UCL: Dest, Reyna, McKennie and Adams Help Clubs to Champions League Wins on Wednesday
Tyler Adams returned to action for the first time after missing three matches with inner ligament injury
Sergino Dest, Gio Reyna, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams celebrated their U.S. Men's National Team call-ups with wins in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
On Match Day Three of the competition, Dest played well on both sides of the field in Barcelona's 2-1 win against Dynamo Kyiv, while Reyna helped Borussia Dortmund to a 3-0 victory past Club Brugge.
McKennie came off the bench in the 53rd minute to help Juventus to a 4-1 win at Ferencvaros, and Adams returned to action following a minor injury in a 13-minute cameo to help RB Leipzig close out its 2-1 triumph against Paris Saint Germain.
All four players were named to the USMNT squad that will meet Wales in Swansea on Nov. 12 and Concacaf foe Panama in Wiener Neustadt, Austria on Nov. 16.
SERGIÑO DEST
After coming on as a substitute Saturday's 1-1 draw at Deportivo Alaves, Dest, who turned 20 on Tuesday, was back in the Starting XI against Dynamo Kyiv and went full 90 minutes in the 2-1 win.
Dest helped create two chances during the match. In the sixth minute, he combined well with Lionel Messi on the right before centering a pass in the box for Pedri who saw his first-time effort smack off the cross bar.
In the 41st minute, Dest combined with Miralem Pjanić before cutting back a pass for Pedri who saw his shot saved by Ruslan Neshcheret.
The victory gave first-place Barca a perfect 3-0-0 mark and nine points in Group G.
GIO REYNA
Making his second consecutive UCL start, Reyna did not figure in the goal scoring, although he was amongst several build-ups and initiated Dortmund's corner kicks.
Reyna, who is hoping to make his USMNT debut next week, was replaced by Felix Passlack in the 77th minute.
Dortmund cruised to a three-goal advantage, taking advantage of Brugge mistakes to make life miserable for Belgian international goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
Mignolet's American understudy, Ethan Horvath, who also was recalled for two Euro friendlies, served as a reserve. Horvath was the hero of Club Brugge's 2-1 win over Zenit St. Petersburg on Oct. 20.
With the win, Dortmund (2-1-0, 6 points) moved to the top of Group F.
WESTON McKENNIE
McKennie replaced Aaron Ramsey – a teammate he may see in this month’s friendly against Wales -- in the 53rd minute of Juventus' 4-1 road win against Ferencvaros (Turkey).
Though he didn’t register an assist, the 22-year-old midfielder did play a part in what would stand as the go-ahead goal when he dummied a pass from Cristiano Ronaldo on its way to Alvaro Morata, who hit home Juve’s second goal in the 60th minute.
Juve (2-1-0, 6) solidified its second-place position behind Barcelona in Group G.
TYLER ADAMS
Adams, who has not appeared in the last three matches due to injury, returned to the 18 for Leipzig in its Group H encounter against Paris St-Germain.
With RB Leipzig clinging to a one-goal lead, the former New York Red Bulls standout came on for Amadou Haidara in the 76th minute and helped the German side close out the win as it moved up in second place in Group H with a 2-1-0 mark and six points. PSG finished the match with nine men as it had two players red-carded in the second half, one in stoppage time.
Christian Pulisic, who was pulled out of the lineup after tweaking his hamstring during pregame warm-ups for Chelsea's English Premier League match on Saturday, did not play for the Blues in its 3-0 win vs. Rennes (France) in the Group E encounter.
After next week's FIFA international window, UCL action returns on for the USMNT players on Nov. 24.