GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, including Pulisic's season-opening goal for Milan
All eyes were on Christian Pulisic, as they so often are. After a summer full of controversy with the U.S. men's national team, the American star certainly has a point to prove heading into this season. The best way to accomplish that in this sport? Goals. And Pulisic complied, opening his season with a major one on Sunday.
Pulisic headlined the list of USMNT stars abroad thanks to his score in Milan's 2-0 Coppa Italia win over Bari. In his first competitive fixture of the season, Pulisic stepped up, leading his side to victory while sending a message back to the critics who have dominated the airwaves and headlines in recent weeks.
He wasn't the only American to score. There were goals aplenty throughout Europe. There were some debuts, too, among the standout performances. The season was just beginning, literally, but there's already plenty happening as the USMNT prepares to gather for the upcoming September window – and the World Cup nine months later.
GOAL looks at the major takeaways from this weekend's Americans Abroad.
Getty Images SportPulisic fires back
Talk about a response.
Pulisic dominated the headlines this week, as he has for much of the summer. There's been so much discussion and debate around him and the USMNT. There is no debate, though, about his talent. He reminded everyone of that on Sunday.
Playing his first match of the season for Milan, Pulisic found the back of the net, firing home a Santi Gimenez assist in Milan's Coppa Italia win over Bari. On the surface, it isn't that big of a goal considering it came against a Serie B team in a cup competition. There's no explaining how big it is for Pulisic, though, given all that's happened since the last time he'd played a meaningful game.
This goal won't silence the critics. They will remain loud until he makes meaningful contributions, again, for the USMNT. His Milan form has never been in doubt, however. Pulisic responded loud and clear, setting himself up for a big start this season with Milan.
While Pulisic stole most of the headlines, Yunus Musah came off the bench in the Milan win, joining the fray alongside Luka Modric, who was making his club debut.
AdvertisementGettyCardoso and Weah lose in new club debuts
Two USMNT regulars made club debuts this weekend. Both were somewhat brief. Tim Weah and Johnny Cardoso combined for 90 minutes between them, but those 90 minutes represented their first steps with their new clubs.
After starting on the bench for Marseille, Weah entered the fray in the second half of Friday's Ligue 1 opener against Rennes. He was pretty good, setting up two chances while completing all but one of his 31 passes. There was danger, for sure, but not enough. Despite being a man down, Rennes scored in stoppage time to steal three points, spoiling Weah's first match for his new club.
Cardoso's debut with Atletico Madrid, too, was spoiled. The midfielder played 46 minutes, making his usual impact in the midfield with his new team. A yellow card earned him an early substitution, though, as he came out to start the second half. Up 1-0 at the time of Cardoso's departure, Atleti conceded a second-half equalizer to Espanyol and then a late, going on to lose, 2-1 on Sunday.
Both will have something to build on, albeit in somewhat frustrating circumstances. There are high hopes for both Weah and Cardoso at their new clubs, despite inauspicious starts.
Getty Images SportRichards hungry for more after Chelsea draw
The tests didn't get any easier for Chris Richards and Crystal Palace. After taking down Liverpool in the Community Shield last week, Palace were handed a date with Club World Cup winners Chelsea to open the Premier League season.
They did just fine, with Richards anchoring the defense in a scoreless draw that will leave Palace with plenty to build on.
"We were working together," Richards said, "and we've seen Chelsea over the last season, in the Club World Cup and in preseason. A draw is still a good point and a good way to start the season and we can move on with this performance. We talked about embracing a tough game and we knew it would not be perfect but as long as we kept a clean sheet, it would be very important."
Richards, in particular, had plenty to do with that clean sheet. He won all five of his duels and earned tackles on both attempts. He added three clearances and two blocks to keep Chelsea away from goal. In the end, he actually felt hard done, as a potential Eberechi Eze free-kick goal was controversially called back by VAR, leaving Palace thinking they deserved more from the game.
"Everyone in the stadium thought it was a goal but you live and die by VAR and today we died from it," Richards said. "It was a good free kick and hopefully we get more of them."
The expectations are clearly raised at Palace. After winning the FA Cup and Community Shield, Richards and Palace are hungry for more.
Getty Images SportSargent and Wright continue Championship striker race
Prior to the season, GOAL examined the importance of the Championship striker race. It would likely determine at least one World Cup spot, if not more. Well, call it a hot start, with two of the candidates scoring this weekend.
Josh Sargent scoring is no news at this point. His goal against Portsmouth made it three goals from three. After being left out of the Gold Cup squad, Sargent has responded as well as possible, netting goal after goal to start the season. Norwich seem determined to keep hold of him through this summer transfer window, despite ongoing speculation on a move.
And why wouldn't they be when he's scoring at this rate?
"I'm hoping Ben turns his phone off so we don't get any calls," Norwich boss Liam Manning joked, referencing Norwich director of football, Ben Knapper. "Sarge role models everything you want. He's a top person, a top professional. You see his work rate and how he leads by example. He's top class."
Sargent wasn't alone, though. Haji Wright got on the scoresheet, too, firing home from the penalty spot in a 5-3 win over Derby County. The goal was Wright's first of the season as he looks to hit double-digits for the third consecutive season.
Damion Downs, meanwhile, missed out of Southampton's 1-1 draw with Ipswich due to illness while Patrick Agyemang still has a few weeks on the shelf before returning for Derby. They'll be watching on and feeling the pressure, too, as the tone continues to be set by those in England's second division.
