Three San Jose Earthquakes players got their respective national teams off to a good start in the UEFA Nations League competition this week, among the MLS players involved in international duty.
San Jose's Georgian contingent, Vako and Guram Kashia, started in Georgia's 2-0 Nations League victory over Kazakhstan on Thursday in Astana. Vako set up Giorgi Chakvetadze's opener in the 69th minute, before departing six minutes before time, while Kashia went the distance in defense.
Another Quakes player, midfielder Jahmir Hyka, started and played the full 90 for Albania in a 1-0 win over Israel in third-tier Nations League play in Elbasan, Albania on Friday. Hyka set up Taulent Xhaka's goal to win it for the hosts.
In other action, Chicago Fire midfielder/defense Nicolas Hasler set up Liechtenstein's goal, but it wasn't enough in a 2-1 loss to Armenia in Yerevan, also on Thursday. Hasler lined up just behind the striker for his nation, but despite setting up a 33rd-minute equalizer for Sandro Wolfinger, a red card in the second half doomed the road team to defeat. Hasler played the full 90 in Liechtenstein's fourth-tier Nations League debut.
It was a tough day out for Sporting KC's Johnny Russell, who entered as a 68th-minute sub for Scotland, but only after visiting Belgium had scored all their goals in a comfortable 4-0 friendly win. LAFC's Andre Horta was on the bench, but did not enter the game as Portugal's Under-21 squad lost 2-1 at home to their Romanian counterparts.
Seattle Sounders utilityman Gustav Svensson started and played 78 minutes in Sweden's 2-0 friendly defeat to Austria in Vienna on Thursday. Svensson played in central midfield for the match.
Orlando City SC midfielder Yoshi Yotun started an played 89 minutes in Peru's 2-1 friendly loss against the Netherlands in Amsterdam, a game marked by Wesley Sneijder's swansong for the Dutch.
Two MLS players featured in Costa Rica's 2-0 friendly loss to South Korea in Goyang, South Korea on Friday. Portland Timbers midfielder David Guzman started and played 82 minutes for the visitors, while NYCFC'sRodney Wallace came off the bench and played 21 minutes for the losing side.
Finally, Chile's friendly against Japan in Sapporo scheduled for Friday, was canceled due to an earthquake striking the Sapporo area this week. Chile's squad included SKC forward Diego Rubio.
