We are back in full swing with all European seasons back in action, and we have several successful starting XI debuts to comment on this week.

As always, please feel free to email us at hello@onegoal.us to let us know what you think about our newsletter!

Star of the Week

Zack Steffen (24, Coatesville, PA) - Fortuna Dusseldorf, Bundesliga

Man of the Match in First Bundesliga Appearance: Our Star of the Week goes to Zack Steffen, who immediately became Dusseldorf’s man of the match in his first Bundesliga appearance this weekend. Key to his side’s 3-1 win over Werder Bremen, Steffen stood out with nine saves throughout the match, denying Werder from point blank range on numerous times including a Fullrkug header that Steffen saved off the line and a fantastic reflex against Osako toward the end of the game that ensured the 3-1 victory for his side. More than that, despite being with the team for only part of the pre-season given his time at the Gold Cup, Steffen already looked comfortable, dominant, and consistent between the sticks - only conceding one goal this game despite a staggering 23 shots by Werder Bremen, including a last-minute save against USMNT striker Josh Sargent, who made an appearance off the bench of Bremen. Safe to say, Steffen looks to have earned the #1 spot in goal for Dusseldorf this year.

Reflexes on the Line Strong; Working on Aerial Dominance: If there is one area of growth for Steffen, we think it comes down to his lack of aerial dominance when defending crosses or corner kicks, something that became apparent in this week’s Bundesliga start as he did not always look secure when handling balls out of the air. Nonetheless, this is a skill that Steffen can build in the Bundesliga given the much more physical nature of the league compared to the MLS. All in all though, a fantastic start to Steffen’s Bundesliga tenure.

But don’t just take it from us, Dusseldorf’s head coach Friedhelm Funkel only had good things to say about the 24-year old USMNT keeper:

“We were a bit lucky to win, scoring three goals. But we had to withstand a tremendous amount of pressure at times, and with Zack Steffen we had a keeper who was fantastic. He was definitely man of the match today.”

Other Notable Performances

Sergino Dest (18, New York, NY) - Ajax Amsterdam, Eredivisie

Celebrating his starting debut in the Eredivisie for Ajax Amsterdam in this week’s 4-1 victory vs. VVV Venlo (featuring USMNT prospect Haji Wright), Sergino Dest booked an all around solid performance at right back for the Dutch champions. Defensively sound, working up and down the flank, Dest did not look fazed by the occasion and even contributed to the build-up play for Ajax’s 3rd and 4th goal by keeping possession high up the pitch and linking up with Ajax star Hakim Ziyech. In fact, it is in those situations where Dest looks at his best: technically gifted, tough to separate from the ball, and creative enough to find teammates under pressure, Dest’s playing style looks perfect for Ajax’s possession-based tactical set-up.

September Friendly Call-Up Candidate? With Dest clearly a valued member of the Ajax Amsterdam senior squad at this point (Dest has appeared in three out of five competitive Ajax matches this season including two Champions League qualifiers), he looks more than ready for his first USMNT call-up, in our view. Moreover, specifically given his eligibility for the Netherlands, we wouldn’t be surprised (or at least very much hope) to see him included in the September roster vs. Mexico and Uruguay. Lastly, given his versatility - Dest has consistently played on either side of the pitch (left and right back) - and abilities to play on the wing, Dest looks one of the most promising USMNT prospects at our disposal.

Christian Pulisic (20, Hershey, PA) - Chelsea FC, Premier League

In Chelsea’s unlucky defeat to Champions League winners Liverpool in the mid-week European SuperCup Final (Champions League winner vs. Europa League winner), Christian Pulisic officially proved that he can succeed at the highest international level as the young American star consistently tormented Liverpool’s defense surrounding Virgil van Djik. The moment of the game was undoubtedly Pulisic’s assist where he drew in four defenders before slotting in Olivier Giroud with a perfectly weighted pass, who finished the play with a low driven shot to the right hand corner.