Tag Archives: Alphonso Davies

Giovanni Reyna Helps Lead United States to Concacaf Nations League Crown

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Giovanni Reyna is celebrating an important assist…

Heading home the 20-year-old half-Argentine American soccer player’s corner, Chris Richards put the United States Men’s National Team early on Sunday to help the team retain its Concacaf Nations League crown.

Giovanni Reyna, Another first-half goal from Folarin Balogun cemented the Americans’ 2-0 victory over Canada.

Richards put the USMNT on top in the 12th minute, Balogun then doubled the advantage in the 34th minute with a deft finish from Reyna’s through ball that got past Milan Borjan in the Canada goal.

Reyna dished two assists and conducted the big victory over Canada, which earned the U.S. a second consecutive Nations League title.

With hair bleached blond and swagger oozing, Reyna pulled strings from his midfield position with remarkable ease. He spun Canadian counterparts in circles. He directed traffic with his hands, eyes and precocious footballing brain.

And he unlocked a somewhat bolted game, first with a skill that the USMNT had sorely missed in his absence. He served an out-swinging corner up to a perfect far-post location, and Richards attacked it with gusto.

Canada did what it could to get back in the game, and enjoyed a hefty 62-38 edge in possession. But despite finding star attacker Alphonso Davies in some good positions, the visitors were unable to make a dent in the U.S. lead. U.S. interim manager B.J. Callaghan went to a five-man back line late on and, despite some tense moments, the hosts were able to see out the match and hoist the Nations League trophy once again.

FC Dallas Reportedly Transferring Ricardo Pepi to Augsburg for Club-Record Fee

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Ricardo Pepi is thisclose to a lucrative deal to play in Germany…

The 18-year-old Mexican American professional soccer player, an FC Dallas and United States international forward, is close to finalizing a deal with Bundesliga side FC Augsburg, according to ESPN.

Ricardo Pepi

The sources said that if the deal is completed, the transfer fee would be in the neighborhood of $20 million plus add-ons, with a 10% sell-on percentage going to Dallas in any future moves.

The base transfer fee would be the highest for a homegrown player in Major League Soccer history.

Alphonso Davies‘ move from the Vancouver Whitecaps to Bayern Munich was in excess of that number, but that included incentives.

Pepi’s arrival in Augsburg would see him bolster an attack in desperate need of goals. Augsburg is in 15th place, just above the relegation zone. Its haul of 17 goals in 17 games is tied for the fourth-worst mark in the Bundesliga as it headed into the winter break.

Bundesliga rivals Wolfsburg were thought to be the frontrunners to land Pepi, but now it appears that Augsburg have won the race to sign the American.

Pepi has seen his reputation and form skyrocket in the last 12 months. He scored 13 goals in 31 league appearances this season for Dallas. That resulted in a call-up to the U.S. men’s team where he scored three goals — all in World Cup qualifiers — in seven appearances.

All told, Pepi has scored 16 goals in 57 league and playoff appearances for Dallas.