Weah's Instant Impact for Celtic

On This Day in 2019, the Teenager Came off the Bench, Assisted the Winner and Scored the Insurance Goal in a Celtic Victory

Timothy Weah joined Celtic on loan in January 2019 from Paris Saint-Germain, where the 18-year-old had only made two Ligue 1 appearances that season. Before joining Celtic, Weah signed a one-year extension with PSG through 2021, showing the French champions still saw a future for the American international. Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers brought in Weah to cover Leigh Griffiths, who was on personal leave, saying, "Timothy's a young talent who is a full international player. He has a long career ahead of him but he has those natural attributes in terms of his pace and technique. He's hungry, too." The Guardian

The son of former World Player of the Year George Weah made an immediate impact at Celtic, scoring in his first two appearances. His first Scottish Premiership goal came as a substitute against St. Mirren, getting behind the defense to score in the 86th minute of a 4-0 victory. This became a pattern for Weah - entering late in matches and making an impact off the bench.

On February 3rd, Weah played a crucial role in Celtic's 2-0 victory over St. Johnstone at McDiarmid Park. The match was a tight affair between the two sides with the most clean sheets in the Scottish Premiership. St. Johnstone goalkeeper Zander Clark made numerous impressive saves to deny Celtic, including stops against Oliver Burke, Jozo Simunovic, Odsonne Edouard and Scott Sinclair. But in the 78th minute, Weah, who entered the match a few minutes earlier, provided the breakthrough when his cross found James Forrest at the back post. The American then sealed the victory on the counter-attack, turning in Callum McGregor's cross after a flowing move to secure Celtic's fifth-straight win and move them six points clear at the top of the table.

It's an incredible feeling to come into a hard game and score," Weah said. "But the assist was more important for me. It's my first of the season and to get it at such an important time was amazing. To see the joy on Jamesie's face was incredible and the celebration with the fans topped it off. The referee told me that he would have given me a yellow card (for his goal celebration), but the fans didn't fall over and told me to be careful the next time. I bet Jamesie is wondering why I didn't get booked. It's weird. But I have to say that the goal and celebration would have been worth a booking, 100 percent."

Weah remained the spark off the bench for the eventual Scottish Champions. In April, he scored another goal in the league against St. Mirrens, which turned out to be his second-to-last match in Scotland. Weah's time at Celtic would come to a premature end in May. Weah was selected for the U.S. U-20 World Cup squad that would begin play on May 24 - the day before Celtic's Scottish Cup final against Hearts. Weah accepted the chance to represent his country, and Celtic terminated his loan two weeks early, stating that Weah "refused to return to Glasgow" for the season's final match. 

"The gaffer told me it is in the best interest of the team that I collect my things and go home," Weah said. He had scored four goals in 16 appearances but saw his playing time decrease after Neil Lennon replaced Rodgers as manager in February.

Weah bid an emotional farewell to Celtic supporters on Instagram, writing "It was a true honour playing for this club and also having the opportunity to interact with legends who paved the way for us. To you, the fans, I will never forget you for all the love, support and kindness you have shown me. I don't know as yet what the future holds but I wish to one day come back to this great club to be with you all. I will forever miss you chanting my name and hearing the beautiful song you have created for me."

Celtic would go on to win the Scottish Cup without Weah, but that is okay. The young American had a stellar tournament, notching two goals and two assists in a run to the quarterfinals. Weah assisted in that famous 3-2 win over France in the Round of 16.

Sargent Scores Again

Forward Scores His Third in Two Matches in Norwich Victory

Josh Sargent scored the decisive goal in Norwich City's 1-0 victory over 10-man Watford, keeping the Canaries' Championship play-off hopes alive. The match turned dramatically after Vakoun Bayo's red card in the 34th minute, setting the stage for Sargent's match-winning moment.

Early in the game, Sargent nearly opened the scoring with a point-blank shot well-saved by Jonathan Bond. His persistence paid off just before halftime when he tapped home from close range following a deflected free-kick by Emiliano Marcondes. This goal was Sargent's seventh of an injury-interrupted season and his third in two matches, signaling his return to form after being sidelined in November and December.

The goal came at a crucial time for Norwich, following Bayo's dismissal for shoving Marcondes in the throat during a corner. Norwich capitalized on their numerical advantage, with head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup noting, "We were good, and we were dominant."

Watford manager Tom Cleverley was frustrated by the result and criticized the referee and Norwich's tactics: "Unfortunately, the referee has been played. I thought Norwich were good at the dark arts." Despite his complaints, Watford struggled to create meaningful chances after going a man down.

Sargent's goal is particularly significant as he is currently the only fit "first-team" forward for the U.S. Men's National Team ahead of March's CONCACAF Nations League semifinal matches. During the 2023-24 season, he has already scored 16 goals and provided two assists for Norwich.

The victory moves Norwich a point above Watford in the Championship standings, maintaining their play-off aspirations and highlighting Sargent's growing importance to the team.

