Category: Americans Abroad

Weah sidelined with hamstring injury after opening-night Juventus goal

It’s one step forward, one step back for the USMNT winger

Juventus winger Tim Weah is set for a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury suffered in Monday’s season-opening win against Como.

Weah was injured near the end of the first half, and moved gingerly around the field as a substitute warmed up on the sideline.

But the U.S. men’s national team winger wasn’t done for the night. In first-half stoppage time, Weah managed to find his way into the box and thump home a left-footed strike for his first career Serie A goal.

Minutes later, the halftime whistle blew and the 24-year-old’s night was over.

On Tuesday, Juventus released a medical update on Weah and midfielder Khephren Thuram, saying both players would miss at least 10 days with hamstring injuries.

“Following muscular problems suffered during last night’s match, Khephren Thuram and Timothy Weah underwent diagnostic tests this morning at the J|Medical, which revealed for the former a low-grade hamstring injury in his left thigh and for the latter a low-grade hamstring injury in his right thigh,” the club said.

“New examinations are scheduled for both players in approximately 10 days’ time.”

The injury is a blow for Weah, who has been moved to his more natural winger position under new manager Thiago Motta.

Weah played wingback under Max Allegri last term, as his debut campaign with the Bianconeri saw him lose his starting role by midseason.

After Juve won 3-0, Motta marveled at how a clearly hobbled Weah still managed to find himself in the right place and executed his shot to perfection.

“That was the great instinct of the player!” the coach said with a laugh to DAZN.

“He wasn’t in good shape, he almost walked into the box, because he sensed that was the position to be in. We’ll evaluate him tomorrow and hope it is nothing serious.”

The injury also appears likely to keep Weah off the USMNT roster for September matches against Canada on September 7, and New Zealand three days later.

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USMNT winger Weah scores, comes off injured in Juventus opener

It was a case of good news, bad news for the New York native

Tim Weah scored his first Serie A goal on Monday, netting in the first game of his second campaign at Juventus.

It wasn’t all good news for the U.S. men’s national team winger, though, as he was forced off with an injury that he actually suffered minutes before scoring his goal.

Under new head coach Thiago Motta, Weah has been moved to his more natural winger position after spending last season as a wingback under Max Allegri.

Weah’s first season with Juve was underwhelming, as he would lose his starting role by midseason. The USMNT attacker appears to have new life in 2024-25, which he demonstrated by playing a part in both of Juve’s first-half goals against Como.

First, Weah’s long switch found Samuel Mbangula, who cut in and arrowed an inch-perfect strike inside the far post to give Juve a 23rd-minute lead.

Later in the half, Weah appeared to suffer an injury after a clash near the touchline. As the 24-year-old moved gingerly around the field, he still managed to open his Serie A account in first-half stoppage time.

Kenan Yıldız beat his defender on the left flank and cut back an inviting ball near the penalty spot, which Weah hammered off the underside of the crossbar and out. The referee’s watch buzzed, however, as the ball clearly crossed the line.

As Weah walked off the field to end the first half, he indicated to trainers that he would be unable to play any further part in the game at Allianz Stadium.

Nicolò Savona came on at the break to replace the New York native, who will now hope his early momentum won’t be curtailed by injury.

After the game, which Juventus won 3-0, Motta was asked if he told a hobbling Weah to get into the penalty box near the end of the half.

“That was the great instinct of the player!” the coach said with a laugh to DAZN.

“He wasn’t in good shape, he almost walked into the box, because he sensed that was the position to be in. We’ll evaluate him tomorrow and hope it is nothing serious.”

Watch Weah’s goal vs. Como

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Injured USWNT pair Fishel and Macario included in Chelsea USA tour squad

The two forwards are recovering from the effects of torn ACLs

Two U.S. women’s national team forwards got some positive health news this weekend, as Mia Fishel and Catarina Macario were included in Chelsea’s traveling roster for its preseason tour of the United States.

Both players missed the Olympics as they recovered from knee injuries, but the duo was healthy enough for inclusion on Sonia Bompastor’s 28-player roster.

After recovering from a torn ACL that kept her out nearly two years, Macario was forced out of the Olympics with “minor knee irritation.”

