Reyna's Brace in Cup Semifinal

On This Day in 2021, American Prodigy Reyna Shines in Dortmund's Cup Semifinal Triumph

The journey from American youth national team prospect to the German Bundesliga is becoming a well-worn path. Still, few have transitioned with the same natural grace as Giovanni Reyna. The 18-year-old midfielder's development at Borussia Dortmund took another significant leap forward in the 2021 DFB-Pokal Semifinal, when his first-half brace helped dismantle Holstein Kiel, propelling BVB toward their eventual cup triumph.

Reyna's 2020-21 season was steady growth and occasional brilliance. After becoming the second-youngest American to score in Bundesliga history with his first league goal against Borussia Mönchengladbach on September 19, the teenager had shown flashes of the technical prowess that prompted Dortmund to sign him from New York City FC's academy. His three-assist performance against SC Freiburg on October 3 had already etched his name in the record books as the youngest player ever to record a hat-trick of assists in Bundesliga history.

The son of former USMNT captain Claudio Reyna navigated the challenging transition from promising talent to regular contributor, appearing in 32 Bundesliga matches for Dortmund during the season. Though his playing time fluctuated—sometimes starting, sometimes appearing as a substitute—he had accumulated valuable minutes across multiple competitions, learning to adapt to different positions across the attack. His versatility saw him deployed as an attacking midfielder, right winger and left winger throughout the campaign.

It was fitting that interim manager Edin Terzic trusted Reyna for the May 1 semifinal against Holstein Kiel. The second division side captured Germany's imagination after eliminating defending champions Bayern Munich earlier in the competition. Still, Holstein Kiel faced Dortmund after having endured two COVID-19 quarantine periods that disrupted their training and match fitness.

In the 16th minute, Reyna opened the scoring with a composed finish from the edge of the box after receiving a precise pass from Jadon Sancho. The goal showcased his spatial awareness and clinical finishing ability, which belied his youth. Just seven minutes later, Reyna was in the right place at the right time, benefiting from Marco Reus's pressure on the Kiel goalkeeper and Raphael Guerreiro's clever backheel to tap home his second goal. The Americans' confidence proved prescient as Dortmund established complete control of the match, with Reus, Hazard, and Bellingham adding goals before halftime to complete the 5-0 rout.

Though the match was essentially decided by the interval, Reyna continued to impress with his movement and link-up play until he was substituted in the 45th minute, preserving his energy for the challenges ahead. The overwhelming victory was somewhat dampened by a serious knee injury to Mateu Morey later in the match, which cast a shadow over Dortmund's celebrations.

For Reyna, who had scored in the first round of the competition against MSV Duisburg in September, the semifinal represented his most impactful contribution to Dortmund's cup campaign. The two goals brought his season tally to six across all competitions, a respectable return for a teenager still adapting to the demands of European football.

The semifinal triumph set up a final showdown with RB Leipzig on May 13, where Dortmund would prevail 4-1 with goals from Haaland and Sancho. Though Reyna played just one minute in the final as a late substitute, his contribution to the cup run had been substantial. The victory gave Dortmund their fifth DFB-Pokal title and represented the first major trophy of Reyna's professional career.

The success also provided a fitting conclusion to Terzic's interim spell in charge before Marco Rose's arrival. At the same time, Reyna's performance throughout the campaign established him as one of the brightest young talents in European football. At 18, he had already accomplished what many American players only dream of – making a significant impact at an elite European club and lifting a major trophy.

For the son of a former U.S. soccer icon, it was another step toward creating his legacy, which continues to expand the boundaries of what American players can achieve in European football. While his journey was far from complete, that night in Kiel gave a glimpse of the immense potential that Reyna was beginning to fulfill on the biggest stages of German football.