Monday, March 9, 2026

America's Reserves Send a Message

On This Day in 2005, an All-MLS Lineup Routs Colombia Before the U.S. Eyes History in Mexico

Coming off the gritty road win in Port-of-Spain, the Americans had precious little time before their next test, and an unusual one at that. With European-based stars like Landon Donovan, Claudio Reyna and Brian McBride still locked into their club schedules through late March, Bruce Arena turned to his domestic pool for a pair of exhibitions that would double as auditions. The first, on March 9 against Colombia, would be played at Titan Stadium on the Cal State Fullerton campus—a peculiar setting, made more peculiar by the fact that Mexico was playing Argentina at the Los Angeles Coliseum that same evening, 40 miles up the freeway.

Arena didn't pretend the situation was ideal. "It's basically our first game with this domestic group, so it's important that we play regardless of the location," he said. He had a team to assemble, altitude conditioning ahead, and a date at the Azteca looming on March 27. It would be the Americans' shot at their first-ever qualifying win in Mexico City, where they were 0-1-21 (WDL) all-time.

The Colombia game had been hastily patched together after the labor dispute between U.S. Soccer and its players wiped out planned friendlies against Sweden and South Korea. Arena's 18-man roster contained only one survivor from the 2002 World Cup, Pablo Mastroeni, with Eddie Pope and Frankie Hejduk also absent due to injury. Four players would earn their first caps. Six would make their first starts. It had the makings of a developmental exercise. Colombia didn't get the memo.

What unfolded before 7,086 near-capacity spectators was a performance that turned heads. New England midfielder Pat Noonan, in just his second national team appearance, opened the scoring in the 25th minute when Steve Ralston's chip from the right struck the crossbar and bounced invitingly into his path. Noonan drove it into the roof of the net before the goalkeeper could recover. Eight minutes later, the Americans doubled their lead in the fashion Arena coveted most: set piece quality. Ralston again delivered from the right, this time a hard cross that the 6-foot-3 Chad Marshall—making his debut, already being talked about as the center back of the future—met with a diving header. Two-nil at halftime, without a European boot on the pitch.

Colombia showed more life after the break, but fell further behind in the 66th minute when Clint Mathis, the squad's most capped player with 45 appearances and a man who hadn't scored for the national team in over two years, curled a corner kick directly into the net past goalkeeper Juan Henao. It was the kind of goal that looks effortless and isn't. The final scoreline, 3-0, and it could have been more, prompted a pointed summary from the coaching staff: next time, bring your first team.

Arena was careful not to get baited into a broader argument about opponent preparation. The depth was the story, he insisted. "If we had to play our best 1,000 against Brazil's best 1,000, we'd never have a chance," he said. "But when you get it down to 11 against 11, the odds are a little bit more favorable for us."

Eddie Johnson, chasing a fifth straight goal-scoring game, was held at bay. His sharpest chance cleared off the line in the 23rd minute, but Arena waved off any concern. "I think the more important statistic for Johnson is that it's another game he's been with us that we've won," he said. "Since Eddie's been with us, we're winning." A late red card to Taylor Twellman, who had entered as a substitute, left the Americans a man short for the final 14 minutes, but by then the result was long decided. The unbeaten run stretched to 15 games.

10 days later, the caravan deliberately moved to Albuquerque. The United States had been altitude training in Colorado Springs at 7,400 feet, and Arena wanted a competitive match at University Stadium's 5,300-foot elevation as a literal stepping stone toward Mexico City. The European contingent wouldn't arrive until the following day. This was still the MLS group's show.

And Johnson made it his. On the stroke of halftime, Mathis launched a thunderbolt from 30 yards that rattled the crossbar; the rebound fell to Johnson in acres of space, Honduras goalkeeper Junior Morales still scrambling to recover. It was, by Johnson's own admission, the type of finish that isn't as simple as it looks. "The hardest ones are when the goal is that open," he said. "You're already thinking about celebrating before you kick it." His seventh goal in six appearances made him the most prolific scorer in U.S. history at that stage of a career. The Americans held on 1-0, out-shooting Honduras 12-2, and extended their CONCACAF unbeaten run to 31 straight.

