What a memorable week! What started out slowly ended with a thunderclap as young Americans assaulted the top division of Europe. It felt like every other match had a debut of some kind going on, let me explain. First: Young Keaton Parks, who has been scrambling up the pro ladder , got his senior squad debut at Portuguese giant's Benfica, and showed he can hold his own at the highest level. Second: Shaq Moore got his senior squad start for Levante in Spain's La Liga. Shaq has powered through the academies, B teams etc. in Spain to reach the rarefied air of Spain, a feat not reached by only a few Americans over the years. Third: In Belgium's Jupiler, 18 y/o mid-fielder Juan Torres made his senior squad debut for Lokeren, after being omitted from the squad or sitting on the bench he got his chance this week, and played the full 90 minutes. Finally a shout out for Jonathan Amon who made his 2nd straight appearance in Nordsjaelland's senior squad in Denmark's Superliga. While I am writing, I see that ESPN are reporting that Timothy Weah is also about to break into PSG's senior squad (although I have a few reservation about this, considering the powerhouse names at his position - Neymar etc). These are my headliners, but there was more going on with our guys this week. Cameron Carter-Vickers and DeAndre Yedlin both had fantastic assists for their teams, while young goal-keepers Jonathan Klinsmann and Brady Scott both kept clean sheets in their games. Gunning for goals, in Germany Shaft Brewer scored a minute after coming off the bench, in the Netherlands Kai Koreniuk scored the winning goal in extra time. It does not stop there, if you have any doubts about the future in US Soccer? Weston McKennie had maybe his best performance for Schalke, Joshua Perez continues to dazzle in Italy, Emmanuel Sabbi is holding his own in Denmark while relative newcomers, like 17 y/o New Yorker, Antonio Iacovelli is in Italy battling for a place with Cesena.
*** I know that there are even more young Americans with big clubs (eg: McKenzie Gaines & Maki Tall et.al) - today's examples are taken from players that appeared this week***
OK enough, my excitement for the future has the better of me.....to the lists
First,as usual, the short list........
GOALS
Kai Koreniuk - Netherlands (f)
Marc Heider - Germany
Shaft Brewer - Germany
Masami Okada - Germany
Jerome Kiesewetter (2) - Germany
Duane Holmes (2) - England
Theo Wilson - Slovenia
Alfredo Morales - Germany
James Pendrigh - New Zealand
ASSISTS
Cameron Carter-Vickers - England
DeAndre Yedlin - England
SHUT OUT
Brady Scott - Germany
Jonathan Klinsmann - Germany
.....and the longer, more comprehensive list
MONDAY
James Murphy started for league leaders Sheffield Wednesday U23 as they beat Huddersfield U23 2 - 0 in England
Aron Johannsson (62) in Werder Bremen 4 - 1 win over (Regionalliga) BSV Rehden in a friendly in Germany
TUESDAY
Kai Koreniuk (90) Scored Jong AZ 3rd and winning Goal, in ET as they won 3 - 2 over Derde Divisie side OFC in a friendly in Netherlands
WEDNESDAY
GK Brandon Austin was backup keeper for Tottenham U23 as they hosted Villarreal U23 in the Premier League International Cup (Group F) losing 0 - 2. Tottenham will need to win its final match, and hope for some luck, to qualify for the next round as a "best" 2nd place finisher
In England's FA Cup, Duane Holmes (76) and Scunthorpe are through to the next round after dispatching Northampton 1 - 0
Christopher Thorsheim (90 + yellow) as Nykobing fall 2 - 3 at home to Frederica in Denmark's Division 1 - Christopher will miss the next match for card accumulation
Jay Denny (90) as Newtown were denied a place in the Wales League Cup final, losing 1 - 0 to Cardiff Metropolitan on an 87th minute goal. It would have been Newtowns first appearance in the final in 5 years....
