McKenzie Misses Out on Toulouse Rout

Centerback Scratched With a Foot Injury Amongst Leeds Rumors

Mark McKenzie's foot injury forced him out of Toulouse's commanding 5-1 triumph over Nice on Saturday, a setback that underscored the United States international's value to the French side while transfer speculation continues to swirl around his future.

The 26-year-old center-back was initially included in Toulouse's squad for the Ligue 1 clash but was ruled out due to a foot injury. In his absence, manager Carles Martinez Novell adjusted his back three, with Djibril Sidibé deputizing alongside the returning Rasmus Nicolaisen, who had recovered from an ankle problem sustained against Lens, with Charlie Cresswell in the middle.

Despite missing McKenzie's defensive presence, Toulouse delivered a commanding performance, climbing to eighth in the table with 26 points and keeping their hopes of European qualification very much alive. The victory was built on clinical finishing and defensive organization, the latter being a quality that McKenzie has consistently provided throughout the campaign.

The defender's injury comes at a particularly intriguing moment, as reports have emerged linking him with a potential January move to Leeds United. According to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook, the Premier League club eight points above the drop zone is interested in securing McKenzie's services for approximately £5 million, though Crook notably deleted his initial report, casting doubt on the claim's reliability.

McKenzie has featured 16 times in Ligue 1 this season, typically operating on the right side of Toulouse's three-man defense. His familiarity with playing in a back three could prove attractive to Leeds manager Daniel Farke, particularly given Sebastiaan Bornauw's recurring injury issues. The timing of this injury raises questions about McKenzie's immediate availability should any transfer materialize, though, at 26 years old and with full international experience, he represents an intriguing option for clubs seeking a top-flight-ready defensive reinforcement ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Weah's First Goal Since November

Winger Headed Home Marseille's Fourth in Rout Over Angers

Timothy Weah contributed to Olympique de Marseille's attacking masterclass as the French giants demolished Angers 5-2 in Ligue 1 action on Saturday. The 25-year-old United States international capped a dominant first-half performance with a well-taken header, his strike coming amid a ruthless display that saw Roberto De Zerbi's side score four goals before the interval.

Marseille entered the match brimming with confidence following their 9-0 thrashing of Bayeux in the Coupe de France, and they continued that momentum from the opening whistle. Weah was involved early, creating danger alongside teammates Amine Gouiri and Hamed Traore during the opening exchanges as the visitors seized control at Stade Raymond Kopa.

After Gouiri opened the scoring in the 19th minute and Mason Greenwood added a second five minutes later, Marseille's relentless pressure intensified. Traore made it three with a composed finish following Emerson Palmieri's assist, before turning provider for Weah's goal in the 36th minute. The American winger positioned himself perfectly inside the six-yard box to meet Traore's inch-perfect cross, directing his header into the net to make it 4-0.

Though Amine Sbaï pulled one back for Angers on the stroke of halftime, Marseille's commanding advantage never looked threatened. Weah completed the full 90 minutes, recording two shots on target from two attempts and maintaining an impressive 83% pass accuracy with 33 successful passes from 40 attempts.

The victory highlighted Marseille's extraordinary attacking prowess this season. Their 41 goals through 18 league matches represent their best return at this stage since the 1971-72 campaign, when they scored 42 and claimed the title. Since the start of 2025, they've netted 16 goals across all competitions, matching Bayern Munich for the most among Europe's top five leagues.

The win keeps Marseille firmly positioned in third place, though they remain eight points behind leaders Lens and seven adrift of Paris Saint-Germain, as they prepare for a crucial Champions League clash with Liverpool.

Agyemang's Late Winner

Striker Nods Home His Seventh Goal of the Season as Derby County Beat Preston

Patrick Agyemang redeemed himself in dramatic fashion, heading home a late winner to give Derby County a deserved 1-0 victory over Preston North End at Deepdale on Saturday. The 25-year-old United States international's 82nd-minute strike secured three crucial points for John Eustace's Rams, who dominated proceedings throughout and moved within five points of the Championship playoff positions.

