AUSTIN, Texas — E be like say di weekend don bring some hot pepper for our American soccer stars as dem dey return to club life after di international duty wey don waka pass. While Folarin Balogun don shine like new dollar note for Ligue 1, Gio Reyna and Weston McKennie still dey find their groove, talk wetin happen for this week’s USMNT Player Tracker.
Folarin Balogun no wan waste time for dis season as e don start to show wetin e fit do. E don sabi say di pressure don dey rise, especially as im status as di main striker for USMNT dey shake—Sargent and Wright dey hot like suya for England Championship! After im injury-affected last season, where e only fit drop four goals for 13 appearances, Balogun don come back with fire. Last week, e score for AS Monaco against Angers, and e dey eye di main striker spot for di World Cup wey dey come.
But no be all wahala for Balogun o. While him dey bask for di spotlight, Reyna dey try find im footing since im move to Borussia Monchengladbach. After one quiet showing against Union Berlin where e just score yellow card instead of goal, di worries don dey bubble up about wetin dis guy dey do. E don dey 22 (23 next month), na so e fit turn things around, but time dey tick.
Di whole situation fit resemble wetin dey happen for Weston McKennie too. Di guy dey versatile, fit play plenty positions, but e still dey come from bench these days. Di Juventus star no fit shake di table as e join di party late against Como when dem don already dey lose. Five Serie A matches without win no dey sweet for any fan mouth!
Our boy Chris Richards dey try shine for Crystal Palace but e face serious test of skill against Bournemouth, where plenty fast forward dey give am wahala. As dem play 3-3 draw, di pressure dey high to keep form up. And speaking of pressure, Ethan Horvath for Sheffield Wednesday don even enter red zone after him catch red card against Charlton. Na wah, how e go wan face Midweek match against Middlesbrough without senior goalkeeper?
On top of dat, Cape Verde don burst enter di World Cup for di first time after dem handle Eswatini for 3-0! Na di second-smallest nation to qualify wey don show say dem serious. Dis level of celebration no dey soft at all! Di island country don make history, and dem fit surprise plenty people when di tournament start next summer.
With Balogun dey shine and Reyna and McKennie still dey find dem feet, dis na di time for USMNT to buckle up as dem dey charge for di forthcoming World Cup. Dem go need every firepower to make impact! So, make we dey watch dem closely as di season dey unfold, ‘cause e go hot for ball!
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