The stretch run of the Bundesliga 2019-2020 season continued this weekend with Matchday 31. As always, there were plenty of storylines involving MLS exports and US and Canada internationals.
TSV Hoffenheim 0, RB Leipzig 2
Tyler Adams, the former Homegrown Player star for the New York Red Bulls, entered in the 68th minute in holding midfield to extend his string of consecutive appearances to six Bundesliga matches in Friday's weekend opener.
Adams has been on a steady starter-sub rotation since the league resumed with a condensed schedule, and this time helped the visitors kill off the game, completing 14 of 15 passes with one key pass and one clearance, according to NBC's Pro Soccer Talk.
The win kept third-place Leipzig within touching distance of second-place Borussia Dortmund, and mathematically still alive for the Bundesliga title, at least until Bayern Munich face Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.
Dani Olmo's very early brace gave Leipzig all three points.
Wolfsburg 2, Freiburg 2
John Anthony Brooks remains an every-game starter for Wolfsburg at center back, going 90 minutes during their draw against Freiburg. Brooks, who has 38 USMNT caps, has gone the distance in all but one match since the Bundesliga returned in mid-May.
Fortuna Dusseldorf 0, Borussia Dortmund 1
A late stoppage-time header from Erling Haaland gave Dortmund a crucial three points, avoiding a setback against Dusseldorf, a side that’s currently in the relegation zone. NYCFC academy product Giovanni Reyna entered as a substitute in the 74th minute for Dortmund, while USMNT goalkeeper Zack Steffen continues to recover from a knee injury.
Hertha Berlin 1, Eintracht Frankfurt 4
Timothy Chandler came off the bench during Frankfurt’s romp of Hertha, appearing in the 87th minute when all four goals had already been scored. It was the midfielder/defender’s briefest Bundesliga appearance since the season got underway. Chandler has 29 USMNT caps, though he hasn't featured since a World Cup qualifier in 2016.
SC Paderborn 1, Werder Bremen 5
USMNT striker Josh Sargent played 76 minutes as Bremen steamrolled Paderborn, exiting for David Selke when his side held a 4-1 lead. Sargent drew a penalty kick and created other dangerous chances. It was a crucial step as they look to climb out of the relegation zone, with the club now on a 2-2-1 run.
Bayern Munich 2, Borussia Mönchengladbach 1
League-leading Bayern Munich inched one step closer to yet another Bundesliga title, getting a 2-1 victory thanks to an 86th-minute game-winner from Leon Goretzka.
Bayern struck first courtesy of a tally from Joshua Zirkzee in the 26th minute, but a 37th-minute own goal off Benjamin Pavard pulled Mönchengladbach level. Goretzka found the late winner, though, cashing home the decisive tally with a point-blank finish. Former Vancouver Whitecaps homegrown star Alphonso Davies factored into the winner, sending in a long feed to spring Pavard for the cross that set up the goal. Watch it below.
Mainz 0, FC Augsburg 1
Former FC Dallas standout Carlos Gruezo helped relegation-threatened Augsburg earn three critical points with a 1-0 win at Mainz Sunday.
The Ecuadorian midfielder put in a 78-minute shift, which included a booking in first-half stoppage time. Gruezo was replaced by Reece Oxford for the final 12 minutes.
Augsburg moved level on points with FC Cologne and FC Union Berlin, while Mainz remained in 15th place.
Schalke 04 1, Bayer Leverkusen 1
Weston McKennie returned from suspension to take his spot in Schalke’s starting XI and played well for 90 minutes. But the young USMNT midfielder couldn’t half the club’s winless streak from extending to a club record 13 games as Schalke settled for a 1-1 draw Sunday.
McKennie provided a spark from the opening kickoff, challenging Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky early with a shot from distance the Finnish international parried down.
