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Christian Pulisic justifies Chelsea start with a goal and Daryl Dike scores double

With the FIFA 2022 World Cup next year, Planet Sport continues to follow the young American soccer talent plying their trade around Europe.

Returning to European soil after a productive international break, which saw the United States overcome both Northern Ireland and Jamaica, a number of American soccer stars were once again in action.

After remaining patient, Christian Pulisic is starting to get a chance at Chelsea, while Chris Richards and Josh Sargent are enjoying prolonged spells in their respective Bundesliga sides.

With numerous other members of the United States men's national team playing across Europe, Planet Sport continues to follow the young American stars operating in Europe.

The FIFA 2022 World Cup may prove a step too soon for this young national side, however, Paddy Power have them as a 60/1 longshot for international success next year.

Christian Pulisic

3rd April, Chelsea 2-5 West Brom

Having waited two months for his first Premier League start under Thomas Tuchel, Pulisic made it back-to-back top-flight starts under the German manager on Saturday.

The forward, who captained his country and impressed over the international break, continued his good run of form, grabbing the opening goal of the game past Sam Johnstone.
His goal came from Marcos Alonso's free-kick, as the Spaniard saw his effort hit the post before Pulisic tapped-in to collect his first Premier League goal since December.
Despite his strong first-half performance, the creative attacker was brought off at half-time and it initially seemed due to Thiago Silva's red card in the first half.
However, it became apparent this was not a tactical removal by Tuchel to cover his centre-back's sending off and reduction to 10 men.

It was, in fact, due to Pulisic pulling up injured just before the second half at Stamford Bridge.

Nevertheless, Pulisic put in another positive performance, despite his team's poor result in the hunt for the Champions League spots, and Chelsea will be hoping his injury isn't too serious.

Rating: 7.5/10

Deandre Yedlin

3rd April, Hatayspor 3-0 Galatasaray

Having collected two bookings last time out, resulting in the right-back's sending off, Deandre Yedlin had to sit out the trip to Hatayspor.

His colleagues fell to a surprise 3-0 loss and they remain second in Super Lig, three points behind Besiktas, who have two games in hand, too.

Rating: N/A

Sergino Dest

5th April, Barcelona 1-0 Real Valladolid

Despite impressing in recent weeks with his attacking contributions, Sergino Dest failed to make a similar impact against Real Valladolid.

Persistently racing down the right-hand channel, courtesy of Lionel Messi cutting in and making room, the right wing-back delivered some inviting crosses but to no success.

Dest was then removed in the 89th minute, perhaps with an eye on the Real Madrid fixture, as Barcelona grabbed a crucial, late winner at Camp Nou.

All eyes in the LaLiga title race will now turn to El Clasico, which takes place on Saturday.

Rating: 6.5/10

Giovanni Reyna

3rd April, Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt

Giovanni Reyna opened the scoring against Northern Ireland and would have been frustrated to have not started on the weekend.

Albeit, Reyna - who is son of Claudio Reyna - can't have too many complaints, given he hasn't scored or assisted a goal for his club side since December.

The 18-year-old, however, was afforded 10 minutes at the end of the Bundesliga fixture as his team chased a late winner.

Although this didn't go to plan, with Andre Silva bagging an 87th-minute winner for the away side to steal all three points from Borussia Dortmund, who have now won only one of their last five games.

Giovanni Reyna Dortmund

Reyna didn't have enough time to influence Saturday's game as his side lost out to fourth-placed Frankfurt

Unsurprisingly, due to his fairly short amount of game time, Reyna barely made an impact and he will be hoping to return to the starting 11 against Manchester City in the Champions League.

Rating: N/A

Matthew Hoppe

3rd April, Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Schalke

Hoppe remained an unused substitute as Schalke opted for the experience of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who scored late on, up top.

With Schalke's relegation from the Bundesliga becoming an increasing likelihood, Hoppe may well look to move on in summer, with rumours of a move to numerous European clubs arife.

Rating: N/A

Tyler Adams

3rd April, RB Leipzig 0-1 Bayern Munich

Speaking before the game, Tyler Adams outlined the confident mentality Leipzig would have to have against the German and world champions on Saturday.

However, Julian Nagelsmann's men lost out in a crucial top of the table clash with Hans-Dieter Flick's side claiming a vital away victory.

