Big day for the 'American dream' and Bayern duo in Germany
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Jun 21, 2020
Reyna started his first Bundesliga game -- and assisted on the winning goal -- for Borussia Dortmund in its 2-0 win over RB Leipzig that clinched second place in the Bundesliga.
Richards came on as a late sub in Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich's 3-1 win over Freiburg. And Booth started his first game for Bayern II in its 2-2 tie at Magdeburg that kept it in first place, on goal difference, in the 3 Liga.
Reyna's first start came after two previous late scratches since play resumed in May. In the first game, Dortmund's derby match against Schalke 04, he was penciled in the starting lineup but pulled after pre-game warm-ups because of a muscle injury. On Wednesday, he was expected to start against Mainz but missed the game because of illness.
Reyna's one-touch pass freed fellow teenager Erling Haaland to put Dortmund ahead in the 30th minute ahead at Leipzig. The Norwegian also scored the second goal to give him 13 goals in 14 games since moving from Austria's Salzburg in January.
"I called him the American dream before," Haaland said. "He's 17 years old, and what he's doing on the pitch today is amazing. He has a huge future in front of him."
Richards spent his second season in Germany after being transferred from FC Dallas with Bayern II until being promoted for the title-clinching win at Werder Bremen on Tuesday. He debuted Saturday, replacing Javi Martinez in the 84th minute of the home win against Freiburg.
Booth, a product of the Real Salt Lake academy along with Richie Ledezma (PSV) and Sebastian Soto (Hannover 96), signed with Bayern in 2019 after obtaining an Italian passport that allowed him to sign before he turned 18.
Booth, a midfielder, spent most of the 2019-20 season with Bayern's U-19s but has joined Bayern II late in the 3. Liga season. Bayern II is the only Bundesliga second team in the 3. Liga, but it leads a tight title race that features four teams at the top separated by one point with four games to play.
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Now all we have to do is hope really hard that ex-defender and USMNT coach Greg Berhalter recognizes the talent there, and loads up the USMNT with youngsters playing at the top level in Europe. Pulisic entered as a sub for Chelsea today, scored a goal and set up Giroud for the game winner. Enough already with loading up the USMNT with MLS players familiar to Berhalter as ex-Columbus coach! It is also a very sad commentary on MLS that young Americans get little, if any, playing time there, with preference given to players from Latin America on cheap contracts.
Would love to see Gio as our 10, but don't know if he's ready yet for the CONCACAF wear and tear. Afraid to see him CONCACAF'd. Think CP is better out wide than in the middle. Don't forget Alfredo Morales, can see him in a double-pivot with Tyler Adams or WM. BL players Steffen/Brooks/Adams/Morales/McKennie/Reyna/Sargent up the spine is a good start, with CP/Morris/Weah out wide, Dest and Lima as outside backs. Even US Soccer can see the Bundesliga is doing a good job developing American players--much better than MLS. Not the primary job of MLS, but still, kinda embarrassing.