Unbeaten at the Miami Cup

On This Day in 1986, a Goalless Draw with Canada Led to Another Draw After Missing the World Cup

The inaugural Miami Cup, part of the 1986 Miami Winter Games, marked a fresh start for the United States national team. The six-team tournament attracted three World Cup-bound sides: Uruguay, who had previously won soccer's biggest prize; Paraguay, who qualified through a playoff victory over Chile; and Canada, who earned their first-ever World Cup berth. Colombia and Jamaica rounded out the field. Brazilian legend Pele kicked off the festivities, arriving in a white stretch limousine wearing a black satin jacket to promote the tournament. "It doesn't matter who wins," Pele said. "What's important is that the teams put on a nice show for the people and score some goals."

For new U.S. coach Lothar Osiander, the tournament represented his first challenge after being hired just days before to revamp a floundering program. The German-born Osiander, who still worked as a waiter at Graziano's in San Francisco because he couldn't afford not to, completely overhauled the squad. Gone were NASL veterans like goalkeeper Arnie Mausser, replaced by college players with an average age of 21. For this tournament, though, the USA and Canada teams were without their MISL (Major Indoor Soccer League) players, who were not released, and the American squad comprised college players.

"We're fighting the high schools, the colleges, the Major Indoor Soccer League and the semipro outdoor leagues — to get players and mostly to keep them," Osiander explained of the challenges facing U.S. Soccer.

On February 5, the young Americans showed their potential in a scoreless draw with World Cup-bound Canada before an announced crowd of 5,182 at the Orange Bowl. Despite having only four days of practice together, the U.S. grew stronger as the match progressed. Clemson midfielder Eric Eichmann, who used to train with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, impressed in his international debut patrolling the middle of the field. 

"There are some guys in this room whose names I didn't know four days ago," Eichmann said after the match. "When the final whistle blew, I felt something was about to happen. We had started to create some chances."

Former Strikers legend Teofilo Cubillas waited outside the U.S. locker room to congratulate his protégé Eichmann. "Eric is a nice guy," Cubillas said. "He is a good player and can get even better. He only needs more competition at this level." 

Even Canadian coach Tony Waiters praised the Americans' performance, saying, "I was very impressed with their young players. They're not too far behind if they're behind at all."

Two days later, the Americans followed up the Canada result with another impressive showing, drawing Uruguay 1-1. Bruce Murray gave the U.S. an early lead in the eighth minute, and they held that advantage until Carlos Aguilera equalized in the 75th minute. The goal sent Uruguay's fans into celebration, causing the majority American crowd to respond with chants of "USA!" Though Uruguay advanced to the final on goal difference, Osiander's makeshift squad proved they could compete with established soccer nations.

"You can't build a team in three days; it takes three years," Eichmann reflected. "I cross my fingers that we can keep this team together because we proved we can play with the best. The talent is here." 

Uruguay's coach, Omar Borras, agreed, "They have a good future, this American team." 

The tournament marked an encouraging start to Osiander's rebuilding project, which aimed at the 1988 Olympics and 1990 World Cup. However, he remained realistic about the long road ahead: "I would not want to play Germany or Brazil right now, but for a start, you can call this a good week for us."

After the tournament, the players scattered back to their colleges, and Osiander returned to waiting tables. Due to the federation's limited budget, the U.S. wouldn't play again for months. "Thirty years ago, I came to the United States from West Germany. I was young, and everybody said, 'In 10 years, we will be a world power,'" Osiander said. "Now I'm old, and they still say, 'In 10 years, we will be a world power.' But we are not even close. By 1994, if the youth players continue to grow and we can have enough money to properly run a national team, maybe by then we can talk about it."

Reyna's First Professional Goal

On This Day in 2020, the Teenager Opened His Account with a Stunning Finish

Just 19 days after his 17th birthday, Giovanni Reyna made his Bundesliga debut for Borussia Dortmund as a 72nd-minute substitute in a 5-3 win over Augsburg on January 18, 2020. The son of a former U.S. national team captain and former USWNT midfielder became the youngest American to appear in the Bundesliga, breaking Christian Pulisic's record.

Growing up, Reyna was a multi-sport athlete who played AAU basketball until age 14, but his soccer talent was undeniable. Like Pulisic before him, Reyna joined Dortmund before turning 18 thanks to a European passport - in his case, Portuguese citizenship through his mother's family.

