With European teams returning after the international break, there were plenty of goals and highlights on both sides of the Atlantic to excite U.S. Men’s National Team fans last week.
Two of the most dramatic goals were scored in a pair of 2-2 draws in Major League Soccer by Philadelphia Union defender Mark McKenzie and Chicago Fire midfielder Djordje Mihailovic.
On Oct. 14, the 21-year-old McKenzie rocketed home his first career MLS goal in the 87th minute to rescue the draw at D.C. United and clinch an MLS Cup Playoff berth for the Union. Olivier Mbaizo sent Ilsinho down to the end line before Ilsinho cut the ball back toward to the top of the penalty area. McKenzie bolted in and released a hard, 25-yard shot that deflected off a defender and past goalkeeper Chris Seitz into the upper right corner.
Morning! Start your day with this 🚀 from @markmckenzie4_.
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 15, 2020
The 🇺🇸 center back's 87th minute strike clinched an #MLSCupPlayoffs berth for @PhilaUnion last night. 👏
We should also check on that netting. pic.twitter.com/QJK4yjhRJ1
Mihailovic, a second-half substitute, added even more high drama for the Fire on Saturday. Deep into second-half stoppage time, the 21-year-old ran on to a lofted ball into the penalty area as Tim Melia came off his line. Mihailovic managed to get around the Sporting KC goalkeeper and then a cut-back to his right dodged a defender and allowed a clear shot into the empty net in what was essentially the last kick of the game.
🔥 AT THE DEATH!
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 17, 2020
🇺🇸 midfielder @DjoMihailovic came through with this bit of skill to rescue a point for @ChicagoFire vs. @SportingKC!
(@TUDNUSA) pic.twitter.com/R8nfSOrxML
The San Jose Earthquakes' Nick Lima had the first and last words in his team 4-0 victory against the LA Galaxy on Oct. 14. He lifted the visitors into a 1-0 lead in the 44th minute before tallying the final goal three minutes into stoppage time. Lima, 25, has seven goals in his four-year MLS career.
Over in Europe, two USMNT attackers also made impacts in their respective matches on Saturday.
In his first start since suffering a hamstring injury in the FA Cup Final on Aug. 1, Christian Pulisic acquitted himself well in Chelsea’s 3-3 draw with Southampton on Saturday. The winger helped set up the Blues’ third goal, which gave the squad a 3-2 lead in the 59th minute at Stamford Bridge.
After Southampton rallied from a 2-0 deficit, Pulisic avoided a tackle and passed to Timo Werner. He, in turn, set up Kai Havertz, who slotted home the go-ahead tally. Pulisic left the match in the 87th minute, only to see Chelsea surrender a late equalizer to Jannik Vestergaard in second-half stoppage time.
We're claiming another second assist for the 🇺🇸 this morning. Well done @cpulisic_10! 👏
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 17, 2020
(@NBCSportsSoccer)#MyPLMorning #CHESOU pic.twitter.com/j9minoomX4
With a flick of his head to a teammate, Gio Reyna played an integral part of Borussia Dortmund’s 1-0 win at Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday. With his back to goal, the 17-year-old nodded on a ball from midfield to Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker raced toward the penalty area before squaring a pass to Marco Reus, who had a step on his man before slotting the ball into an empty net in the 76th minute.
It may not show up in the box score, but we'll claim the second assist for Gio! 🇺🇸
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 17, 2020
(@ESPNFC)pic.twitter.com/YMx9jE59cK
In Spain, USMNT defender Sergiño Dest earned his first start for FC Barcelona, going the full 90 minutes at left back in the club’s 1-0 defeat at Getafe. Dest acquitted himself well for most of the match, making a nice defensive stop on Allen Nyom in the eighth minute, before laying off a pass for Lionel Messi who put his effort off the left post in the 20th.
