Aaronson Scores the Winner

The Other Aaronson's Goal the Difference in Utrecht's Victory over Feyenoord

American midfielder Paxten Aaronson continued his breakout season in the Netherlands, scoring a crucial goal in FC Utrecht's impressive 2-1 victory over Feyenoord at De Kuip on Sunday. The win helped Utrecht maintain their grip on third place in the Eredivisie, now sitting four points clear of the defending champions.

After a goalless first half dominated by the hosts, Utrecht struck twice in quick succession just after the hour mark. Niklas Vesterlund opened the scoring in the 60th minute with a looping header from a corner, before Aaronson doubled the advantage five minutes later with a clinical finish to cap off a flowing counterattack.

The 21-year-old's goal showcased Utrecht's tactical prowess on the break, with January arrival Sébastien Haller and Yoann Cathline combining brilliantly before Aaronson provided the finishing touch. It was his fifth goal of the season, highlighting his growing influence since joining Utrecht on loan.

Beyond his goalscoring contribution, Aaronson put in a complete performance that demonstrated his development as a two-way midfielder, leading all players with five tackles, showing the kind of all-around game that has made him an increasingly vital piece of Ron Jans' squad.

Though Santiago Gimenez pulled one back for Feyenoord from the penalty spot in the 81st minute, Utrecht held firm for their first victory at De Kuip since 2014. The historic win maintains Utrecht's surprising push for Champions League qualification, with Aaronson's emergence as a consistent contributor playing a key role in their success.

Utrecht will look to maintain their momentum when they travel to RKC Waalwijk for KNVB Cup action in midweek, with Aaronson aiming to continue his impressive form in 2025.

Turner Starts in FA Cup Win

Goalkeeper, Along with Chris Richards, Helped Crystal Palace to Cleansheet in Victory

Matt Turner made a compelling case for more playing time after keeping a clean sheet in Crystal Palace's narrow 1-0 FA Cup victory over Stockport County on Sunday, marking his first appearance at Selhurst Park as an Eagle.

"Learning to win is a habit," Turner reflected after the match, where Palace held onto their early lead through Eberechi Eze's fourth-minute strike. "It's good for us to go through these types of moments, these types of games and come out with a win."

The U.S. international goalkeeper, making only his second appearance of the season, proved crucial in preserving Palace's advantage with four saves, including a vital stop to deny Isaac Olaofe following a defensive mix-up. While pleased with the clean sheet, Turner acknowledged the team could have made things easier for themselves.

"I wish that we could have threatened their goal maybe a little bit more to get that second goal and really put the game away," he said. "But we didn't, and we had to kill off another game at 1-0."

The victory was particularly special for Turner, who had previously experienced Selhurst Park as an opposition player. "It was amazing to be here, to see the crowd, feel the energy, feel so welcome as well," he smiled. "I played here last season, but I was on the away side! I much prefer being here and being on the home side."

Fellow American Chris Richards also featured in the victory, playing 90 minutes in his third-straight start in all competitions. He couldn't convert one of several headed chances from Palace players that might have given the club a more comfortable margin.

Turner, who has now won both his appearances this season after a 2-1 Carabao Cup victory over Aston Villa in October, demonstrated his understanding of the opposition's threat. "We understand that they play good football. They put a lot of balls in the box, they create tonnes of chances in League One – in the scouting report that was very, very clear."

Sargent Returns in FA Cup Defeat

Striker Subbed on For First Action Since October

Josh Sargent made his long-awaited return to action for Norwich City, coming off the bench in the 79th minute during their FA Cup defeat to Brighton at Carrow Road. The American striker had been sidelined since early November after undergoing groin surgery, missing 14 Championship matches during his absence.

Prior to the match, Norwich manager Johannes Hoff Thorup had urged patience with Sargent's reintegration, emphasizing the careful approach taken with his rehabilitation. "The expectation is always a little bit difficult for a player to just come in again after eight weeks and be able to perform on the highest level. That will probably take some time," Thorup explained while noting Sargent's strong physical condition could help accelerate his return to form.

Though Norwich ultimately fell to Brighton's Premier League quality in a comprehensive defeat, Sargent showed promising signs in his brief cameo appearance. Sargent's return provides a significant boost to Norwich's attacking options after relying heavily on young Ante Crnac, whom Sargent replaced, during his absence. Also, Norwich City's leading scorer Borja Sainz is in the middle of a six-match ban so Sargent's availability comes at an opportune time for the promotion-chasing Canaries, who had won three of their last four matches before this cup tie.

McKennie 'a Nuisance' in Defense Again

 McKennie Has Started the Last Five Matches as a Left-Back

Weston McKennie's remarkable versatility has been put to the test at Juventus this season, with the American midfielder finding himself in an unlikely role as a left-back amid the club's defensive crisis. 

While McKennie has adapted admirably to various positions, transitioning from the bench to dynamic central midfielder and now to fullback, recent performances suggest this makeshift solution may not be sustainable. The limitations of this tactical adjustment were particularly evident in the Supercoppa Italia semi-final against AC Milan, where McKennie struggled against Christian Pulisic.