THURSDAY
No Matches
FRIDAY
Terence Boyd (90) as Darmstadt fall 1 - 2 to Sandhausen, Haji Wright remained on the bench, in Germany 2Liga
Emmanuel Sabbi played the first half as Hobro visited Helsingor and won 0 - 1 in Denmark's Superliga
Marc Heider (90) Scored Osnabruck's first Goal as they went on to win by a resounding 4 - 1 scoreline over Aalen. Robbie Kristo remained on the bench for this one. Osnabruck have now given themselves a little breathing room in the lower half of the table
Javan Torre Howell, made a cameo appearance as (10 man) FSV Frankfurt held on for a 1 - 1 at home to Mainz II and Marcel Costly (90) in Regionalliga (Südwest)
In a match of American Keepers, GK Bakary Sanyang, Pfeddersheim and GK Malcolm Little, Dudenhofen both allowed a goal apiece in a Oberliga (Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar) that ended with a 1 - 1 scoreline
In France Ligue 2 GK Quentin Westberg was the backup keeper for Auxerre as they visited Clermont losing 1 - 0
Jordan Siebatcheu (69) as Reims settle for a 1 - 1 home draw, after an OG, with Paris FC come late in the 2nd half. In France Ligue 2. Reims remains 3 point leader in the league as the teams just below either drew or lost.
Süderelbe were already down 0 - 3 when Ian Prescott Claus entered in the 68th minute, as they eventually fall 0 - 4 to Sasel, in Oberliga (Hamburg)
Andrija Novakovich (58) as Telstar traveled to Waalwijk, losing 4 - 1 in Netherlands Eerste Divisie. Telstar retain their 4th place spot as #2 thru #4 all lost today - fortunate
Cameron Carter-Vickers (90) is credited with the Assist on Sheffield United's 2nd goal as they go on to win 1 - 3 at Burton, in England's Championship. The win, temporarily gives United the top spot in the battle for promotion to the EPL
Also in the Championship, Antonee Robinson (90) as Bolton travel to Preston, and battle to a goalless draw. Well, there you go, Bolton unbeaten in their last 5! Still in the bottom 3, but things are looking up.
SATURDAY
Off the bench for RB Leipzig U19 at 61' Shaft Brewer Scores his teams 5th Goal at 62" in a 7 - 0 rout of Osnabrück U19 in A-Junior Bundesliga (Nord/Nordost)
Maurice Malone (90) as Augsburg U19 fall 0 - 1 at home to Mainz U19 in A-Junior Bundesliga (Süd/Südwest)
GK Brady Scott (90) gets the Shut Out, as Koln U19 visited RW Oberhausen U19 and forced a goalless draw in A-Junior Bundesliga (West)
GK Brandon Austin remained on the bench as Tottenham U23 fall 2 - 3 to Chelsea U23 and Kyle Scott (90) in England's EPL2
Julian Green was an unused sub as Furth visited Bochum and draw 1 - 1 in Germany's 2Liga
GK Kenneth Kronholm (90) and Kiel traveled to Nurnberg and battled to a 2 - 2 draw in 2Liga. Kiel still tied for the top spot with Dusseldorf
Masami Okada (90) Scored Babelsberg 2nd Goal as they go on to win 1 - 4 at Germania Halberstadt in Regionalliga (Nordost)
Isaiah Young (4) made a cameo appearance for Bremen II as they fall 2 - 1 at Jena in Germany 3Liga
Joe Gyau (90) as Sonnenhof win 1 - 0 at home over Erfurt in 3Liga. 4th straight win for Sonnenhof who are in 6th place, but well out of the running for a promotion spot
Jerome Kiesewetter (90) Scored Twice (78' & 90') for Dusseldorf U23 as they beat Wegberg-Beeck 1 - 3 in Regionalliga (West)
Bryan Gaul (90) was not among the goalscorers as Elversberg visited Stadtallendorf and won a laugher 0 - 9 (nine) in Regionalliga (Südwest)
Joel Sonora (84) as Stuttgart II lose their 3rd straight, this time at home to TSV Steinbach 0 - 1 in Regionalliga (Südwest)
Timothy Tillman (90) as Bayern Munich II win 0 - 3 at Furth II in Regionalliga (Bayern)
Player/Coach Fabian Hurzeller (90) as Pipinsreid traveled to Schweinfurt and won 1 - 2 in Regionalliga (Bayern) That's 4 straight wins for Pipinsreid who have pulled themselves from a potential relegation team to solid mid-table
Malik McLemore (90) as Bayern Hof win 2 - 0 at home over FC Sand in Oberliga (Bayern Nord)
