With games underway Sunday across Europe, there’s plenty to track with men’s national team standouts for the United States and Canada, as well as some of MLS's most noteworthy exports. Here’s the rundown of all their latest across the pond:
Johannsson reaches double digits
Former USMNT striker Aron Johannsson now has 10 goals during 19 Allsvenskan games for Hammarby IF this season, finishing off a team move in Sunday's 3-1 win over Ostersunds FK.
Johannsson has been with the Swedish club since 2019 and seems to be rediscovering the goalscoring form that put him on the USMNT radar. He's also expressed interest in coming to MLS one day after European stops at AZ Alkmaar and Werder Bremen, among others.
In a career that's been maligned by injuries, Johannsson has four goals in 19 USMNT caps. He last appeared on the international stage during a September 2015 friendly against Brazil.
Haji Wright tops the charts
Johannsson isn't the only American in Scandinavia in red-hot form. LA Galaxy academy product and ex-Schalke man Haji Wright scored his fifth goal of the 2020-21 Danish Superliga season for new club SønderjyskE, keeping him joint top of the scoring charts and his team joint top of the standings six games into the campaign. The 22-year-old arrived in Denmark after an goalless season in the Eredivisie with VVV-Venlo and has proved to be an instant hit at his new club.
Brooks stays rolling
USMNT center back John Anthony Brooks maintained his starting spot for VfL Wolfsburg, going 90 minutes in their 2-1 Bundesliga win Sunday over newly-promoted side Arminia Bielefeld.
Brooks, 27, joined Wolfsburg in 2017 from Hertha BSC and has played in nearly 160 games in Germany’s top flight. Along the way, Brooks has started all five of Wolfsburg’s league matches this season.
On the international stage, Brooks has earned 38 caps and figures to play a key role under head coach Gregg Berhalter.
Sargent starts for Bremen
USMNT forward Josh Sargent started his fifth straight Bundesliga game for Werder Bremen, this time in Sunday's tilt against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and went the full 90 as the sides traded first-half goals in a 1-1 draw. He continued his goalless start to the 2020-21 season, but put in an industrious performance as he hassled Hoffenheim's backline all game long and offered an important outlet for his team.
David makes cameo for Lille
CanMNT forward Jonathan David began Lille's game Sunday against Nice on the bench, while USMNT forward Timothy Weah didn't make the matchday squad. David would eventually come into the game in the 79th minute with the score knotted at 1-1, but would not affect the scoreline any further as the teams failed to find a winner in the final 11 minute plus stoppage time.
The duo both also featured in Lille's 4-1 midweek win over Sparta Prague in the Europa League, with David withdrawn after 63 minutes and Weah entering in the 80th minute when the result was already settled.
David is yet to score for Lille in his first seven Ligue 1 appearances, though perhaps he'll rediscover his form that sparked a reported €30 million transfer from Belgian side Gent this past summer. As for Weah, he spent most of last season out injured.
Almiron goes 90 as Newcastle snatch draw
Former Atlanta United star playmaker Miguel Almiron turned in his first 90-minute performance int he 2020-21 Premier League season, going the distance as Newcastle United snatched a late 1-1 draw on the road at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Paraguayan international was among Newcatle's better players on the day, delivering an energetic performance that looked like it would go for naught after Mexico's Raul Jimenez grabbed an 80th-minute go-ahead goal for Wolves. However, a cleverly disguised free kick from Newcastle's Jacob Murphy would give them a valuable point against in one of the tougher away trips on the calendar.
Elis gets first Boavista start alongside Cannon
Ex-Houston Dynamo winger Alberth Elis received his first start for new club Boavista in their Liga NOS trip to Familicao, joining former Texas rival Reggie Cannon in the lineup. Cannon, meanwhile, made his fifth start in as many games for Boavista, extending his streak of consecutive starts to begin the season with his new team.
It ended up being heartbreak for the ex-MLS duo and Boavista, though, as they coughed up a two-goal lead and what would have been their first win of the season. After a clutch penalty save and two quick goals put Boavista 2-0 up with 15 minutes to play, they were hit with a red card and a second penalty kick, which the hosts converted before pulling out an equalizer deep into stoppage time when a speculative effort drifted into the top corner.
McKennie returns on bench for Juve
Weston McKennie made his return to the squad for Juventus's Sunday evening showdown with Hellas Verona after a negative coronavirus test that was announced on Friday. The USMNT midfielder had tested positive on Oct. 14 and entered voluntary isolation, which caused him to miss two games — one in Serie A and one in the Champions League. McKennie would not see the field as Juve and Verona drew 1-1.
