It's not every day that we see two United States internationals squaring off against each other in UEFA Champions League action, but that's precisely the event that brought US national team boss Gregg Berhalter to Amsterdam last Wednesday night. The coach and US Soccer sporting director Earnie Stewart were on hand to watch Sergino Dest and early Group H leaders Ajax host Christian Pulisic's Chelsea side.
The timing was interesting with Dest — who is still deciding whether to commit his international career to the USMNT or the Netherlands — stating after the match that: "I think this week I will make my final decision."
Dest took his starting place at right back for the home side. While he put in a solid two-way showing, Pulisic grabbed the headlines, hopping off the Blues bench in the 66th minute to play the late hero at his compatriot's expense.
The chances were few and far between for both teams before Pulisic entered to shake things up. He dragged one dangerous shot attempt just wide and set up three scoring looks for teammates during his 24 minutes on the pitch. The last of his key passes ran right through Dest's legs and past a few area combatants until it found Michy Batshuayi. The Belgian striker made no mistake in burying the 1-0 winner, earning Pulisic his fifth helper across all competitions this term and his first in Champions League play since March of 2017.
It was a big moment for the US star, who has not been tabbed for a start by Chelsea manager Frank Lampard in nearly a month. Despite their first home defeat of any kind on the campaign, Dest and Ajax remained top of the group on goal differential ahead of the November 5 return at Stamford Bridge. Afterward, Lampard was full of praise for the former Borussia Dortmund man.
Close, but not quite... again
Red Bull Salzburg manager Jesse Marsch continued drawing Old World raves even after all the bounces went against them in a hard-luck 3-2 loss to Wednesday night Group E visitors Napoli.
The former MLS player and head coach suffered another close shave disappointment against a big Champions League name, having scared defending champs Liverpool in a 4-3 Matchday 2 loss at Anfield. After getting English tongues wagging by tactically going toe-to-toe with Juergen Klopp, Marsch tested his wits against Italian coaching legend Carlo Ancelotti.
The Wisconsin native didn't hold anything back in facing Napoli and their master maestro. He set up Salzburg to attack at will, and attack they did, using a variety of smooth moves to out-chance their esteemed visitors. Suffice it to say that Marsch's aggressive game plans have inspired some extremely positive Champions League soccer.
This time, he got a shrewd pair of goals from Norway strike prodigy Erling Braut Håland, who also had one waved away early in the game. That nixed tally, a couple of bad bounces, a couple of cruel saves by Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret and a classic counterattack master class by Belgium star Dries Mertens conspired to put Marsch and Salzburg three points shy of an advancement slot with the Stadio San Paolo rematch set for November 5.
USMNT injury updates
Elsewhere in the Champions League, Tyler Adams remained a spectator as RB Leipzig grabbed the top spot in Group G with a 2-1 home victory over Zenit St. Petersburg. The USMNT midfielder has yet to appear this season due to a persistently nagging groin injury.
It's not the first time we've heard it, but the club stated on Tuesday that Adams could return to the selection in about two weeks. The 20-year-old is finally back to taking part in some training activities with the full group, and manager Julian Nagelsmann plans to gradually increase his workload in the coming days.
"If he survives the two weeks very well, he will definitely be an option again, which will do us a lot of good," he told reporters.
Meanwhile, a Bundesliga rival of Adams is also battling a muscle injury. Schalke midfielder Weston McKennie, who sat out both their weekend loss to Hoffenheim and Wednesday training, looks unlikely to be fit for Saturday's derby with Borussia Dortmund.
Over in France, US attacker Timothy Weah has returned to full training with Lille. Wednesday night's 1-1 Champions League draw with Valencia marked the 11th game he's missed with a hamstring ailment.
Turning to the England Championship, Stoke City loan defender Cameron Carter-Vickers could be set for a quick lineup return after leaving 27 minutes into Tuesday night's loss at Sheffield Wednesday with a cut on his foot.
Despite needing stitches, word out of Stoke has the center back considered probable for Saturday's trip to Millwall. Carter-Vickers has been in top form of late, and took Man of the Match honors following this past weekend's shutout win over Fulham.
USMNT future watch
Barcelona Under-19 winger Konrad de la Fuente enjoyed a breakout game in Tuesday's 4-0 stroll past UEFA Youth League hosts Slavia Prague. The US youth international punctuated a Man of the Match display with the Catalans' first and last goals.
In Germany's Under-19 Bundesliga, a pair of former MLS academy standouts have enjoyed winning returns from injury.
Back after nearly two months on the shelf with an ankle problem, Wolfsburg talent Ulysses Llanez picked up right where he left off starring for the Nord/Nordost leaders in a 3-2 road win over second place Union Berlin. The US Under-20 ace, who entered near the hour mark, needed just eight minutes to level matters and another five to find the winner. It was the fourth brace in five league outings for Llanez, who is tied for fourth on the league goal chart.
In the Under-19 Bundesliga Sued/Suedwest division, Real Salt Lake academy product Taylor Booth ended his injury woes by making a 28-minute season debut in Bayern Munich's 4-0 rout of Greuther Fuerth on the weekend. The midfielder followed that up with 32 minutes in Tuesday's identical victory away to UEFA Youth League foe Olympiacos.