Aaronson Scores in Rout

Midfielder Scored the Opener in Big Leeds Win

Brenden Aaronson broke his goal-scoring drought with a crucial opening strike in Leeds United's resounding 7-0 demolition of Cardiff City at Elland Road Saturday. The 24-year-old American international netted in the sixth minute, setting the tone for Leeds' most comprehensive win of the season.

Supplied by Dan James, Aaronson calmly steadied himself before firing a low right-foot shot past goalkeeper Jak Alnwick. The goal was particularly significant for Aaronson, who had gone five Championship games without directly contributing to a goal.

"Sometimes I have to be more patient between the lines," Aaronson told BBC Radio Leeds. "It's been a bit frustrating recently, I've had a lot of the sixes following me around." His goal marked a return to form after a solid December where he had been involved in four goals in five games.

The victory extended Leeds' unbeaten home run to 14 games, putting them five points ahead of third place. Aaronson's goal was just the beginning of a dominant performance, with Manor Solomon, Dan James, Willy Gnonto, Mateo Joseph, and Joel Piroe scoring.

Beyond his goal, Aaronson quickly praised teammate Mateo Joseph, who ended an 18-game goalless streak. "He's a young kid, and it's tough," Aaronson said. "But he's so hungry and wants to keep working. He's got a huge future ahead of him."

This performance is crucial for Aaronson, who has been a constant in Leeds' lineup with 28 consecutive Championship starts. With the club potentially looking to bring in a new striker, Aaronson's ability to contribute goals and assists remains critical to Leeds' promotion hopes.

Robinson Crucial in Fulham Comeback

Fullback Provides Another Assist as Fulham Came Back to Beat Newcastle

Antonee Robinson continued his remarkable Premier League season with a pivotal performance in Fulham's 2-1 win against Newcastle United. The American left-back delivered his 10th assist of the season, setting up Raúl Jiménez's equalizing goal and cementing his status as one of the league's most productive defenders.

Robinson's contribution places him in elite company. He is only the seventh defender in Premier League history to reach double-digit assists in a single season. His remarkable statistic is second only to Mohamed Salah's 13 assists this season, surpassing established midfield playmakers like Bruno Fernandes and Kevin De Bruyne.

"In the first half, we were still putting things together," Robinson told BBC Match of the Day. "In the second half, we came out flying and putting pressure on them." This mindset epitomized Fulham's tactical approach, with Robinson playing a crucial role in the team's success.

The 27-year-old has transformed his Premier League trajectory, recording 10 assists this season compared to just seven in his previous 101 appearances. His performances have earned him the trust of manager Marco Silva, who appointed him team captain. He has now tied Fulham's record for assists in a single Premier League season and is eyeing Trent Alexander-Arnold's single-season record of 13 assists for a defender.

With his consistent high-level performances, Robinson has contributed significantly to Fulham's success and established himself as one of the Premier League's standout left-backs. His ability to influence the game from a defensive position makes him a key player in Fulham's campaign.

McKenzie's First Goal of the Season

Defender Helped it in for First Goal in France

Mark McKenzie scored his first Ligue 1 goal on Sunday, earning Toulouse a crucial 1-1 draw against Nice. The 25-year-old center-back bundled home a late equalizer after taking advantage of a goalkeeper error by Marcin Bulka.

McKenzie's goal marked a significant milestone in his first season with Toulouse, where he has quickly established himself as a key player. Since joining from Genk in the offseason, he has started 18 of the club's 20 matches.

The New York native's performance was impressive enough to earn him a spot on L'Equipe's team of the week. His emergence has been particularly noteworthy for the U.S. men's national team, providing stability in an inconsistent center-back pool.

McKenzie will shift his focus to the Coupe De France, with Toulouse set to face Guingamp in the Round of 16 on Wednesday.

Weah Hitting His Stride

Winger Continues Impressive Season with Assist in Win Over Empoli

Tim Weah delivered another versatile performance on Sunday as Juventus secured a convincing 4-1 win against Empoli. The 24-year-old American continued to showcase his adaptability, playing as a full-back in the absence of Andrea Cambiaso and Juan Cabal.

"This win is important for us," Weah said after the match. "It was difficult to concede a goal after 4 minutes, but we reacted well. We have to continue like this." His comments reflected the team's resilience after a challenging midweek defeat to Benfica.

Weah's remarkable flexibility has been a hallmark of his season. Originally a winger, he has seamlessly transitioned through multiple positions, including center-forward and now full-back. His willingness to contribute wherever needed has been crucial to Juventus' success.

"I feel comfortable as a full-back," Weah explained. "If I can help the team, I want to do it. I can also be a goalkeeper if the coach asks me to." This team-first attitude has endeared him to both teammates and fans.

The victory was particularly significant for Juventus, which reached fifth place in Serie A with 37 points. For Weah, it represents continued progress after an underwhelming first season in Turin following his summer 2023 transfer from Lille.

Under coach Thiago Motta, Weah has become increasingly productive, demonstrating why he's considered one of the most exciting talents of his generation. His tactical versatility and commitment to the team have been key to Juventus' recent performances.

"We have to continue working together because we're a very young team," Weah noted. With his positive attitude and adaptable play, he's proving to be a crucial component of Juventus' rebuilding efforts.