20230412 American States United

“I can’t believe there was a time when I thought football was boring.”

—Television star and Wrexham AFC owner Rob McElhenney on Twitter

Wrex In Effect:

Philadelphia’s Finest Rob McElhenney 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 is admittedly a different sort of American Abroad when it comes to professional football. But the 45-year-old owner of Wrexham AFC is fast becoming the Boardroom Pulisic of England’s lower leagues, doing his part to quiet doubters who feel that Americans don’t belong in European football.

Having only officially purchased Wrexham in February of 2021, McElhenney and co-owner Ryan Reynolds 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (46; Vancouver, CAN) have already made amazing strides with the non-league side via a mix of genuine passion and largesse. And their work with Wrexham may have hit a zenith this past Monday with their late season, top-of-the-table clash against Notts County.

Dubbed “The Biggest Game in Non-League History”, the National League game was broadcast nationally in England, and wound up more than living up to the hype. Notts opened the scoring via a beautiful John Bostock free kick, after which Paul Mullin and Jacob Mendy countered to put the Red Dragons in the lead. The Magpies then leveled, only for Wrexham to go back up yet again in the 78th minute. The Welsh club took a 3-2 lead into added time, only for Notts to be awarded a penalty kick in the 96th minute.

Enter 40-year-old goalkeeper Ben Foster.

Coming out of podcasting retirement, the former Manchester United goalkeeper made a leaping, Ramsdale-esque save to preserve the crucial victory and spark scenes of generational delirium in Wales. Foster no doubt now owns a piece of Mint Mobile, will never have to buy a bottle of Aviation Gin again, and will likely even be starring in Deadpool 3.

After the crucial win, McElhenney needed whiskey. Reynolds was unsure if his heart was still beating. Foster got a hug. And Wrexham went top of the table.

The Red Dragons now need seven points from their last four matches to secure the top spot in England’s fifth tier — only the National League winner receives automatic promotion to League Two. This could be the start of a steady climb up the English football pyramid for Wrexham, Rob, and Ryan. Either way, “Welcome to Wrexham Season 2” is sure to single-handedly restore television to its prestige era and eclipse even the likes of The Sopranos and The Wire.

Pork Roll Pele Cooking Again:

After a fast start to his Leeds career, Brenden Aaronson’s 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 form cooled this winter. But the 22-year-old from Medford, N.J. now appears to be back to his old Heat Map Jesus ways. After starting just one of seven matches from January 18 through February 18 — and even dropping down to Leeds’ PL2 side for a match — Medford Messi has now started seven of eight for the Yorkshire side, and even had an assist in Leeds’ loss to Crystal Palace over the weekend (WATCH). Now it’s just a matter of Leeds avoiding the drop and staying in the Premier League.

Which Way Will He Flo?

Folarin Balogun 🇫🇷 (21; Brooklyn, NY) scored his 18th league goal of the season Sunday in Reims’ 1-1 draw with Brest (WATCH), meaning the Arsenal loanee is now third in the Ligue 1 scoring race, behind Kylian Mbappe and CONCACAF Cousin Canada’s Jonathan David.

The USMNT-eligible striker who is still deciding his international future is also at a bit of a crossroads with his club career. The Athletic is reporting that Balogun’s preference is to return to North London, but he also wants first team football, something that the talent-rich Gunners may not be able to guarantee. AC Milan, Inter Milan, Olympique Marseille, AS Monaco, and RB Leipzig are all interested in making a move if the Arsenal situation falls through. Options aplenty for Balogoal.

News and Notes:

• Gio Reyna 🇩🇪 (20; Bedford, NY) was surprisingly not in the squad for Dortmund’s 2-1 win over Union Berlin Saturday. But according to sporting director Sebastian Kehl, this was due to illness, and he still remains a key part of BVB’s plans. 🗣 “Gio was coming out of a prolonged spell of illness… But Gio is an important player and so hopefully he will be back next week.” Dortmund’s next match is at Stuttgart on Saturday.

• Ethan Horvath 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (27; Highlands Ranch, CO) and Luton Town are in sublime form in the Championship. The Hatters are undefeated in their last nine matches — winning six and drawing three — and the Nottingham Forest loanee has allowed just four goals over that stretch. Luton are now in third place in England’s second tier with just five matches to play, meaning Premier League promotion is a very real possibility.

• Haji Wright 🇹🇷 scored his 13th goal of the season for Antalyaspor off an impressive, towering header. The knee-slide cele could use some work, though. 😉 (WATCH)

• Christian Pulisic 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (24; Hershey, PA) has only started nine of the 26 matches he’s played for Chelsea in all comps this season. Which is something Frank Lampard might want to reconsider, based on this stat that says Pulisic is actually Chelsea’s most productive attacking player.

• Sebastian Soto 🇦🇹 scored his first goal of the season for Austria Klagenfurt against Rapid Wien on Sunday (WATCH). Soto and Klagenfurt are currently in sixth place in the Austrian Bundesliga, the country’s top division. The 22-year-old forward from San Diego has two caps — along with two goals — for the USMNT.

• Emmanuel Sabbi 🇩🇰 had an assist for Odense in their 3-2 win at Aalborg in the Danish Superligaen (WATCH). The 25-year-old forward born in Italy but raised in Ohio has three goals and three assists for Odense this season. Sabbi has one USMNT cap.

• FREE PEPI! After FC Augsburg sporting director Stefan Reuter said that the German club plans on bringing Ricardo Pepi 🇳🇱 back to his parent club from FC Groningen, Fabrizio Romano is reporting that the 20-year-old striker from El Paso, Texas has no intention of returning to the Bundesliga. 🗣 “I’m not gonna stay at Augsburg — no chance.” Don’t be surprised if this situation drags on for a while.

• It seems that Brandon Vazquez 🇺🇸 (24; Chula Vista, CA) could be the next Baby Eagle Abroad, as Crystal Palace, Everton, and Bournemouth are all reportedly interested in making a move for the FC Cincinnati striker.

US World Cup Champions in Europe:

Fresh off a difficult, but hard fought, elimination from the Champions League quarter finals with Lyon against Chelsea, The Great Lindsey Horan 🇫🇷 (28; Golden, CO) joined up with the USWNT for their back-to-back friendlies against Ireland. Horan started both matches, even scoring off a penalty in the first game, after which she hit an excellent Clint Dempsey Tribute cele. 🗣 “He’s one of my boyfriend and I’s favorite players. We saw the cele one time, and they just did a tribute video for him, so I thought I would pull it out.” 🫡

Horan and Lyon will now be focused on the close of the Division 1 Féminine season, as they have a one-point lead over PSG at the top of the table with four matches left to play. Allez, Lindsey.

Ein Perfekt 10:

Unglaublich. With a win over Heidenheim on Saturday, Fabian Hürzeler 🇩🇪 has now won all 10 of his matches with FC St. Pauli since taking over as manager of the second-tier German club in December. The 30-year-old who was born in Houston to a Swiss father and German mother has now lifted the Hamburg club from relegation danger up to fourth place and a possible promotion to the Bundesliga. Texas Tuchel. 🙌

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