USMNT

Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez’s preference for the tactically astute Vernon Anita at right-back has made league minutes tough to come by for DeAndre Yedlin. However, a three-match suspension for Anita opened the door for the 23-year-old American.

Yedlin was preferred to the Spaniard Jesus Gamez on Saturday for Newcastle’s league encounter with Aston Villa. The American seized his opportunity with a man of the match display but was unfortunately subbed off due to an apparent ankle injury in the 73rd minute.

Christian Pulisic will eventually be crowned the USMNT’s best player ever.

This hot take is backed with circumstantial evidence in the form of raw talent, technical superiority and a nurturing environment for tactical growth. 

17-year-old American midfielder Christian Pulisic made history on Wednesday by becoming the youngest player to ever represent German giants Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League. 

17 - Christian Pulisic, who turns 18 in four days, is the youngest player ever to represent @BVB in the @ChampionsLeague. Record.

Newcastle United won their fourth straight league match on Saturday, climbing to second in the English Championship following their 2-0 victory over Derby County. Yoan Gouffran earned Newcastle an early advantage with his 20th minute strike before being substituted in the 73rd minute for DeAndre Yedlin. Yedlin would secure the three points for Newcastle by doubling their advantage in second-half stoppage time.

2016, you scoundrel! First, we had the trauma and ecstasy of Lionel Messi’s short-lived retirement. Now, we have this: Landon Donovan is set to end his retirement to return to the LA Galaxy for the remainder of the MLS season. 

Two goals from Jozy Altidore, one from Sacha Kljestan and another from Paul Arriola lifted the United States to a 4-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday night in Jacksonville, Florida. The United States entered the match having not mathematically guaranteed their spot in the ‘Hex’, although elimination would’ve required a failure of momentous proportions.

However, the USA were brilliant on the night — particularly in the second half. Trinidad and Tobago almost kept the match even throughout the first, but Kljestan opened the scoring in the 44th minute.

Bobby Wood’s play hasn’t been dissected to the level with which we’ve examined Gyasi Zardes. Wood, at 23, doesn’t come with the ‘phenom’ label that’s attached to Jordan Morris. He doesn’t uniformly divide opinion like Jozy Altidore or Chris Wondolowski. Wood has endeared himself to USMNT supporters without ever triggering the American soccer hype machine.

On Friday, the Seattle Sounders released a distressing statement concerning Sounders and USMNT forward Clint Dempsey. The 33-year-old will be undergoing medical evaluations for an irregular heartbeat over the coming days, missing Seattle’s match against Portland on Sunday and the United States’ September World Cup qualifiers against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.

Take this with a grain of salt, no, take this with a mountain made of salt: Stoke City have reportedly offered Borussia Dortmund $22 million for 17-year-old American midfielder Christian Pulisic.