On February 4th, Reyna scored his first professional goal stunningly during Dortmund's DFB-Pokal Round of 16 match against Werder Bremen. After entering as a 66th-minute substitute for Dan-Axel Zagadou with Dortmund trailing 3-1, Reyna made an immediate impact. Shortly after Erling Haaland pulled one back, Reyna collected the ball and embarked on a mesmerizing dribble past several Bremen defenders before curling a right-footed shot into the upper corner. The goal made him the youngest scorer in German Cup history, though Bremen would hold on for a 3-2 victory.

"He's much more of an athlete than I was, much more of a goal scorer. He's very technical and has a good feel for the game," Claudio said of his son.

Dortmund manager Lucien Favre was also impressed, saying, "In training, you can see that he has something special. If you can't see that, you're blind." His teammate Haaland nicknamed him the "American Dream" because "he has a huge future in front of him."

Reyna's rapid rise continued two weeks later when he became the third-youngest player to appear in a Champions League knockout match against Paris Saint-Germain. He made the most of his opportunity, assisting Haaland's winner nine minutes after coming on as a substitute.

"It's crazy at times to think all my friends are in high school back home, and I'm in Germany playing professional Fussball right now in the Bundesliga," Reyna told BVB's TV channel. His promising form earned him his first planned Bundesliga start in the Revierderby against Schalke in May, but he suffered a calf injury in warmups.

Despite being eligible for England (birthplace), Portugal (through his mother's family), and Argentina (through his father), Reyna committed his international future to the United States in early 2020. "I'm aware of the rumors, but it's quite clear for me. I only want to play for the United States. That's my home country," he said.

U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter praised Reyna's development, particularly noting, "When he gets the ball in the pocket, his awareness to turn and efficiency is excellent. He doesn't waste any touches to turn. His ball security under pressure is phenomenal." Though the pandemic would delay his senior debut, Reyna was set to join a promising young core of Americans playing for Europe's top clubs.

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.

Frozen Qualifying Victory

On This Day in 2022, the Americans Dominant in the Coldest Match in US National Team History

The United States men's national team entered its World Cup qualifier against Honduras, desperately seeking an offensive spark. Just three days earlier, a 2-0 defeat at Canada had raised questions about the team's attacking prowess—they had managed just two goals in their previous three matches. With four games remaining in the qualifying campaign, the Americans sat in second place, but their margin for error had tightened considerably.

The headlines leading into the February 2 clash at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota, weren't about tactics or lineups – they were about the thermometer. At kickoff, the temperature read 6 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of minus-9, making it the coldest U.S. home match in program history. By the final whistle, the reading would drop to 3 degrees. While U.S. Soccer's strategy of choosing cold-weather venues to gain an advantage over warm-weather opponents wasn't new – Canada had hosted Mexico in 14-degree weather in Edmonton in November – the decision to push those boundaries against already-eliminated Honduras raised eyebrows.

The frigid conditions forced both teams to adapt. Players wore thermal head coverings, gloves and neck gaiters. U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner attempted to use a quarterback's hand warmer but was told to remove it by the referee just two minutes into the match. The benches were heated from above and below, and hot apple cider and blankets were abundant on the sidelines. For Honduras, the cold proved particularly brutal – goalkeeper Luis López couldn't continue after halftime, requiring IV fluids due to the extreme conditions.

On the field, the Americans finally found their scoring touch and did it through an unexpected source – set pieces. In the 8th minute, Kellyn Acosta – starting with the injured Tyler Adams – delivered a precise free kick that Weston McKennie headed home for the opener. It marked the U.S. team's first set-piece goal of the qualifying campaign and only their third first-half goal in 11 qualifiers.

The Americans doubled their lead in the 37th minute, again from an Acosta free kick. This time, Walker Zimmerman capitalized, turning inside the six-yard box to slot home his first international goal in three years. The biggest surprise of the night came from coach Gregg Berhalter's decision to start the match without Christian Pulisic, but the Chelsea star made his impact felt after entering as a substitute in the 64th minute. Three minutes later, Pulisic knocked in the team's third goal, converting from another set piece – this time an Acosta corner kick that pinballed off Ricardo Pepi and Zimmerman before finding the winger.

"Three points was pretty much a necessity, just with where we are and where we want to go," Zimmerman said afterward. "We really took that upon us." The center back praised the team's most "dynamic performance" of the window, particularly noting how they finally broke through on set pieces.

For Berhalter, the victory kept the U.S. in control of its World Cup destiny. "Our goal in this window was to stay in second or to move to first place and it looks like we'll do that," he said. When pressed about the controversial decision to play in such extreme conditions, Berhalter drew parallels to what his team faces on the road: "When we go down to those countries and it's 90 degrees and 90 percent dew point and it's unbearable humidity and guys are getting dehydrated and cramping up and getting heat exhaustion, that's the nature of our competition."

