One of the best moments in Saturday’s Barclays Premier League play came courtesy of a Sounders academy graduate and USMNT favorite: DeAndre Yedlin. The former Seattle defender served up a stunner of an assist for Sunderland, with whom he currently plays on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, in an impressive comeback 3-2 win over Chelsea.
And how did he manage it? One of his patented moves down the right, at a crucial moment when Sunderland and Chelsea were tied 2-2. Here he is firing past his opponents’ defense, and whipping over a dangerous cross—right to former Toronto FC player Jermain Defoe.
Yedlin’s game-winning assist may have saved Sunderland from relegation. The team’s much-needed three points in the win leave them at the 17th spot in the BPL table, just out of the relegation zone—and they’ll face Everton at home this coming Wednesday to try to eke out more points to secure their spot in the league.
Meanwhile, as Yedlin’s flourished on loan at Sunderland, USMNT fans can hope he’ll bring some of that magic back stateside with him for the coming Copa America Centenario. Jurgen Klinsmann named him to the tournament’s preliminary 40-man roster, and we’ll find out soon if he’ll make the final 23-man cut for the tournament.