The victory was particularly sweet for Agyemang, who had endured an agonizing moment earlier in the second half when he somehow blazed over from just six yards with the goal at his mercy. Ben Brereton Diaz had delivered a perfect low cross across the face of the goal, but the striker lifted his effort over the bar in what seemed destined to be the miss of the match.

Derby had controlled the contest from the opening whistle, with Sondre Langas forcing Preston goalkeeper Jack Walton into an early save from a header. The Norwegian defender tested Walton again midway through the first half, while Derby's pressure continued to build against a lackluster Preston side struggling to create meaningful opportunities.

Agyemang's moment of redemption arrived eight minutes from time. Brereton Diaz, who had orchestrated the earlier missed opportunity, delivered a delicate cross into the box where the American striker rose unmarked above static Preston defenders to plant his header into the ground and beyond Walton's despairing dive.

"I feel like that's like the winner's mentality," Agyemang said. "It's even when things, you feel like things aren't going your way fully, you know, chances aren't going in, like I had myself where I was, you know, a chance that I normally would put away, I didn't. I had to really regroup. At the end of the day, we're on the front foot still, and the boys need me to score."

The goal marked Agyemang's seventh of the campaign and secured Derby's second victory in three league matches, moving them up to 12th place. Meanwhile, Preston slipped to sixth despite remaining in the playoff positions, their third home league defeat highlighting their inconsistency this season.

Weah's Strike Sinks AC Milan

On This Day in 2025, The American Winger's Second-Half Finish Highlighted a Breakthrough Victory That Reignited Juventus' Top-Four Hopes

By mid-January 2025, Juventus found themselves in an unusual predicament. Thiago Motta's side remained the only unbeaten team in Serie A—a remarkable achievement on its surface—but their inability to convert dominance into victories had become a troubling pattern. Seven draws in their previous eight league matches had left them languishing in fifth place, outside the Champions League qualification spots that the club considered non-negotiable. The frustration was palpable at the Allianz Stadium, where fans had grown accustomed to controlling matches without delivering the knockout blow.

For Timothy Weah, the season had been a story of evolution. After overcoming early injury setbacks, the 24-year-old had established himself as a genuine threat in Motta's attack, contributing four goals and four assists across all competitions. His partnership with Weston McKennie had already produced Champions League history in December against Manchester City, and now, with the domestic campaign at a crossroads, Weah would once again be called upon to deliver in a crucial moment.

The January 18 clash with AC Milan carried enormous significance for both sides. Milan arrived at the Allianz Stadium riding momentum under new manager Sergio Conceicao, who had defeated Juventus just two weeks earlier in the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final. But the Rossoneri would be without their most important player, Christian Pulisic, who had been ruled out with a calf injury sustained against Como. The American's absence created a fascinating subplot: with Pulisic sidelined, Weah and McKennie faced fellow USMNT midfielder Yunus Musah in what amounted to a battle of American influence in Italy's biggest rivalry.

The first half unfolded as a tactical chess match befitting the occasion. Both sides created promising opportunities—Rafael Leao tested Michele Di Gregorio for Milan, while Kenan Yildiz came close for Juventus—but neither could break through. When Yildiz was forced off at halftime with an adductor injury, Motta turned to Weah, whose father, George, had famously worn the Rossoneri shirt in the 1990s. The substitution would prove decisive.

Juventus broke the deadlock in the 59th minute through Samuel Mbangula, whose curled attempt took a deflection off Milan defender Emerson Royal and wrongfooted goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Five minutes later, Weah delivered the moment that would seal the victory and capture his season's trajectory in a single sequence.

Khephren Thuram won possession in midfield and immediately threaded a perfectly weighted pass into space. Weah, making an incisive run from his wide position, took the ball in stride and attacked Milan's backline with directness and purpose. As Fikayo Tomori closed him down in a one-on-one situation, Weah shifted the ball onto his left foot and drove a low finish inside the far post, beyond Maignan's desperate reach. The Allianz Stadium erupted. The goal was both clinical and decisive—exactly what Juventus had been missing during their draw-heavy stretch.

