American Duo Sparks Comeback

Milan's American Pair Influential in Supercoppa Comeback Against Juventus

In a clash featuring four USMNT stars, AC Milan's American contingent proved decisive as the Rossoneri came from behind to defeat Juventus 2-1 in the Italian Supercoppa semifinal on Friday at Riyadh's Al-Awwal Park, setting up a Milan derby final against Inter.

Despite a quiet first hour, Christian Pulisic made his mark on the match in the 71st minute when he was brought down in the penalty area by Manuel Locatelli. The American winger, who had struggled to impact the game until that point, stepped up to take the spot kick himself and converted despite goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio getting a touch on the ball, bringing Milan level.

Just four minutes later, it was Yunus Musah who turned the game on its head. The midfielder, who had come on as a substitute for Ismael Bennacer, made an immediate impact with his energy and drive. His cross from the right flank forced an unfortunate own goal from Federico Gatti, completing Milan's comeback and ultimately proving to be the winner. Musah's performance off the bench was particularly noteworthy, as he not only contributed to the winning goal but also excelled when shifted to right-back later in the match.

For Juventus, Weston McKennie nearly found an equalizer in the 84th minute, but Milan's defense held firm. The versatile American, who has been impressing at left-back for the Bianconeri this season, also made his presence felt earlier when his deflection from an Emerson Royal cross forced a save from Maignan. Tim Weah, the fourth American involved in the match, had a quieter evening after subbing on for McKennie late in the match. Juventus struggled to maintain their first-half momentum after going ahead through Kenan Yildiz's opener.

The victory marked a perfect start for new Milan manager Sergio Conceicao, though the Portuguese coach will likely feel fortunate given his team's underwhelming first-half display. For Juventus, it marked their first defeat to an Italian side this season, with coach Thiago Motta's substitution decisions coming under scrutiny as the Bianconeri failed to capitalize on their early dominance.

The result sets up an intriguing Derby della Madonnina final against Inter on Monday, with Milan's American duo of Pulisic and Musah looking to build on their match-winning contributions from the semifinal.

Richards' Challenging First-Half

Defender Has Been on the Outside at Crystal Palace, but Starting to Emerge

Defender Chris Richards ended 2024 on a high note, helping Crystal Palace secure a crucial 2-1 victory over Southampton that pushed the Eagles six points clear of the relegation zone. The 24-year-old started in a back three alongside Trevoh Chalobah and Maxence Lacroix, filling in for suspended captain Marc Guehi.

"It's a good three points to end the year and an important three points for us," Richards said, reflecting on the victory. "I feel good and feel happy."

After representing the U.S. in the Copa America, Richards established himself in the Palace lineup during August and September before a hamstring injury against Manchester United derailed his momentum.

"I'd say a bit frustrating," Richards admitted about his inconsistent playing time due to injury and competition from summer signings. "Last year, at least towards the end of the season, I played a lot, but we've been on a little run this season and I had an injury spell as well."

After returning to fitness in November, Richards has fought to regain his place in the starting lineup, but over the last two months, he has only made four appearances and two starts in the Premier League. That most recent performance in the victory over Southampton should help his case in the new year, but it has been a tough road into Oliver Glasner's starting XI.

Looking ahead to their match against Chelsea, Richards acknowledged the difficulty of facing the in-form Blues but remained confident in Palace's approach. The Eagles will need to maintain the defensive solidity they showed against Southampton while supporting attacking players like Ebere Eze, whose winning goal against the Saints marked just his second Premier League strike of the season, need to continue to produce.

Adams Available

 After Missing Out Against Fulham, Available Against Evert This Weekend

U.S. midfielder Tyler Adams has been cleared to return for Bournemouth's Premier League clash with Everton on Saturday, providing a significant boost to Andoni Iraola's squad. The 25-year-old midfielder missed last weekend's match against Fulham with what has been described as a "very small" muscle issue.

Adams' availability comes at a crucial time for the Cherries, who are enjoying a remarkable season and currently sit seventh in the Premier League table, just one point behind Manchester City. His return to fitness is particularly welcoming given his injury-plagued start to life at the Vitality Stadium, where he's made nine Premier League appearances this season after missing the first two months while recovering from back surgery.

The match against Everton promises to be a stern test for Bournemouth, with Iraola highlighting the Toffees' impressive recent form against top opposition. "They are a dangerous team... they've played this month against Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, and they haven't lost," the Spaniard noted, adding that Everton's defensive record of seven clean sheets makes them particularly formidable.

The last meeting between these sides produced one of the Premier League's most dramatic comebacks, with Bournemouth turning a 2-0 deficit in the 86th minute into a stunning 3-2 victory. However, Iraola is hoping for a more straightforward affair this time around, emphasizing the need for tactical discipline and patience against Everton's robust defense, which has conceded less than a goal per game in their last 13 matches.

Robinson Ready for Strong 2025

Fullback Produced an Interesting Stat in 2024, the Best Year of His Career So Far

Antonee Robinson continues to establish himself as one of the Premier League's most dynamic full-backs, with his creative output this season elevating to new heights. The American defender has been in scintillating form, notching his seventh league assist of the current campaign with a precise right-footed cross for Harry Wilson's goal against Bournemouth last weekend.

Robinson's creative numbers put him in elite company, with only Mohamed Salah and Bukayo Saka providing more Premier League assists this season. His contribution to Fulham's attack has been particularly evident during their current seven-game unbeaten run, though Marco Silva's side will be frustrated that only two of those matches have resulted in victories.

The left-back's impact throughout 2024 has been historically significant for Fulham, with his ten Premier League assists matching Luis Boa Morte's club record for a single calendar year, set in 2005. Moreover, Robinson joins Newcastle's Kieran Trippier in a unique Premier League stat, becoming only the second player to record 10+ assists in a calendar year without scoring a goal.

Looking ahead to Saturday's match against Ipswich Town, Silva's side will aim to convert their unbeaten form into three points against Kieran McKenna's resurgent team. The Tractor Boys arrive at Craven Cottage buoyed by an impressive 2-0 victory over Chelsea and have won two of their last four matches in their fight for Premier League survival.

Silva has highlighted the threat posed by Ipswich's attacking duo of Omari Hutchinson and Liam Delap, while also recalling the challenging 1-1 draw at Portman Road earlier this season.

CCV and Celtic Looking Rebound After Ranger Loss

Celtic Host St. Mirren Three Days After Derby Defeat

The spotlight is on American defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty as Celtic look to recover from their disappointing 3-0 Old Firm defeat when they face St. Mirren this Sunday. The loss, despite Celtic maintaining an 11-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership, has raised questions about manager Brendan Rodgers' defensive selections.

Carter-Vickers, who has become a cornerstone of Celtic's defense with 134 appearances since joining from Tottenham, has recently attracted interest from Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen. He has played the full 90 minutes in the last three league matches and 120 minutes in the Scottish League Cup Final victory over Rangers on December 15.

Meanwhile, Trusty's absence from the starting lineup at Ibrox has sparked debate among supporters. The defender, who impressed in Celtic's goalless draw against Atalanta in Bergamo, hasn't featured since being substituted at halftime in the League Cup final three weeks ago. His omission from the Old Firm derby, where Liam Scales partnered Carter-Vickers instead, has been particularly scrutinized following Celtic's defensive struggles.

The St. Mirren match presents an opportunity for Celtic to demonstrate that their Old Firm setback was merely a blip in their title defense. With questions surrounding the defensive lineup, all eyes will be on Rodgers' team selection, particularly regarding whether Trusty will return to partner his international teammate Carter-Vickers in central defense.