Fishel, meanwhile, tore her ACL in training with the USWNT back in February. The forward’s inclusion on Chelsea’s traveling squad is a positive indication that her recovery is progressing well.

Chelsea will play NJ/NY Gotham FC at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey on Monday, before heading south for a match against London rival Arsenal at Audi Field in Washington D.C. on August 25.

The Blues are starting their first campaign under Bompastor, who took over as head coach after Emma Hayes departed to take over the USWNT.

Hayes enjoyed instant success in her first foray into the international game, leading the USWNT to an Olympic gold medal last weekend in just her 10th match in charge.

Chelsea Women 2024 USA tour squad

Goalkeepers: Hannah Hampton, Katie Cox, Zecira Musovic

Defenders: Ashley Lawrence, Alejandra Bernabe, Charlotte Wardlaw, Eve Perisset, Lucy Bronze, Kadeisha Buchanan, Millie Bright, Nathalie Bjorn, Niamh Charles

Midfielders: Erin Cuthbert, Lexi Potter, Maika Hamano, Oriane Jean-Francois, Sjoeke Nusken, Sophie Ingle, Wieke Kaptein

Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones, Catarina Macario, Guro Reiten
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Lauren James, Lucy Watson, Mayra Ramirez, Mia Fishel, Sandy Baltimore

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Juventus boss Motta says he may have a use for McKennie after all

History appears to be repeating itself for the USMNT midfielder

Weston McKennie has once again gone from outcast to in the mix at Juventus.

Just two weeks after Juve head coach Thiago Motta told McKennie his services were no longer required, the situation has changed for the U.S. men’s national team midfielder.

At a press conference ahead of Juve’s season opener against Como on Monday, Motta declared that he may, in fact, have a use for the midfielder this season after all.

“McKennie is a useful and functional player for our needs,” the coach said on Sunday. “Tomorrow we have 19 players to face the match and I can only put 11 on the pitch and make five substitutions. We are fine, we trained with the right intensity and we are ready.”

Motta’s words were a major departure from earlier this month, when he said that every player left out for a friendly against Brest — including McKennie — was not in his plans.

“We have been very clear with them,” Motta said on August 4. “They are talented, but must find other options where they will get more playing time. For [Federico] Chiesa and the others, the decision has been made.”

But after several media reports last week that McKennie had returned to the fold, Motta has confirmed that the 25-year-old is back in his plans.

McKennie’s contract is currently set to expire at the end of the season, with talks over an extension so far proving unsuccessful.

The USMNT star’s situation is reminiscent to what he faced last summer, when he returned from a loan at Leeds only to find himself an outcast.

“I didn’t have my locker, I didn’t have a room in the hotel, I didn’t have a parking space,” McKennie said in an interview with The Athletic.

“I couldn’t even get my shirt number (14), even though nobody else had taken the number. I was like, ‘OK you guys want to treat me like this? I’m just going to show you on the field.’”

McKennie responded last year by becoming a vital part of the team, starting nearly every game while tallying a career-high 10 assists.

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Musah sparks stunning AC Milan comeback vs. Torino with assist

Pulisic overcame an injury to suit up for Milan, but Musah ended up making the bigger impact in a dramatic late comeback

Yunus Musah played a major role as AC Milan escaped a potentially troubling start to the 2024-25 Serie A season.

The U.S. men’s national team midfielder came off the bench to notch an assist in stoppage time as the Rossoneri recovered from a two-goal deficit after 88 minutes to secure a 2-2 draw with Torino.

Saturday’s clash was a debut for new manager Paulo Fonseca, but it looked destined to be an opener to forget for Milan. Malick Thiaw’s 30th-minute own goal seemed to suck the air out of the San Siro, and — moments after a Milan penalty was overturned by VAR — Duvan Zapata made it 2-0 to the visitors.

Fonseca turned to his bench, first giving Spain striker Álvaro Morata his competitive debut before bringing Musah on for his USMNT teammate Christian Pulisic.

Largely setting up at right back, Musah played a major role as Milan conjured up a stunning late escape. Opta credited him with playing a part in a whopping seven shot attempts after entering the match in the 73rd minute.

First, the 21-year-old’s long-range effort eventually became Morata’s first Milan goal. Musah struck with power, only for a Torino defender to provide a block. The rebound fell to Tijjani Reijnders, who fizzed a ball in for the veteran striker to calmly guide home in the 89th minute.