For Weah, the strike represented more than just his fifth Serie A goal of the campaign. It was a validation of his growth as a player capable of deciding matches against elite opposition. His nine-goal contributions already marked a career high, and scoring against the club his legendary father had represented added a layer of personal significance.

The victory moved Juventus into fourth place with 37 points, ending their frustrating run of draws and establishing breathing room in the race for Champions League qualification. For Milan, the defeat was their first under Conceicao and left them in eighth place, six points adrift of the top four. Juventus had also achieved a defensive milestone, keeping four consecutive clean sheets against Milan in Serie A for the first time in the rivalry's long history.

The win against Milan proved to be a turning point, but not in the way Juventus supporters had hoped. Despite the breakthrough result and Weah's continued contributions, including a goal against PSV in the Champions League in February, the Bianconeri's season would ultimately fall short of expectations. They would finish fourth in Serie A, securing Champions League qualification but failing to mount a serious title challenge. In Europe, their journey ended in the knockout phase play-offs, while domestic cup competitions brought only modest returns—a Coppa Italia quarter-final exit and a Supercoppa semi-final defeat to Milan.

By March, Thiago Motta's tenure had come to an end after a humiliating 4-0 home defeat to Atalanta, with Igor Tudor taking over for the season's final stretch. Yet even as the campaign unraveled, Weah's performances remained a bright spot. His ability to deliver in critical moments—from Manchester City in December to Milan in January—demonstrated that American players were not just participating in Europe's elite competitions, they were deciding them. For a player who had once battled to stay healthy and find consistency, the 2024-25 season represented a coming-of-age campaign, with that low left-footed finish past Maignan standing as its defining image.

McBride's Double Rescues Everton

On This Day in 2003, the American Striker's Second-Half Brace Completed a Comeback Victory That Kept European Hopes Alive

By mid-January 2003, Everton found themselves in an unexpected struggle. David Moyes' side occupied a mid-table position that belied their ambitions, having won just once in their previous five league matches. The uncertainty was compounded by Wayne Rooney's suspension—the 17-year-old prodigy had just signed a new contract but couldn't help against Sunderland. With Kevin Campbell still recovering from injury, Everton's attacking options looked dangerously thin. The club needed someone to step into the void.

Enter Brian McBride. The 30-year-old American had arrived at Goodison Park on a three-month loan from MLS side Columbus Crew, reuniting with Moyes, who had managed him during a brief spell at Preston North End two years earlier. That previous loan had ended prematurely when McBride required surgery to remove a blood clot and rib after a collision in his first match, but not before he'd impressed enough for Preston to offer $1.8 million for his services—a bid MLS rejected, valuing their striker at twice that amount.

Now in the Premier League, McBride's introduction had been nothing short of spectacular. Making his Everton debut at White Hart Lane on January 12, he found the net inside 10 minutes against Tottenham, announcing his arrival in England's top flight with characteristic directness. The Toffees lost 4-3 that day, but McBride had demonstrated exactly what Moyes remembered: intelligent movement, aerial prowess, and an ability to finish chances. For a player who hadn't featured competitively in two months before arriving in England, the adjustment to the Premier League's pace had been seamless.

The January 18 clash with Sunderland was significant for both clubs, who were trapped in the lower half of the table. Howard Wilkinson's Black Cats arrived at Goodison having become synonymous with dour, defensive football—the kind of opponent Everton needed to break down to maintain any hope of a European push. With 37,409 fans filling the stadium on a cold afternoon, the anticipation was mixed with anxiety. Everton's creative struggles had been evident all season; without Rooney's spark, they would need McBride to provide the cutting edge.

