USMNT

Newcastle United has finally figured out how to win a match.

After going 10 matches without a win to start the Premier League campaign, the Magpies have done it twice in the last week to jump out of the relegation zone. And DeAndre Yedlin’s offense was vital to Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Bournemouth on Saturday at St. James’ Park. 

While Salomón Rondón will receive most of the plaudits for scoring both goals for the Magpies against Bournemouth, Yedlin was the spark to get the offense going. 

Eric Wynalda is one of the most iconic figures in U.S. Soccer history — up there with Landon Donovan, Alexi Lalas and Mia Hamm. The striker turned broadcaster turned coach was a veteran of three World Cups and was the USMNT’s all-time leading scorer from seven years.

On Friday morning, Wynalda lost decades of memorabilia in a massive wildfire that consumed his home in Westlake Village in Ventura County, California. 

Fortunately, Wynalda, his wife and kids were able to escape unharmed.

Borussia Dortmund is through to the DFB-Pokal Round of 16 after defeating second-division side Union Berlin 3-2 Wednesday. 20-year-old American Christian Pulisic scored the opener, assisted on Max Philipp’s second and then earned the penalty that Marco Reus converted for Dortmund’s third. 

We can only speak for ourselves here at The18, but we’d grown a little terrified of late, and we’re not talking about the culmination of binging The Haunting of Hill House ’til Halloween night.

The October 2018 FIFA rankings were released Thursday and France is no longer the best team in the world — at least when it comes to arbitrary numerical rankings.

Belgium, which was tied with France at No. 1 in September, moved into sole position atop the October 2018 FIFA rankings. Brazil follows France in third while Croatia and England, which jumped over Uruguay, round out the top five.

A fascinating tactical battle between Lucien Favre’s Bundesliga-leading Dortmund and Diego Simeone’s Atletico (currently averaging 0.55 goals conceded per game in LaLiga) was bossed by the home side at the Westfalenstadion on Wednesday, BVB putting four past Europe’s misers while limiting the visitors to only two shots on frame.

Achraf Hakimi registered a hat-trick of assists while the moves were finished by Axel Witsel, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Guerreiro (x2). Marco Reus wasn’t on the scoresheet, but his deployment in the false nine role murdered Atletico’s shape. 

Weston McKennie is expected to become a major part of the midfield fulcrum for the USMNT over the next decade. But the Texan, who turned 20 in August, has shown off his versatility with Schalke this season.

McKennie started up top as one of two forwards for Schalke on Saturday against Werder Bremen, the sixth different position he’s played in six Bundesliga appearances this season. 

Josh Sargent’s time with the Werder Bremen U-23 team is all but ending. The 18-year-old is way past that, Werder Bremen coach Florian Kohfeldt said this week.

As Sargent returned from the international break, during which he scored, Kohfeldt told reporters the American teenager is in his plans for the senior team.