On Sunday, Juventus' winless run extended to four matches in the 1-1 draw with Torino's — McKennie fifth-straight at left-back. He completed 49-of-52 passes and had four clearances. He was involved in an early altercation with the Torino bench when he went over for a throw-in. It was enough for the Torino bench to confront McKennie and his teammates, but after a couple of pleasantries and handshakes, play resumed.

Fellow American Tim Weah replaced Samuel Mbangula in the 77th minute and within a few touches, he immediately unleashed a long-distance effort that needed to be saved. It was the third time off the bench in as many matches.

Juventus's need to address their defensive depth has become increasingly urgent. The season-ending ACL injury to Juan Cabal, coupled with Danilo potentially heading toward the exit door, has left the squad thin at the back. While Jonas Rouhi hasn't consistently impressed and Andrea Cambiaso is dealing with fitness issues, the club appears to be exploring transfer market solutions.

The club's current situation could lead to changes in the January transfer window, with reports linking them to Barcelona's Ronald Araújo as their primary defensive target. The Bianconeri are also evaluating internal options, including the potential return of Riccardo Turicchia from his loan spell at Catanzaro, though the young fullback's limited playing time in Serie B raises questions about his readiness for top-flight football. For now, McKennie continues to fill in at left-back, demonstrating his commitment to the team's needs despite playing out of his natural position.

Maloney to Mainz... in the Summer?

Midfielder to Join Bundesliga Squad on a Free Transfer when His Contract Expires

Lennard Maloney's time at FC Heidenheim appears to be drawing to a close, with the US midfielder reportedly agreeing to join FSV Mainz 05 when his contract expires this summer. The 25-year-old was notably absent from Heidenheim's squad during their recent 2-0 victory over Union Berlin, fueling speculation about his immediate future.

While several clubs including Birmingham City and PAOK Thessaloniki had expressed interest in Maloney, the twice-capped USMNT player has chosen Mainz as his next destination. Despite the possibility of securing a transfer fee this winter, Heidenheim seems prepared to let Maloney's contract run its course.

Heidenheim has already begun preparing for life after Maloney, securing Jan Schöppner to a long-term contract extension. The club has also strengthened its squad this winter with the arrival of Frans Krätzig on loan from Bayern Munich, who made an immediate impact by scoring in the victory over Union Berlin.

At Mainz, Maloney could potentially fill a crucial role in the midfield, particularly if current starter Nadiem Amiri departs as rumored. The Rhineland-Palatinate club currently deploys a midfield partnership of Amiri and Kaishu Sano, suggesting Maloney could slot in as a direct replacement should Amiri move on in the summer.

Celtic Duo Strong Again

 Trusty Wants to Play With Carter-Vickers at the World Cup

Celtic's American defensive duo of Auston Trusty and Cameron Carter-Vickers continued to strengthen their case for international recognition in the 4-1 victory over Ross County, as both players look ahead to the 2026 World Cup on home soil.

Trusty, who recently returned to the starting lineup after a spell out with illness, has been vocal about his ambitions to partner Carter-Vickers not just for Celtic but also for the United States national team. The center-back's recent performances, including the weekend's commanding display against County, demonstrate why these aspirations might not be far-fetched.

"That'd be amazing [to play with Cameron at the World Cup]," Trusty recently told reporters. "I think that's absolutely on my mind and I'm sure for Cameron too, it's on his mind as well. We have to do our job here, and doing our job here allows us to propel ourselves into consideration for that team."

The Celtic faithful has even introduced a new chant for Trusty and Carter-Vickers called ‘American Boys'. Trusty said, "it's just a really good feeling. I've had some messages about it from home and they're just loving it. It's a little bit different being in the States and you're not here so you don't really feel the atmosphere."

The path to international starting XI isn't straightforward for either player. At club level, they face strong competition, with Liam Scales pushing for a starting spot in Brendan Rodgers' side. Scales' impressive performances during Trusty's recent absence serve as a reminder that places in Celtic's defense must be earned and maintained through consistent performances.

However, the prospect of two Celtic defenders anchoring the United States' backline at a home World Cup in 2026 offers an intriguing possibility for both club and country. Their growing understanding at Celtic Park could prove invaluable for the national team, where defensive partnerships often suffer from limited time together.

For now, both players remain focused on their Celtic duties, knowing that international recognition will follow strong domestic performances. As Trusty emphasized, "Take care of business here, then that'd be amazing."

Morris Back in Training

Midfielder Expected to Return to Training This Week

Middlesbrough's Aidan Morris is working his way back to fitness after being sidelined since November with a knee injury suffered while on international duty with the US. The summer signing from Columbus Crew had made an impressive start to his Middlesbrough career before the setback, with the team winning only four of the 12 games during his absence.

Morris has begun light training as part of his rehabilitation program and was spotted doing some running work on the Riverside pitch following Middlesbrough's recent FA Cup defeat to Blackburn Rovers. Manager Michael Carrick confirmed that Morris is expected to rejoin full team training next week, though he won't be rushed back into action.

The midfielder could be available for Saturday's match against Portsmouth, but that will depend on a good week of training. His return will be a welcome boost for Middlesbrough, as Morris had excelled in the first third of the season before his extended absence.