Two key U.S. men’s national team players will play no further part in this season’s UEFA Champions League competition.
Weston McKennie scored to force extra time for Juventus against Galatarasay but the Turkish visitors would outlast their Serie A hosts 7-5 on aggregate despite losing 3-2 on the night.
Manuel Locatelli’s 37th minute penalty-kick goal gave Juventus an early lifeline in the tie before the Bianconeri would use a late second-half rally to force extra time.
Despite Lloyd Kelly’s red card four minutes after halftime, Juventus pulled one goal behind after Federico Gatti made it 2-0 on the night. McKennie dialed up his own number with eight minutes to play in regulation, heading home at the back post after Juventus kept a play alive in the Galatasaray box.
McKennie now has nine goal contributions in 2026 and 13 this season across all competitions.
However, Galatasaray would score in each extra time half to put the tie out of reach. Victor Osimhen’s cool finish in the 105th minute regained Galatasaray’s aggregate advantage before Baris Alper Yilmaz added an insurance goal with one minute to play.
Despite Juventus’ valiant effort in Turin, they would crash out of the competition in the playoff round.
McKennie played the full 120 minutes at left back, continuing what has been a stellar campaign for him.
Juventus will try to turn its misfortunes in Serie A play around on Sunday against AS Roma.
Folarin Balogun starts but Monaco ousted by PSG
AS Monaco’s run in the tournament came to an end on Wednesday at the home of one of its more recent rivals.
Paris Saint-Germain outlasted Monaco 5-4 on aggregate despite the visitors earning a 2-2 second leg draw on the night. American forward Folarin Balogun started and played 74 minutes in the match, registering one shot on target and winning three duels.
Maghnes Akilouche propelled Sebastien Pocagnoli’s squad in front before halftime, but PSG would use a pair of quick-fire goals after halftime to flip momentum back in their favor.
Marquinhos leveled the match 1-1 on the hour mark before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia boosted PSG in front six minutes later.
Jordan Teze would pull a late goal back for Monaco, but it would finish as a mere consolation in the tie.
Eighth-place Monaco will resume its Ligue 1 schedule on Saturday against Angers.
Johnny Cardoso, Malik Tillman, and Yunus Musah are the only American players left in the Champions League this season.
The Round of 16 draw will take place on Friday.
I don’t think Musah got in the game for Atalanta, but it was quite the match. Atalanta won the game at the death over Dormund on a PK. I don’t think Reyna played either. I was watching a Spanish language broadcast and I didn’t hear either name mentioned.
Reyna doesn’t play for Dortmund anymore.
Boo…I was watching an Italian-language stream of Juventus on my computer while I worked and I don’t speak Italian. I didn’t realize away goals in the head-to-head weren’t a tie-breaker. I thought McKennie had put Juve through.
Oh, well. Would have been awesome. It’s still hilarious they put him at left back and he’s still scoring.
And Haji’s clearly feeling it again too. Their timing is definitely good for the US.