The 3-0 victory and Mexico's 1-0 win over Panama kept the United States tied for second place in the qualifying standings. With three matches remaining in March – away to Mexico, home against Panama, and away to Costa Rica – the Americans likely need one more victory to secure their place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Rubber-Match Win 49 Years in the Making

On This Day in 1998, a Victory to Start the Gold Cup

The United States entered 1998, riding a wave of momentum. Steve Sampson's squad had closed out 1997 by securing their World Cup spot with a convincing 3-0 victory over Canada on November 9, followed by a 4-2 win against El Salvador to wrap up qualifying. The positive trajectory continued into the new year as the Americans opened 1998 with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Sweden during January camp. With France '98 looming, the U.S. kicked off their CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign, a 15-day tournament starting at the beginning of the month.

For Sampson, the tournament represented a crucial opportunity to evaluate his squad just months before the World Cup. On February 1, the Americans would host Cuba at the Oakland Coliseum, marking the first meeting between the two nations in almost 50 years. The two teams held 1-1-1 (WDL) records against each other, with Cuba winning the first in Havana during the 1947 North American Football Confederation Championship. US and Cuba played to a 1-1 draw in the 1949 NAFC Championship before the United States earned a 5-2 win a week later — both in Mexico. That latter victory secured the Americans' spot at the 1950 World Cup.

The US came into this match as heavy favorites against a Cuban side ranked 62 spots below them in the FIFA rankings. Still, the most intriguing storyline was Sampson's decision to move Eric Wynalda, the U.S. all-time leading scorer with 31 goals in 90 appearances, from his natural forward position to left midfield. The move was made partly to accommodate forwards like Roy Wegerle and Roy Lassiter, but it left Wynalda in an unfamiliar role.

"I never put my personal agenda in front of what's best for the team. It's pretty much as simple as that. There's no issue as to any hostility between Steve and me," Wynalda said before the match, though his adjustment to the new position remained a key talking point.

The Americans came out aggressive from the opening whistle, with Frankie Hejduk leading several early attacking moves. Wynalda thought he had given the U.S. the lead in just the 5th minute. Still, his goal was controversially ruled offside by Trinidadian linesman Merere Louis Gonzalez – a decision that brought Sampson furiously off the bench. He even mentioned it at halftime during the full match broadcast. The disallowed goal seemed to affect the U.S. team's rhythm, as they struggled to convert their chances despite dominating possession. The teams went into halftime scoreless, with some frustrated boos emanating from the 11,234 fans in attendance.

The breakthrough finally came in the 55th minute through Roy Wegerle, who continued his hot streak with his fourth goal in three matches. The play started with Wynalda, who delivered an excellent flick to put Wegerle one-on-one with Cuban goalkeeper Alexi Reve-Aviles. The Americans nearly saw their lead evaporate three minutes later when Eduardo Cebranco hammered a shot against the right post – inches away from changing the match's complexion.

Instead, Wynalda doubled the lead in the 59th minute. The play developed when Cobi Jones pressured Reve-Aviles, forcing a loose ball that fell perfectly for an unmarked Wynalda to slam into the empty net. Joe-Max Moore, who had been everywhere on the field all afternoon, capped the scoring in the 76th minute with a confident penalty kick after Preki was brought down in the box.

Moore's performance was particularly noteworthy, as the 27-year-old from Irvine showed his versatility by tracking back on defense, creating chances in midfield, and joining the attack when needed. Having spent the MLS offseason in Ecuador rather than taking a break, Moore's fitness was evident throughout the match. "I feel great, I feel real sharp," Moore said afterward. "There's positions I prefer, but I really feel at this point that I'm fit enough to play wherever Steve puts me. I'm willing to do the work every game."

The 3-0 victory gave the U.S. a strong start to their Gold Cup campaign, though Sampson acknowledged room for improvement. "It wasn't until the second half, when things opened up a bit, that we were able to capitalize," he said, lamenting the "20 or 30 very clear opportunities" his team created but couldn't finish. The win set up a crucial group match against Costa Rica the following Saturday in Oakland, with the Americans needing a result to advance to the semifinals, which would come as a 2-1 American victory.

For Cuba, despite the loss, the tournament represented a chance to showcase their progress in a sport traditionally overshadowed by baseball in their country. "Our main goal in this tournament is to show just how much Cuban soccer has improved in the past few years," Cuban coach William Bennett said through an interpreter. "This is a very important step for us."