Musah was a bigger factor in the equalizer. Receiving the ball in space on the right, the USMNT midfielder swung in an inch-perfect cross for Noah Okafor, who didn’t have to break stride to volley past Torino’s Vanja Milinković-Savić.

Pulisic, meanwhile, started as Milan’s No. 10 on the day, a possibility Fonseca discussed coming into the season.

While Saturday wasn’t the USMNT star’s best day at the office — his last action of the match was a shot over the bar from point-blank range — it will come as a relief nonetheless. Pulisic was an injury doubt heading into the match, with his status unclear until Milan released its starting lineup on the day.

Watch Musah’s dramatic late assist

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Amid transfer interest, USMNT’s Sargent off the mark for Norwich City

Sargent showed why Norwich City is reportedly placing a $25 million valuation with his first goal of the Championship season

Josh Sargent isn’t letting the transfer rumors swirling around him distract from his job at Norwich City.

The U.S. men’s national team forward scored his first goal of the 2024-25 season, offering up a powerful finish in what became a 2-2 Championship draw with Blackburn.

Sargent also provided an assist as the Canaries took a second-half lead through Borja Sainz, but Norwich had to settle for a point after Yuki Ohashi’s late equalizer for the visitors.

With his side trailing 1-0 in the 65th minute, Sargent made his mark. Defender Callum Doyle’s clever pass found the USMNT man in a seam in Blackburn’s defense, but Sargent still had plenty to do.

Facing a somewhat tricky angle, Sargent could have cut the ball back, or tried to round his man to get to the endline for a cross. Instead, the 24-year-old called his own number, smashing a left-footed rocket past goalkeeper Aynsley Pears.

Sargent would do much of the heavy lifting as Norwich took the lead eight minutes later. The Missouri native won the ball at midfield, pushed into the Blackburn half, instigated a one-two to break through the visitors’ back line, and zipped a low cross in for Sainz to finish on the doorstep.

The good second half made up for a first half in which Sargent, by his own coach’s account, should have had a hat trick. However, Norwich boss Johannes Hoff Thorup praised Sargent for brushing off the misses and getting the job done.

“We made some adjustments at halftime and came out way stronger in the second,” said Hoff Thorup. “Imagine [Sargent] going in at half-time knowing he could have scored a hat-trick? But he kept on going and showed the right attitude.”

Sargent will be hoping he can be just as prolific this season as he was last year. Despite missing a long spell due to ankle surgery, Sargent scored 16 times in 26 league appearances for the Canaries, at one point scoring 11 goals over a 14-game span.

That good form sparked some significant transfer interest in Sargent. GiveMeSport reported that FC Cincinnati offered as much as $20 million to bring the USMNT forward to MLS, only for Norwich to insist on a valuation over $25 million. Earlier this week, The Athletic reported that St. Louis City is also interested in Sargent’s signature.

Watch Sargent score his first goal of the season

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Horvath literally takes eyes off the ball as Cardiff suffers Burnley rout

Horvath and Cardiff City have gotten off to a nightmarish start to the 2024-25 season

Ethan Horvath and Cardiff City have not exactly gotten off to a good start in the 2024-25 Championship season.

The U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper made an embarrassing mistake in the early stages of the Bluebirds’ league clash at Burnley on Saturday, conceding the first goal in what turned into a 5-0 rout.

Cardiff City’s Championship schedule has 44 more fixtures left to play, and the Wales-based club will be hoping its first two outings are its worst back-to-back games of the season. After two rounds of play, the Bluebirds have lost twice, conceding seven times and scoring none.

At Turf Moor, the game seemed to be settling into a very normal rhythm in its first nine minutes, with the visitors regaining possession after a series of loose balls in the midfield.

Around 25 yards from goal, center back Dimitrios Goutas received a simple pass and turned to scan for his next option. With pressure arriving, the Greek defender changed his mind, and calmly played a slow roller back to Horvath for the kind of long clearance forward that is a universal occurrence in the sport.

Just one problem: as the pass arrived at his right foot, Horvath glanced upfield, losing track of the ball. The USMNT man didn’t get much (if any) of a touch, and Goutas’ pass carried on past Horvath, rolling over the line for a debacle of a goal.

