Several American and Canadian exports were in action during a busy Thursday featuring UEFA Super Cup and Europa League action in Europe, with Alphonso Davies and Bayern Munich the headliners for winning the Super Cup against Sevilla.
Though the Vancouver Whitecaps product did not start for the recently-crowned Champions League winners, the match went to extra time after the teams tied 1-1 in regulation and Davies came on for Leon Goretzka in the 99th minute. Bayern eventually won courtesy of a goal from Javi Martinez in the 104th minute, adding another trophy to the cabinet just a month after winning the Champions League. US youth international and FC Dallas academy product Chris Richards was on the bench for Bayern during the match.
Additionally, it was a busy day in Europe with several exports active in the third round of Europa League qualifying. John Brooks picked up his first Europa League minutes of the season, coming on as a substitute and playing 28 minutes in Wolfsburg's 2-0 win over Ukraine's FC Desna Chernihiv. With Europa League qualifying rounds featuring just one leg in 2020-2021, Wolfsburg punched their ticket to the playoff round, where they will face AEK Athens for a spot in the group stage.
Canada's Scott Arfield also enjoyed a winning day in Europe, starting up top and going the full 90 as his Rangers side booked a date in the playoff round against Galatasaray with a 4-0 win over Eredivisie side Willem II.
Besiktas, featuring both an American and a Canadian (though not Atiba Hutchinson), were not as fortunate, going out to Portuguese side Rio Ave on penalties. USMNT forward Tyler Boyd started and went 84 minutes while former MLS Rookie of the Year Cyle Larin came on in the 64th minute and played through extra time. Larin was also one of two Besiktas players to miss a penalty in the shootout, leading to a 4-2 victory in penalties for Rio Ave.
LA Galaxy academy alumnus Haji Wright also played Europa League minutes Thursday, coming on as a substitute during SonderjyskE's loss to Viktoria Plzen. Wright played 17 minutes, coming on after his team was down 2-0; the match finished 3-0 to the Czech side.