Together, the two results accomplished exactly what Arena had designed them to do. The domestic players had made their cases—Noonan, Marshall, Mathis, and Johnson especially. Altitude acclimatization was underway. And with the European stars rejoining the squad the day after the Honduras win, the full complement of American talent was finally gathering for the moment Arena had been building toward all spring.

"This is every young American kid's dream," Johnson said of the Mexico City match ahead. "I have to tune out the crowd and play like I've been playing." The crowd at the Azteca would be approximately 110,000. The record looked woeful, and the United States had never left that stadium with a win. Maybe this was the time

Berhalter Shines

Midfielder Notches a Goal and Assist in Victory Over Portland

Sebastian Berhalter delivered one of his finest performances of the season as Vancouver Whitecaps cruised to a 4-1 victory over Portland Timbers in a Cascadia Cup rivalry match on Saturday night, maintaining their perfect start to the 2026 MLS season.

The 24-year-old American midfielder was involved in three of Vancouver's four goals, registering a goal and an assist while pulling the strings throughout from deep. He opened his account for the night with a pass that set Brian White through to open the scoring in the 21st minute, before his delivery from a free kick was eventually knocked home by Tristan Blackmon early in the second half. Berhalter then added a goal of his own in the 63rd minute to put the result beyond doubt.

His statistics underlined just how influential he was across the full 90 minutes. He completed 61-of-74 passes at an accuracy rate of 82%, made 13 passes into the final third, won all seven of his aerial duels, and contributed nine defensive actions.

With the World Cup approaching, Berhalter's performances will not have gone unnoticed by USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino. Having previously contributed a goal and an assist in a 5-1 win over Uruguay during the fall international window, the Vancouver midfielder is making a compelling case for inclusion in the summer squad.

Pepi Scored; Dest Injured

Striker Scores Again While the Defender Suffers Injury in PSV Victory

It was a day of contrasting emotions for United States internationals at PSV Eindhoven on Saturday, as Ricardo Pepi's late winner was overshadowed by a serious-looking injury to Sergino Dest in a 2-1 Eredivisie victory over AZ Alkmaar.

PSV had fallen behind to Billy van Duijl's 13th-minute opener before a Troy Parrott own goal levelled things before half-time. It was left to Pepi to secure the points, the striker volleying home from Ivan Perisic's headed pass to net with just four minutes remaining.

The goal was Pepi's 10th in the Eredivisie this season and his third of 2026, coming just weeks after he returned from a broken arm suffered in January. "I am very happy that I was able to play 90 minutes and also scored," the 22-year-old said after the match. "It feels good to be back and to contribute to this important victory at home."

The celebrations were tempered, however, by the sight of Dest limping off in the 57th minute after grabbing his left hamstring in obvious distress, requiring the assistance of two members of medical staff to leave the field. PSV head coach Peter Bosz offered a bleak assessment, noting that when a player goes down clutching their hamstring after a full sprint, "We'll have to wait and see, but honestly, I think we'll be without him for a while."

Dest later posted on Instagram that he would be "out for a little while," though he insisted it would not spell an end to his season. The injury nonetheless casts serious doubt over his participation in upcoming USMNT friendlies against Belgium and Portugal, and raises concerns ahead of the summer's World Cup.

Wright On Fire

Striker Scores His Sixth Goal in Five Matches in Another Coventry Win

Haji Wright continued his remarkable run of form as Coventry City moved eight points clear at the top of the Championship with a 2-0 victory over Bristol City on Saturday.

With Coventry reduced to 10 men following Joel Latibeaudiere's red card in the 43rd minute, Wright's goal in first-half stoppage time proved to be the turning point of the match. The American striker evaded a weak challenge from Neto Borges before firing a low right-footed drive past goalkeeper Radek Vitek to double Coventry's lead.

It was Wright's sixth goal in five Championship games—his 16th of the season—and Frank Lampard was quick to highlight its importance after the final whistle. "The second goal was crucial to the game, crucial to our mindset, crucial to give us something to hang on to," the Coventry manager said.

Wright's statistics underlined his threat throughout the contest. He may have only had 19 touches in the match, but the striker registered two shots on target from just two attempts and made five touches inside the opposition box. With Coventry now on another five-game winning streak, with the previous one coming in November 2025, Wright's clinical finishing is proving central to their promotion charge.