“We conceded an unlucky goal. The mistake that happened with our goalkeeper,” Bluebirds manager Erol Bulut told reporters after the match. “This can happen, and we are fully behind Ethan. He has saved many goals for us in other games.”

Adding insult to injury, official Championship stat-keeping eventually ruled that the goal will go into the record books as a Horvath own goal.

Burnley would manufacture a goal of its own in the 31st minute, with U.S.-eligible winger Luca Koleosho getting on the scoresheet. For Cardiff, things only got worse, with Burnley scoring three second-half goals to turn the match into a blowout.

Cardiff City has eight days to sort itself out before its next match, a Welsh derby against Swansea.

Watch Horvath’s error for Cardiff City

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USMNT goalkeeper Turner left off Nottingham Forest squad for Premier League opener

The USMNT starter appears to be third-string at his club

Matt Turner appears to have been demoted at Nottingham Forest — again.

The U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper was not in Forest’s matchday squad for its Premier League opener against Bournemouth on Saturday, indicating he may have dropped to third on the depth chart.

Turner joined Forest last summer in a £10 million move from Arsenal. After a promising start to his time at the City Ground, the 30-year-old would eventually lose his starting position due to a series of high-profile errors.

Forest signed Matz Sels from Strasbourg in February, relegating Turner to a spot on the bench for the remainder of the Premier League season.

In the summer, Forest signed goalkeeper Carlos Miguel from Corinthians. The Brazilian was on the bench on Saturday, with Sels in goal to kick off the 2024-25 season.

With Turner’s chances of playing time now seemingly gone at Forest, the focus will turn to whether he can secure a move away before the transfer window closes at the end of August.

CBS Sports has reported that Turner has been subject to interest from Bundesliga and La Liga clubs this summer.

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USMNT left back Robinson praises impending Pochettino hire

The ex-Chelsea boss is closing in on taking over the USMNT

Mauricio Pochettino may not officially be U.S. men’s national team head coach yet, but one of the team’s key players is already praising his arrival.

Multiple reports this week have said that Pochettino and U.S. Soccer have reached an agreement for the Argentine to take over the USMNT. The hire will be made official when the final details between the coach and his former club Chelsea are ironed out.

In the meantime, Robinson became the first USMNT player to react to the hire, as NBC Sports quizzed him following Fulham’s season-opening loss to Manchester United on Friday.

“Good,” Robinson said when asked about his reaction to the former Chelsea, Tottenham and PSG coach taking over for Gregg Berhalter.

“He’s a very good manager, so I’ll be interested to see obviously how he comes in, how he gets used to the boys, how we get used to him.

“It’s a fresh start now, obviously eyes are going to be on the World Cup and he’s got two years to get the best out of us that we can and we gotta give it everything for him, so that he can be successful with us.”

The USMNT will face Canada and New Zealand in a pair of friendlies on September 7 and 10, with the team expected to use an interim manager for the games. Pochettino could make his debut as U.S. boss during the October international window.

Watch Robinson react to Pochettino hire

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USMNT defender McKenzie completes transfer to Toulouse

The 25-year-old becomes the first America to ever play for the French club

Mark McKenzie has joined Ligue 1 side Toulouse on a transfer from Genk, the clubs announced on Friday.

McKenzie, 25, spent four seasons in Belgium with Genk, making 128 appearances.

The U.S. men’s national team defender told his new club’s website that he was ready to make the next step in his career.

“I am 25 years old, I have been playing in Belgium for several seasons now and I simply wanted to move up a level in my career,” the defender said.

“I think it was the right time. Above all, I wanted to make the right choice by joining a team with a real playing identity, a project that fits with my ambitions and a way of playing that matches my profile.”

The defender had been recently linked with a move to Germany, but will instead continue his career in the French top flight.

McKenzie will become the first American to ever play for Toulouse, which has finished mid-table in Ligue 1 the past two seasons.

“It’s always special to be the first to do something, no matter what it is,” he said. “It’s an honor to represent the United States so far. It adds a little pressure, yes, but I have to raise my own standards, lead the way and maybe inspire some in America.”

McKenzie has earned 13 caps for the USMNT. He was on the team’s roster for this summer’s Copa América but did not make an appearance at the tournament.

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