We breakdown @sergino_dest's first start for @FCBarcelona 🇺🇸
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) October 17, 2020
Excited @USMNT fans? 👀 pic.twitter.com/Kp0duHt6sB
Dest and Barcelona will need to quickly recover as they open the Champion League Tuesday against Hungarian side Ferencváros before taking on Real Madrid in El Clásico next Saturday.
On loan from Chelsea, USMNT defender Matt Miazga went the full 90 minutes in his club debut for Anderlecht as the club drew 2-2 late against OH Leuven.
Defenders Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson helped Fulham register its first point of the English Premier League season in a 1-1 draw at Sheffield United on Sunday.
Gyasi Zardes, who broke double figures for the third consecutive MLS season last week, added to his total with goal No. 11 in the waning minutes of Columbus Crew SC's 3-1 home win against New York City FC. Zardes had his penalty kick saved by USMNT teammate Sean Johnson three minutes into injury time, but the striker slotted home the rebound.
Aron Johannsson continued to fill the net for Hammarby, scoring once in a 4-2 home victory against Mjallby in Sweden on Sunday. Johannsson has tallied seven goals in his last eight matches and has nine overall this season.
Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig; German Bundesliga) – 90 minutes in 2-0 win at Augsburg (Oct. 17)
Tyler Boyd (Besiktas; Turkish SuperLig) – N/A
John Brooks (Wolfsburg; German Bundesliga) – 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Borussia Moenchengladbach (Oct. 17)
Reggie Cannon (Boavista; Portuguese Primeira) – Plays Monday, Oct. 19 at Vitoria Guimaraes 3:15 p.m. ET (Oct. 19)
Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; Brazilian Serie A) – Not in 18, DNP vs. Vasco da Gama (Oct. 18): Not in 18 for 5-3 win at Sport Recife (Oct. 14)
Konrad de la Fuente (Barcelona; Spain La Liga) - Not in 18, DNP in 1-0 loss at Getafe (Oct. 17)
Sergiño Dest (Barcelona; Spain La Liga/Segunda B) – 90 minutes in 1-0 loss in 1-0 loss at Getafe (Oct. 17); 60 minutes for Barcelona B in 1-0 win vs. Gimnastic Tarragona (Oct. 18)
Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen; French Ligue 2) – 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Niort (Oct. 17)
Julian Green (Greuther Fürth; German Second Bundesliga) – 90 minutes in 1-0 vs. Hamburg (Oct. 17)
Duane Holmes (Derby County; English Championship) – 64 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Watford (Oct. 16)
Aron Johannsson (Hammarby; Sweden Allsvenskan) - 73 minutes and GOAL in 4-2 win vs. Mjallby (Oct. 18)
Ulysses Llanez (Heerenveen; Dutch Eredivisie) – In 18, DNP in 5-1 loss at Ajax (Oct. 18)
Matt Miazga (RSC Anderlecht; Belgian First Division A) - 90 minutes in a 2-2 draw vs. OH Leuven (Oct. 18)
Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italian Serie A) – Illness; Not in 18 for 1-1 draw at Crotone (Oct. 16)
Alfredo Morales (Fortuna Düsseldorf; German Second Bundesliga) – Injured, Not in 18 for 2-2 draw vs. Jahn Regensburg (Oct. 18)
Christian Pulisic (Chelsea; English Premier League) – 87 minutes in 3-3 draw vs. Southampton (Oct. 17)
Tim Ream (Fulham; English Premier League) – 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Sheffield United (Oct. 18)
Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; German Bundesliga) – 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Hoffenheim (Oct. 17)
Chris Richards (Bayern Munich; German Bundesliga) – Injured, not in 18 for 4-1 win at Arminia Bielefeld (Oct. 17)
Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) – 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Sheffield United (Oct. 18)
Emmanuel Sabbi (OB; Danish SuperLiga) – 64 minutes in 3-1 loss at Midtjylland (Oct. 17)
Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen; German Bundesliga) – 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Freiburg (Oct. 17)
Zack Steffen (Manchester City; English Premier League) – In 18, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Arsenal (Oct. 17)
Tim Weah (Lille; French Ligue 1) – In 18, DNP in 4-0 win vs. Lens (Oct. 18)
DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United; English Premier League) – Not in 18 for 4-1 loss to Manchester United (Oct. 17)
Brenden Aaronson (Philadelphia Union) – 90 minutes in 2-2 draw at D.C. United (Oct. 14)
Ayo Akinola (Toronto FC) – Injured, not in 18 for 1-0 win vs. Atlanta United (Oct. 18); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. New York Red Bulls (Oct. 14)
Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC) – Injured, not in 18 for 1-0 win vs Atlanta United (Oct. 18); Injured, not in 18 for 1-1 draw vs. New York Red Bulls (Oct. 14)
Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy) – 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (Oct. 18); 90 minutes in 4-0 loss vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Oct. 14)
Michael Bradley (Toronto FC) – 70 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win vs. Atlanta United (Oct. 18); Injured, not in 18 for 1-1 vs. New York Red Bulls (Oct. 14)
Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas) – 2 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 at Sporting Kansas City (Oct. 14)
Chase Gasper (Minnesota United FC) – 90 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. Houston Dynamo (Oct. 18); Match vs. Chicago Fire postponed (Oct. 14)
Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC) – 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Toronto FC (Oct. 18); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Inter Miami CF (Oct. 14)
Bill Hamid (D.C. United) – Not in 18 for 2-2 draw at FC Cincinnati (Oct. 18); Not in 18 for 2-2 draw vs. Philadelphia Union (Oct. 14)
Sean Johnson (New York City FC) – 90 minutes in 3-1 loss at Columbus Crew SC (Oct. 18); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Orlando City SC (Oct. 14)
Jonathan Lewis (Colorado Rapids) – Game vs. Real Salt Lake postponed (Oct. 18); Game at Seattle Sounders FC postponed (Oct. 14)
Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes) – 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Seattle Sounders (Oct. 18); 90 minutes, 2 GOALS in 4-0 win at LA Galaxy (Oct. 14)
Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy) – 87 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (Oct. 18); 84 minutes in 4-0 loss vs. San Jose (Oct. 14)
Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls) – In 18, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Orlando City SC (Oct. 18); In 18, DNP in 1-1 draw at Toronto FC (Oct. 14)
Daniel Lovitz (Nashville SC) – In 18, DNP in 3-1 win at Houston Dynamo (Oct. 14)
Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia Union) – 90 minutes, GOAL in 2-2 draw at D.C. United (Oct. 14)
Djordje Mihailovic (Chicago Fire) – 30 substitute minutes, GOAL in 2-2 draw with Sporting Kansas City (Oct. 17); Match at Minnesota United postponed (Oct. 14)
Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC) – 90 minutes in 0-0 at San Jose Earthquakes (Oct. 18); Game at Colorado Rapids postponed (Oct. 14)
Miles Robinson (Atlanta United FC) – 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Toronto FC (Oct. 18); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Inter Miami CF (Oct. 14)
Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC) – 90 minutes in 0-0 at San Jose Earthquakes (Oct. 18); Game vs. Colorado Rapids postponed 90 (Oct. 14)
Matt Turner (New England Revolution) – 90 minutes in 3-2 win at Montreal Impact (Oct. 14)
Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids) – Game vs. Real Salt Lake postponed (Oct. 18); Game at Seattle Sounders FC postponed (Oct. 14)
Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes) – 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at Seattle Sounders (Oct. 18); 90 minutes in 4-0 win at LA Galaxy (Oct. 14)
Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC) – 90 minutes and GOAL in 3-1 win vs. New York City FC (Oct. 18); 86 minutes in 2-1 loss at FC Cincinnati (Oct. 14)
Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC) – Not in 18 in 3-1 win at Houston Dynamo (Oct. 14)