GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, including Crystal Palace winning the Community Shield
As soft launches go, the weekend for Americans Abroad was an unconditional success. Many of the European club heavy-hitters are still waiting to kick off, but the opening weekend of the season proved to be no mere appetizer. From trophy lifts to momentous goals, some of the U.S men’s national team’s big stars made their mark.
Chris Richards and Crystal Palace were the headliner as they won the Community Shield with a shootout win over Liverpool. He wasn't the only American cornering, either, as both Sergino Dest and Josh Sargent found the back of the net, while Damion Downs made his own mark in his Southampton debut by contributing to a late goal.
More games are ahead as players all over Europe begin their seasons. The USMNT, then, will hope this is a sign of things to come.
GOAL looks at the major takeaways from this weekend's Americans Abroad.
Getty ImagesDowns' first impression
You don't get a second chance to make a first impression, as the saying goes. In truth, Damion Downs' first impression at Southampton came with a goal in his preseason debut. Then, on Saturday, in his first real game in the Championship, Downs marked his debut with an assist, helping the Saints win in the final seconds.
Down a goal against media darlings Wrexham entering second-half stoppage time, Southampton pulled level in the 90th minute. Then, six minutes later, they won it, with Downs flicking the ball straight to Jack Stephens to steal three points at home in the first match of the season. It was an incredible tone-setter – and it wouldn't have happened if not for Downs.
The former Koln midfielder, who joined Southampton after earning his first USMNT caps this summer, didn't start the match. He came on in the 60th minute and did little, in truth, until his assist, amassing just six touches across his 30 minutes. It took him just that one late to help change the game.
It may not have been totally intentional but they all count. So, too, do the three points.
We'll have to see how Downs progresses with Southampton, and that progress will ultimately determine his World Cup candidacy. Saturday will be a huge confidence boost for a young player in a new environment who has clear hopes of achieving more.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportSargent out of the gates
On the other end of the spectrum, Josh Sargent was not making a first impression. His pedigree is well-known in the Championship. He's a Golden Boot contender, as he has been over the last two years and – while his pursuit of that trophy is up in the air due to transfer speculation – he's off to a good start.
To be fair, Sargent's season-opening goal was handed right to him. Millwall goalkeeper Steven Benda banked his clearance off of him and into the back of the net. Sargent won't get many easier goals than that. You can call it good fortune, if you want, but Sargent will surely say that strikers make their own luck.
Norwich, unfortunately for the striker, went on to lose 2-1. It was a rough start for a club hoping to finally make that promotion push. With Sargent, they'll have hopes of making it happen, even with this early loss. Without him, though, it could be tough.
With a few weeks left in the transfer window, Sargent's future will be a major talking point around the USMNT. He's a player who clearly has something to prove and, given his struggles scoring for the national team, Championship goals may not be enough to prove it. They all help, though, and with this start to the season, Sargent is off and running.
Getty Images SportDest at his best
He scored last week to help seal a trophy and he scored this week to help PSV to a lopsided win. Sergino Dest is well and truly back, and USMNT fans should be celebrating.
Dest was far from the only standout in a 6-1 beatdown of Sparta Rotterdam in Saturday's Eredivise opener. He smashed in his goal just before halftime, making it 3-0 en route to the lopsided win. It was a fantastic finish for a fullback, but anyone who has followed his career knows that Dest is not just a fullback – when fit, he's an attacking force, one that the USMNT has sorely lacked.
PSV are benefitting from his return, as his ACL injury seems behind him. Dest could be a true difference maker for PSV this season as they look to claim yet another league title. They'll likely have to ease him back into things in these opening weeks and, of course, there will be adjustments when he does make his first appearances under Mauricio Pochettino with the USMNT.
Two goals in two weeks, though, exemplify Dest at his best. The USMNT will need that desperately over the next year.
Getty Images SportRichards and Palace lift trophy
Chris Richards and Crystal Palace had hopes of another Wembley triumph. They were back as a reward for winning the FA Cup, playing for a Community Shield for the first time. In their way? The defending Premier League champions Liverpool. Not easy but, in the end, Richards and Palace outlasted them in a shootout, sealing another legendary win in England’s most famous stadium.
Two of Liverpool’s new stars, Hugo Ekitike and Jeremy Frimpong, got on the scoresheet, but Richards and Palace stood strong. A late goal forced a 2-2 draw and a shootout and, once there, Liverpool blinked. Palace won, 3-2, sending their fans into euphoria for the second time in a matter of months.
Richards, in particular, was solid. He was inches away from blocking Ekitike’s opener in his one down moment of the day, but he otherwise handled Liverpool’s big-money, high-octane attack. He was also dangerous on set pieces, putting in a decent first shift of the season.
If this was a sign of things to come, Richards will have a strong season ahead. And that's good news for Palace, as they celebrate another trophy lift.