The match began disastrously for the home side despite overwhelming territorial dominance. Alan Stubbs somehow contrived to miss two identical chances from Gary Naysmith's corners in the opening six minutes, heading over from close range when scoring seemed easier. Tomasz Radzinski rounded Thomas Sorensen but couldn't find the target. Steve Watson struck the post. McBride forced a sharp save from the Danish goalkeeper. Everton created chance after chance, yet Sunderland's goal remained intact through a combination of profligacy and Sorensen's brilliance.

The visitors punished that wastefulness in the 34th minute. Kevin Phillips, Sunderland's England international striker, slipped a perfectly weighted pass into Kevin Kilbane's path. The Irish winger, returning to face his former club, showed no sentiment, driving a precise left-footed finish beyond Richard Wright. Against the run of play, Sunderland led. Phillips nearly doubled the advantage on the stroke of halftime, only for Wright to produce a stunning save from 18 yards.

The pattern continued after the interval. Phillips tested Wright twice more in quick succession, Sunderland growing in confidence as they sensed a rare away victory. But Everton's first meaningful attack of the second half changed everything.

In the 51st minute, Steve Watson found Scot Gemmill in space on the right. The midfielder delivered a cross toward the penalty spot that caused confusion in Sunderland's defense. As the ball arrived, McBride launched himself into an overhead kick—more desperation than elegance. The execution was unconvincing, but the deflection off Darren Williams proved decisive, the ball looping over Sorensen and into the net. McBride would later admit with characteristic honesty: "Gary Naysmith gave a call before I was going up that he wanted it. I thought I'll give it a go anyway, and thankfully it went in, otherwise he would have had a go at me."

Six minutes later, McBride delivered the moment that epitomized his understated effectiveness. Radzinski threaded a pass into space behind Sunderland's backline. McBride appeared to miscontrol the ball as he gathered it, stumbling slightly, but his recovery demonstrated the instincts of a natural finisher. Regaining his balance, he shifted the ball onto his right foot and drove a low shot toward the far post. The finish was precise, finding the bottom corner with Sorensen helpless. The American wheeled away in celebration as Goodison erupted. "Rads found me early, and that was so important because I was able to drift off my guy and come back a little bit," McBride explained afterward. "Really, the space was at the far post, and it was a matter of whether the ball was going to get through the goalkeeper's legs or not."

For McBride, the brace represented validation of Moyes' faith in throwing him directly into the Premier League's unforgiving environment. Three goals in two appearances—all scored with his feet, despite his reputation as America's most accomplished aerial threat. The performance drew effusive praise from his manager. "His performance was excellent, he gives you great honesty and commitment," Moyes said. "It is players like that who contribute to the team overall and win you matches. Brian has come straight into the Premier League, scored last week in his first game for us and got another two here, and the way he played, he could have had a hat trick."

The victory lifted Everton to within touching distance of the European places and provided momentum at a crucial juncture of the season. For Sunderland, languishing near the relegation zone, it was another frustrating afternoon in a campaign that would ultimately end in the drop.

McBride's loan spell would continue for another six weeks, during which he added one more goal to his tally, finishing with four in eight appearances. The numbers told only part of the story—his hold-up play, work rate, and ability to bring teammates into the game had transformed Everton's attack. Moyes pushed hard to extend the loan until season's end, but Columbus rejected the approach, insisting on a permanent transfer if McBride were to stay. Everton, wary of investing heavily in a 30-year-old with limited resale value, declined. The American returned to MLS when his loan expired in April, resuming his career with the Crew.

"We are sorry to lose him, and he will be missed," Moyes lamented. "He has done extremely well, exactly what we had hoped for—if not better when we signed him. Brian has played a big part in our season at Everton, and we wish him all the very best for the future."

McBride would eventually return to English football with Fulham in 2004, where he would spend four successful seasons in the Premier League. But that winter afternoon at Goodison Park, when he hauled Everton back from the brink with two scrappy, determined finishes, remained a defining moment—proof that American players could deliver under pressure in Europe's most demanding leagues. For a striker whose career had been interrupted by blood clots and injury, who had been told he might never play again, the ability to score vital goals on football's biggest stages represented a personal triumph that transcended statistics.