Friday, March 6, 2026

Balogun Shines Again

Striker Provides a Spark Against PSG as Monaco Claim Vital Win

Folarin Balogun continues to make PSG his favourite opponents. The American striker contributed a goal and an assist as Monaco claimed a commanding 3-1 victory at the Parc des Princes on Friday, making it three goals and an assist across three meetings with the reigning European champions in just 17 days.

Balogun was involved from the outset, capitalising on a woeful Zaïre-Emery error in the 27th minute to lay off Maghnes Akliouche, who fired Monaco ahead. After Aleksandr Golovin doubled the lead early in the second half, Bradley Barcola gave PSG hope with a 71st-minute strike, but Balogun extinguished any comeback hopes almost immediately, firing from the edge of the area to restore the two-goal cushion via a deflection off Nuno Mendes.

It was his 13th goal in all competitions this season and fifth in five consecutive matches—a remarkable run of form at the perfect time, with the World Cup on home soil approaching. Crucially, it was also Balogun's 100th Monaco appearance—a milestone marked in style. Monaco remain in fifth, now three points off the Champions League places, with serious momentum building under Sebastien Pocognoli.

Zendejas Equalizer

Winger Came Off the Bench to Score, But It Was Not Enough as América Falls

Alejandro Zendejas provided a moment of genuine quality for Club América on Wednesday, but it ultimately wasn't enough as the Eagles slipped to a damaging 2-1 defeat against FC Juárez at the Ciudad de los Deportes.

América had been in trouble from the fifth minute, when a Malagón error gifted Jairo Torres the opener. The night then worsened with a knee injury to Víctor Dávila, leaving André Jardine searching for answers at the break.

The introduction of Zendejas, returning from his own injury spell, was the spark the home side needed. In the 69th minute, the Mexican-American winger rifled home an unstoppable left-footed strike to level proceedings and briefly reignite hope inside the stadium. In 45 minutes of action, he completed 16 of 18 passes, won three of five ground duels, and created two chances—easily América's most dynamic presence after coming on.

But the joy was fleeting. A Guilherme counterattack sealed the winner late on, sending the frustrated crowd home with boos ringing around the stadium. The loss nudges América out of the playoff positions at a critical stage of the season, piling further pressure on Jardine's struggling side.

Musah Saves Atalanta

Midfielder Scores Last-Gasp Strike Against Lazio for His Second Goal in as Many Matches

Yunus Musah announced himself as Atalanta's unlikely hero on Wednesday, drilling home a crucial equaliser in the 89th minute to secure a 2-2 draw against Lazio in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final at the Stadio Olimpico.

The USA international had been a peripheral figure for much of the season—the least-used outfield player in Atalanta's squad, with just 723 minutes of football and a four-year goal drought to his name. But after coming off the bench in the 64th minute, Musah brought exactly the energy a depleted, injury-hit Atalanta side desperately needed.

After Boulaye Dia had given Lazio a second lead on 87 minutes, capitalising on a Mario Pasalic error, it looked like the hosts would hold on. Musah had other ideas. "I just saw a lot of space open up in front of me," he said afterwards. "The ball came kindly, I hit it cleanly, and it found the net. It was an incredible feeling."

The goal was his second in four days, following a strike against Sassuolo, and ensures the tie remains perfectly poised ahead of next month's second leg in Bergamo.

Monday, March 2, 2026

Weah and Marseille Defeat Tessmann and Lyon

Aubameyang Snatches Dramatic Derby Win, But Weah and Tessmann Played Roles in the Contest

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang broke Lyon hearts with two goals in the final nine minutes as Marseille claimed a stunning 3-2 victory in a breathless Ligue 1 derby at the Stade Vélodrome on Sunday—a result that lifted the hosts to within two points of their rivals in the table.

For American right-back Tim Weah, it was a memorable afternoon. Operating with discipline and energy across his 84 minutes, the 26-year-old contributed solidly in both phases, making two tackles, winning all of his aerial duels and registering eight recoveries. His lone cross was accurate, and he won three of five ground duels while being fouled twice—a sign of his willingness to drive forward and engage. It was the kind of dependable, industrious performance that has become characteristic of Weah in Marseille's setup under new boss Habib Beye.

