie was a defensive rock against Saint-Etienne, winning four duels, making three tackles, and 10 clearances. He was the better of all three Toulouse defenders in the match, continuing what has been a solid first campaign in France’s top-flight.
Toulouse’s win guaranteed them a 10th place finish in Ligue 1.
McKenzie will aim to carry his club form over to international level when the USMNT resumes play this June against Turkey and Switzerland. The former Philadelphia Union homegrown is expected to be one of the defensive options in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad.
Here is a closer look at the top Americans Abroad performers from the past week:
Antonee Robinson
Antonee Robinson returned to the Fulham starting lineup on Sunday and delivered one of his better performances in recent time.
Robinson won 11 duels in Fulham’s 3-2 win over Brentford. After missing the Cottagers’ loss to Everton earlier in the month, the USMNT left back reminded everyone what he is capable of.
Chris Richards
Chris Richards left Wembley as one of Crystal Palace’s best performers.
Richards logged a strong 90 minutes as the Eagles defeated Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup Final. The result marked Crystal Palace’s first trophy lift in club history and guaranteed their first trip to the UEFA Europa League.
Catarina Macario
Chelsea won the Women’s FA Cup on Sunday with Catarina Macario becoming the latest American to score at Wembley.
Macario came off the bench to score once in Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over Manchester United, capping off the Blues’ domestic treble.
The USWNT star concluded her season with 10 goals in all competitions.
Cameron Carter-Vickers
Celtic closed out its league schedule on Saturday, fighting back to earn a home draw against St. Mirren.
Cameron Carter-Vickers logged a strong 90 minutes in the Hoops’ 1-1 draw at Celtic Park. Carter-Vickers won seven duels, made seven clearances, and two interceptions in the result.
The USMNT defender will aim to cap a domestic treble next weekend against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final.
What did you think of this week’s selections? Were there any players that you thought we left out?
Share your thoughts below.
That’s a lot of defenders on the national team having very good seasons. Then there are newer European players like Tolkin along with Dest, Scally, Ledezma, Trusty, etc., our depth is looking really good right now. We can go 2 deep with European players who have started a lot of games.
“our depth is looking really good right now.”
Dest and Scally are proven in a USMNT shirt.
Most of the rest, however good a season they are having , have yet to prove they can translate their good form to the USMNT.
I’m not saying they won’t.
I am saying depth is NOT depth until it proves itself.
McKenzie is looking really good right now. But he has historically been mediocre at best, a disaster at worst for the USMNT. His next USMNT game is one where he needs to earn that trust, prove that he can bring his french form to America. Otherwise, we’re stuck with Gonzo 2.0