Julian Ceesay (90) in Gebenbach 2 - 1 win at home over Würzburger in Oberliga (Bayern Nord)
Kevin Olali (90) as Morlautern fall 3 - 0 at Pirmasens in Oberliga (Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar)
Toni Suddoth remained on the bench for Pforzheim and Demarveay Sheron (90) captained Sandhausen II in a goalless draw in Oberliga (Baden-Württemberg)
Jay Denny (90) as Newtown win their 2nd straight Wales Premier League match at 3 - 0 at home to Barry
John Brooks (90) and Wolfsburg win 3 - 1 over Caleb Stanko (on the bench) and Freiburg in Bundesliga. Wolfsburg unbeaten in 5 are not out of trouble just yet
Danny Williams played the first half as Huddersfield were thumped 4 - 0 at Bournemouth (no Emerson Hyndman) in England's Premier League
Eric Lichaj (90) as Nottingham Forest fall 1 - 0 at Birmingham in England's Championship
Gboly Ariyibi (62) as MK Dons force a 2 - 2 draw at Charlton with an ET goal in England League One
Niall Mason remained on the bench for Doncaster as they play to a goalless draw at Fleetwood in League One
Duane Holmes (76) Scored Two Goals as Scunthorpe saw off Northampton 0 - 3. Scunthorpe making their move? won 4 out of 5, unbeaten in 5 move up to 4th place, 4 points off automatic promotion
GK Brendan Moore, still in the bad books, remained on the bench as the backup keeper for Rochdale as they visited Oldham and lost 3 - 1
GK Danny Rogers was the backup keeper for Aberdeen as they were beaten 0 - 2 at home by Motherwell in Scotland's Premier League
17 y/o Antonio Iacovelli remained on the bench as Cesena U19 traveled to Novara U19 and played to a 1 - 1 draw in Italy Primavera 2 (Group A)
Mason Robertson (90) as Peterhead beat Raith Rovers 3 - 0 in the Scottish FA Cup (3rd Round)
Theo Wilson (69) Scored Krka's only (and winning) Goal as they beat ND Ilirija 1 - 0 in Slovenia's Druga Liga. Theo's 8th goal of the season. Krka move up to 5th place
James Murphy started for Sheffield Wednesday U23 as they traveled to Hull U23 and won 0 - 1 in England's PDL. Wednesday top of the league
It's never easy visiting Manchester United at Old Trafford, but for just a little while Newcastle had the lead, off of a DeAndre Yedlin (90) Assist...then the inevitable, 4 goals without a response and the Red's win 4 - 1. Worrying for Newcastle, more, 3 straight losses!!
Tim Ream (90) Luca de la Torre (26) as Fulham could only manage a 1 - 1 draw at home against Derby in England's Championship - 2draws 3 losses in their last 5, Fulham need to improve to ensure safety
Fabian Johnson had one of his better performances for M'Gladbach as they beat Hertha at the Olympiastadion in Berlin 2 - 4, which moves M'Gladbach to 3rd in the Bundesliga ( a point above Dortmund)
The biggest news of the day is that US Player Keaton Parks (21) debuted for Benfica's senior squad in their 2 - 0 Taca de Portugal cup match against Setubal. Keaton has been climbing through the ranks in Portugal, and his reward came today. By the out-cry on forums and social media, I expect that he will get a call up for the national team, given some playing time at the top level. Congrats to Keaton though
John Neeskens entered for FC Santboia at 64' as they visited Pobla Mafumet, and battling to a goalless draw in Spain's Tercera Division (Group 5)
Timothy Weah (71) as PSG II drop this home match 1 - 2 to AS Yzeure in France National League 2 (Group B)
SUNDAY
Perry Kitchen (90) as Randers traveled to Lyngby, in Denmark's Superliga and won 1 - 3. Randers are off the bottom, after winning their last 2 matches, still a long way to go
Alfredo Morales (90 + yellow) Scored the matches only Goal, as Ingolstadt defeats Dusseldorf 1 - 0 in Germany 2Liga. 4 straight wins for Ingolstadt, unbeaten in their last 5. <Factoid> every time Alfredo has scored this season he also received a yellow card in the game. 3goals/3yellows.