Lyon, meanwhile, had every reason to feel aggrieved. Corentin Tolisso put the visitors ahead inside three minutes, and despite having a second goal ruled out for offside early in the second half, Rémi Himbert restored the lead with 14 minutes remaining. Yet somehow they left empty-handed.

For Lyon's Tanner Tessmann, it was a full 90-minute shift in the middle of the park that showcased his growing importance to Paulo Fonseca's side. The 24-year-old completed 38-of-47 passes, made five passes into the final third, contributed five defensive actions and completed his only dribble attempt. He finished on the losing side despite a composed and combative display.

Aubameyang's equaliser on 81 minutes, a superb volley from a corner, and his stoppage-time winner, turning in a low cross from Ethan Nwaneri, completed a remarkable comeback. At 36 years old, he became the oldest player to score in this fixture in Ligue 1 history, sending the home support into raptures and leaving Lyon to rue what might have been.

Musah's Consolation Goal

The Midfielder Ends Club Goal Drought, But Atalanta Fall to First Serie A Defeat of 2026

Yunus Musah marked his return to competitive club scoring on Sunday, netting a stunning late goal for Atalanta, but it proved insufficient as the Bergamo side slipped to a 2-1 defeat away at Sassuolo, ending an impressive unbeaten run in Serie A that had stretched back to late December.

The American midfielder came off the bench in the 67th minute with Atalanta already trailing by two goals, Ismael Koné having bundled home from a corner on 23 minutes before Kristian Thorstvedt drilled a fierce strike into the top corner shortly after the hour mark. Atalanta had been reduced to chasing the game for much of the afternoon, with Sassuolo playing the final 74 minutes with 10 men following Andrea Pinamonti's early red card.

With two minutes remaining, Musah finally gave Atalanta a lifeline. Meeting Davide Zappacosta's cross from the right, he struck it first time into the roof of the net—a finish of real quality that ended his club goalscoring drought stretching all the way back to January 2022, when he scored for Valencia against Atletico Madrid. Atalanta pushed desperately for an equaliser, with Scalvini coming agonisingly close in stoppage time, only to be denied by a fine save from Sassuolo goalkeeper Arijanet Muric.

Despite the defeat, Musah remained measured and forward-looking. "This is our first defeat of 2026 in Serie A, so we want to bounce back straight away next week," he said. He also drew a positive from the setback, adding that "games like this can even give the players a bit more fire and motivation."

Musah, who has made 19 appearances across all competitions this season, will be hoping Sunday's goal is enough to force his way into Atalanta's starting lineup when they travel to Lazio in Coppa Italia action on Wednesday.

Balogun's Blistering Form

The Forward Maintains Scorching Form With Fourth Goal in Four Games for Monaco

Folarin Balogun continued his timely resurgence on Saturday, netting for the fourth goal in four games as Monaco brushed aside Angers 2-0 in Ligue 1 to claim a third straight league victory and climb to seventh in the standings.

The American forward, who had managed just three goals in his previous 15 appearances before this current streak, broke the deadlock in the 57th minute in fortuitous but effective fashion. Connecting with a cross via a header, the ball ricocheted off an opponent and then back off Balogun's leg before crossing the line. It may not have been the cleanest of finishes, but it was his fourth goal in four outings and underlined his growing influence at the Stade Louis II. Simon Adingra then doubled Monaco's advantage five minutes later with a curling effort from outside the box, putting the result beyond doubt.

Balogun was replaced after 73 minutes, having been lively throughout, registering two chances created, winning both his aerial duels and drawing two fouls in an energetic display.

Speaking after the final whistle, the 24-year-old reflected on the importance of the response following Monaco's Champions League playoff first-leg defeat to PSG earlier in the week. "Against Paris, we were disappointed with the result," he said. "We had two good performances and deserved more, so the focus was on reacting, and today it was a good reaction."

Asked whether he is feeling the benefit of his current form, Balogun remained characteristically grounded. "I feel good, but I'm always focused on trying to improve," he said. "I'm just trying to stay focused on the next game, help the team, and cause problems for the defense." With the World Cup approaching on home soil this summer, Balogun's timing could hardly be better. The former Arsenal man has now scored eight times in 23 international appearances for the USMNT and looks primed to be central to Mauricio Pochettino's plans.