Tanner Tessmann has made it back-to-back goalscoring appearances for French club Lyon.
Tessmann scored his first European goal in Thursday’s 1-0 UEFA Europa League win over FC Utrecht. The U.S. men’s national team midfielder came off the bench and played the hero for Paulo Fonseca’s squad.
With both teams fighting for a breakthrough goal, Tessmann came up with the goods only 10 minutes after entering the match. Rachid Ghezzal’s lay-off pass allowed Tessmann to unleash a powerful right-footed strike into the top-left corner.
It marked back-to-back appearances with a goal for Tessmann, who now has three all-time tallies for Lyon.
Lyon would hang on for its first victory in league phase play and their fifth shutout win in all competitions this season.
The 24-year-old Tessmann is picking up form at the right time for Lyon, which could also lead to a potential USMNT call-up in October.
Mauricio Pochettino’s squad will face Ecuador and Australia in a pair of home friendlies. The matches are the USMNT’s penultimate of their 2025 schedule.
Up next for third-place Lyon is a trip to fifth-place Lille in Ligue 1 play on Sunday.
James Sands can’t even do that on his Xbox. Sands has as many goals in his career as Tessmann has this week.
Why the Sands hate out of left field though?
RonnieT: people were suggesting Sands should play next to Tyler. This would essentially be closing off the middle of the field to our buildout as both are defenders who limited passing ability.
They aren’t really competitors, though. Sands, if he gets called, will be a 5/6 hybrid destroyer because that’s what he’s played his whole career and that’s exactly what the US needs because other than Tyler Adams we haven’t found one Poch seems really sold on yet. Sands’ main competition in the US pool is probably Berhalter or Zawadski, if Zawadski can ever be healthy at the right moment to accept a US callup.
Tessmann’s competing for the shuttler spot. He’s got a huge chunk of what Poch looks for – his range of passing is exceptional and he can get on the ball and drive…regardless, the guy can progress the ball as well as anybody in the pool, and the fact that he’s now demonstrating confidence in that cannon of his will only help him. The bigger problem Tessmann’s got was that his last callups he was all over the place defensively, and the shuttler has to be reliable above all else and sync seamlessly with the destroyer. I haven’t watched Tessmann with Lyon this year but allegedly he has really firmed it up there, which is a huge part of what’s now getting him regular starts.
If that’s true, you’d think Tanner’s certainly got a shot. I hope so – you know I view him as a potential future US captain and I definitely think his ceiling is exceptionally high if he develops like he might.
quozzel,
“a 5/6 hybrid destroyer because that’s what he’s played his whole career”
When you write that, the only person (besides Richards who played the role at Palace) who comes to mind is Geoff Cameron, not Tyler or Seba. I haven’t seen Zawadski play.
The term 5/6 hybrid destroyer implies that you can play center back. Tyler and Seba don’t do that. I’m far too lazy but if you look up Geoff’s stats you’ll see he played right back and defensive mid more than he did centre half for Stoke. Tony Pulis is said to have brought Geoff there to play mostly at defensive mid. Pulis made it his job to make Stoke as hard to play against as possible.
With the USMNT I believe Geoff played more CB. and Sands is not anywhere near as good as Geoff was. He seems like a nice guy but at tis point most of the USMNT debates ( assuming a 26 man roster w 3 required keepers) are about # 19-22 and, hopefully, those guys get no minutes. I don’t know that Sands should be ranked that high.
Yes Q I know that Sands should be competing for Adams spot.
————————————
Berhalter is not an Adams replacement either. It’s not what he does. The problem is I think Poch wants to reward him for his work rate and he does get stuck in, but he’s not a 6 and not skilled enough to play next to Adams and handle the ball progression.
Wow. It’ll hard to leave someone out with that kind of firepower.
What a hit. He is in bang in form. Not only is he producing wonder strikes, but he has been a massive presence in the middle of the park for Lyon in passing and defense this season
Damn. Dude has a cannon, which we knew. It appears he’s growing in confidence enough to uncork it with Lyon, which is good to see.
Crowded position he’s trying to break into with the USMNT, but he’s definitely making a case for himself right now.
It was a golazo but, as you said,he’s always been known for his shooting. It’s not unique to him. Gio, McGlynn, CP, Weston, Tyler Adams…etc.,etc. I’ve seen many of our players hit similar shots for the USMNT. He has more game than just shooting.
As for growing in confidence, in the short time he’s been in the mix, confidence does not seem to be a problem for Mr. Tessman.
The only issue with him re the USMNT assuming he’s playing well, is the so called “glut” of midfielders. Will he fit better than whoever else is available when the time comes?
I’m always skeptical whenever people start talking about a “surplus of riches” in any USMNT position.
I am old enough to remember between 2010 and 2014 when Geoff Cameron, Omar Gonzales, George John, Chad Marshall, Gale Agbossoumonde and even Clarence Goodson were coming up or already more or less in the mix. Everyone thought that we wouldn’t have to worry about Centerback anymore. Yeah, right.
However, I think Mr. Tessman will be around a while.
Golazo!! Call him up…