The top leagues in Europe are finally starting back up! We have a plethora of Americans all across the globe making starts, and making differences at the highest levels in the world. Let’s take a look at the standouts in the first week.
Americans Abroad Weekly: The season is back! Leeds United States and More!
Leeds United
Unless only one of the three headed monster of Americans at Leeds does something noteworthy, I’m gonna group them together. Lucky for me, Leeds as a squad all stepped up, so we got stuff to go over. After barely staying up last season, Jesse Marsch and Leeds grabbed a 2-1 win over Wolves in Marsch’s first Opening Day with the club. Brenden Aaronson’s relentless pressure earned Leeds their first goal:
Rodrigo brings Leeds United level with Wolves with a superb near post finish from an acute angle. #LUFC
📺: @peacockTV #MyPLMorning | #LEEWOL pic.twitter.com/P2iV2xPWQ0
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 6, 2022
In the dying moments of the game, Tyler Adams played a nice ball, that led to a set up, and Brenden Aaronson nabbed his first goal in the Premier League to win it for Leeds!
Leeds take the lead over Wolves thanks to an own goal! #LUFC
📺: @peacockTV #MyPLMorning | #LEEWOL pic.twitter.com/EWutlRHPLd
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 6, 2022
Okay it was actually ruled an own goal, but I think I speak for every American when I say I’m choosing to disagree with that decision.
Jordan Pefok
Pefok was consistently a quality goal scorer in the Swiss League for Young Boys. He kicks off this season in the Bundesliga for Union Berlin, and he opened his goal scoring account in his first start, and a 3-1 win over Hertha. Plenty of USMNT fans would like to see him on the World Cup roster in November, and potentially starting at striker. Consistent goal scoring in the Bundesliga would certainly help his case.
Rest of the World Round Up
Let’s go over the rest of the appearances, as most of them were just minimal appearances.
Christian Pulisic started on the bench and played 25 minutes in Chelsea’s opening win over Everton. Giovanni Reyna was also an inclusion on the Dortmund bench, which came as a surprise to some. There were doubts over his fitness, and despite not seeing the field, it would seem his inclusion on the bench means he’s just about fully fit.
Elsewhere in Germany, Joe Scally started and went 84 minutes for Gladbach. Consistent starting for him could just earn the 19 year old a spot in Qatar. Down in the 2. Bundesliga, George Bello has made two substitute and one starting appearance for Armenia Bielefield.
Serie A and La Liga kick off this week, and we will back in full swing. With the World Cup break in the middle of the season, this is sure to be a season unlike any other. For our Americans abroad, hopefully that’s a good thing.
