After consecutive headlining days for US men’s national team- and Canada national team-eligible players in the Champions League, several others are playing Thursday one rung down in the Europa League.
Here’s the rundown of who to keep tabs on in UEFA’s other prized club competition:
PSV Eindhoven 1, Granada 2
Group E
US youth international midfielder Richie Ledezma was on the bench for PSV as they faced off against La Liga outfit Granada. He has Real Salt Lake roots and played with their USL Championship side before signing with the famed Dutch club. Ledezma, 20, is still awaiting his senior-team debut, though, as he didn't wind up subbing on against a Granada side that includes former New York City FC midfielder Yangel Herrera.
Standard Liege 0, Rangers 2
Group D
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard cast doubt over Scott Arfield's international future with Canada earlier this week, but the veteran midfielder got the start and went the full 90 minutes as the famed Scottish side took on Standard Liege in Europa League play and picked up a 2-0 victory in Group D. Arfield, 31, has once again become a regular starter for the Gers in recent weeks as they seek end Celtic's dominance of the Scottish Premier League and make a mark in European play.
Dundalk FC 1, Molde FK 2
Group B
Former Seattle Sounders homegrown player Henry Wingo is reportedly out through injury, so the right back’s strong year with Molde encountered a speed bump. Wingo, 25, originally joined the Norwegian side for an undisclosed fee in August 2019. There’s an MLS connection at Dundalk, too, as former Colorado Rapids and Minnesota United winger Josh Gatt suits up for the Irish first-division side. Like Wingo, he’s not set to feature.
Molde would come out on top in this Group B contest, erasing a 1-0 deficit by striking for a pair of goals in a 10-minute span in the second half from Etzaz Hussain and Ohi Omoijuanfo.
Sparta Prague 1, OSC Lille 4
Group H
USMNT winger Timothy Weah and Canada forward Jonathan David both began Group H against Czech side Sparta Prague, a crucial matchup considering AC Milan and Celtic also await in future fixtures.
Both saw the field on Thursday, as David started the match and played 63 minutes before subbing off, with Weah coming as an 80th-minute substitute and finishing out the contest. Neither found the scoresheeet, but Lille did cruise to a 4-1 victory behind a hat trick from Yusuf Yazici and another tally from Jonathan Ikoné. They now set their sights on their next group stage matchup, which will come against Celtic next Thursday.
