Tag: Donovan Pines

Americans Abroad: Slonina stars while Trusty, Pines both score in Carabao Cup

If you’ve got a couple USMNT caps and played in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, odds are you had a good day at the office

Tuesday was a very good day to be an American Abroad, with multiple U.S. men’s national team prospects standing out in the first round of the Carabao Cup.

Gabriel Slonina had a Barnsley competitive debut to remember, while the club’s other U.S.-born player Donovan Pines marked his return from a long-term injury with an equalizer as the Tykes survived a penalty-kick tiebreaker to advance past Wigan Athletic.

Auston Trusty, meanwhile, bagged his first Sheffield United goal as the Blades defeated Wrexham 4-2 at Bramall Lane.

After the regulation 90 minutes ended in a 1-1 draw for Barnsley, Slonina saved spot kicks from Josh Stones and Thelo Aasgaard to propel his side through to the second round. It was the perfect way to endear himself to Tykes fans after only joining the club on loan from Chelsea last week.

Barnsley had trailed at halftime, only for Pines — making his first appearance since March after a thigh injury ended his 2023-24 season — to nod home a 48th-minute set piece.

After the match, Tykes assistant coach Martin Devaney called Slonina “the hero” of the match.

“[Slonina has] done really well,” Devaney told reporters. “We’ve all been looking forward to watching him tonight and seeing how he handles his debut and all in all, he’s done really well. He’s come out the hero, I suppose.”

Slonina came up with his stops in the first and third rounds of the tiebreaker, helping to ensure Barnsley of a spot in Wednesday’s draw for the second round.

Trusty scores first Blades goal

Roughly 64 miles to the west, USMNT defender Auston Trusty scored his first-ever goal for Sheffield United as the Blades got past a tricky challenge from Wrexham.

The Red Dragons took the lead after 29 minutes, but Trusty had the perfect response, getting wide open to head home a 35th minute corner.

While both teams scuffled along the goal line over uncertainty as to whether the ball had crossed the line, Trusty waited for the signal before beginning his celebrations.

The Blades would settle the contest with two goals in 12 second-half minutes, eventually tacking on a late third before Wrexham grabbed a second in stoppage time.

[lawrence-related id=72614,79819,79797]

Give Donovan Pines MLS Goal of the Year right now

It’s a masterpiece

MLS can call its Goal of the Year race right now.

Donovan Pines settled the issue before the season was even halfway over, scoring a goal of unfathomable brilliance for D.C. United, who had otherwise struggled to break down 10-man Inter Miami.

In fact, Pines’ goal is sure to draw the attention of the folks at FIFA who determine who wins the Puskás Award for the best goal in global soccer. No one in MLS is going to come even close to matching this absolute wondergoal.

The piece of wizardry came from an innocent-enough situation: Mateusz Klich’s corner found Steven Birnbaum at the back post, and the United captain headed the ball back across goal towards Pines. From there…what can we even say? It’s a masterpiece.