Jann George started the 2nd half as Regensburg fought to a 2 - 2 draw at St Pauli in 2Liga
GK Jonathan Klinsmann gets the Shut Out, as Hertha II visited BAK 07 in Regionalliga (Nordost) and won big 0 - 4
Ryan Malone (90) as Lokomotive Leipzig fall 3 - 1 at BFC Dynamo in Regionalliga (Nordost)
Alassane Kane back from injury, off the bench at 55' as DJK Bamberg fall 0 - 1 to Aubstadt in Oberliga (Bayern Nord)
Matt Miazga (90) as Vitesse traveled to Groningen and lost 4 - 2 in Netherlands Eredivisie. Vitesse going through a bit of a dip right now drop to 6th place
Weston McKennie (90) as Schalke win 2 - 0 over Hamburg and Bobby Wood (21) in Bundesliga. Schalke unbeaten in their last 5 are now in 2nd place (on GD) with RB Leipzig. Hamburg are hovering just above the drop zone
Josh Perez (35) as Livorno continue to dominate Italy's Serie C (Group A) winning today 2 - 1 over Olbia. Livorno have not lost any matches this season (p14/w-11/d-3/l-0)
Ashton Gotz (90) as Roda fall at home 0 - 1 to AZ in Netherlands Eredivisie. It looks like Roda may struggle to stay in the top flight this season
In New Zealand Premier League James Pendrigh Scored Canterbury's 1st Goal as they go on to win 3 - 2 over Eastern Suburbs
Also in New Zealand, Erik Panzer came off the bench as Team Wellington visited Hamilton and won 1 - 3
Khai Celestin came off the bench for CD Sarinena in the 60th minute as they fall at home 0 - 1 at the hands of Brea in Spain's Tercera Division (Group 17)
In Belgium's Jupiler League, GK Ethan Horvath was the backup keeper as Club Brugge whooped Waasland-Beveren 3 - 0 as they continue to lead Belgium's top tier
Jonathan Amon (28) made his 2nd appearance for #3 Nordsjaelland's senior squad today, unfortunately they were already down 3 - 0 at #1 Brondby when he came on the pitch. The result ended 4 - 2, so there was an attempted come-back once he entered. Jonathan drew a foul which led to a PK goal, Nordsjaelland are in 3rd place, 4 points ahead of the 4th place team.
Stefan Antonijevic remained on the bench as Lillestrom hosted #3 Molde in Norway's Eliteserien, the final result was 0 - 1, sad because Lillstrom missed an 83rd minute PK
Rubio Rubin made a cameo appearance for Stabaek as they could only manage a 1 - 1 draw at home to Sogndal in Norway's Eliteserien - yup they also missed a PK
Shaq Moore (90) made his first start for Levante in Spain's La Liga as they traveled to Las Palmas and won 0 - 2
Adam Benn (90) as Niendorf traveled to Wedel and played to a 2 - 2 draw in Oberliga (Hamburg)
In Belgium Jupiler League, 18 y/o Juan Torres (90) gets his senior squad debut as (10 man) Lokeren hosted Gent with Kenny Saief (on the bench). The result was not what he hoped for, I'm sure, but he got his 90 minutes in and looked relatively comfortable in the squad. Final 0 - 3
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