Adams, after operating as a right wing-back for the majority of the season, was offered a rare start in the middle of the park, acting as a holding midfielder for the hosts.

The midfielder failed to grasp the game and was taught a lesson by Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich in the midfield battle.

Despite this, Adams put in a fairly efficient performance, although he was let down by the likes of Dani Olmo in front of him and thus couldn't cope with Bayern's depth of quality in midfield.

Rating: 6.5/10

Antonee Robinson

4th April, Aston Villa 3-1 Fulham

After going down injured against Northern Ireland, there were concerns that Antonee Robinson may not be fit for the trip to Aston Villa.

While Robinson proved his fitness, Scott Parker played Ola Aina ahead of him as he once again preferred the full-back combination of Aina and Kenny Tete.
Perhaps due to the attacking capabilities of the Villa line-up, including Ollie Watkins and Bertrand Traore, Robinson had to settle for the bench and remained an unused substitute on Sunday.

Rating: N/A

Tim Ream

4th April, Aston Villa 3-1 Fulham

Despite assured performances for his country, Tim Ream remained an unused substitute during a fixture which saw Fulham surrender a one-goal lead to lose 3-1 at Villa Park.

With Tosin Adarabioyo and Joachim Andersen preferred ahead of him currently, Ream may well look to leave Craven Cottage in the summer.

Rating: N/A

Josh Sargent

4th April, Stuttgart 1-0 Werder Bremen

Due to an accumulation of yellow cards, Josh Sargent missed the Stuggart game as he served his one-match suspension.

Florian Kohfeldt's men went down 1-0 losers, however, the head coach was full of praise for Sargent in midweek and suggested the American forward could become one of the best in the Bundesliga in future.
In total, the 21-year-old attacker has scored 13 goals and created nine in his 72 Bremen appearances since his transfer in 2018.

Rating: N/A

Chris Richards

3rd April, Augsburg 2-1 Hoffenheim

As always, Chris Richards started as the left-sided centre-back in Hoffenheim's three-man defence.

The defender lasted 74 minutes before his removal with his side adding an additional attacker in his place to chase the game.

While not overly impressive, Richards had a solid game at the back, however, he couldn't stop his team from falling to a third straight Bundesliga defeat.
With speculation persisting around the loanee's future, Richards will be looking to help Hoffenheim return to form as the Bundesliga season approaches its finale.

Rating: 6.5/10

Weston McKennie

3rd April, Torino 2-2 Juventus

Andrea Pirlo's men limped to a 2-2 draw as Weston McKennie missed out of the squad entirely.

The American has been suspended by the club after hosting a party, which two of his Juventus team-mates, Paulo Dybala and Arthur, attended.

Under-pressure Pirlo insisted he made the call and that the club fully backed his decision, explaining the trio would return in due time.

Rating: N/A

Tim Weah

3rd April, Paris Saint-Germain 0-1 Lille

Tim Weah came on as a 35rd-minute substitute and rarely made his mark on the Paris Saint-Germain game as Lille fought past Mauricio Pochettino's men to move three points clear of the Parisians at the top of Ligue 1.

While Weah - who is the son of George Weah - put in a fairly quiet performance, the American will be delighted with his side's result as they continue to push towards a rare top-flight success.

Up against Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe, Weah was always going to find it a tough day at the office so it comes as no surprise he contributed little at Parc des Princes.

Rating: 6/10

Bryan Reynolds

3rd April, Sassuolo 2-2 Roma

Bryan Reynolds made his senior international debut at the weekend against Northern Ireland and put in an assured performance at right wing-back.

Despite his international outing, the American defender had to settle for the bench again as Roma were held to a 2-2 draw with Sassuolo.
With Bruno Peres scoring, it is likely he will remain ahead of Reynolds, who was an unused substitute on Saturday, as the American continues to build-up his match fitness.

Rating: N/A

Daryl Dike

5th April, Luton Town 1-2 Barnsley

After fairly quiet appearances both internationally and at club level against Reading on Friday, Daryl Dike emphatically returned to form, grabbing his sixth and seventh goals of the season.

His first of the afternoon came as he fired a smart, low right-footed finish into the bottom left corner inside the area to put the visitors ahead.
Dike's second followed in the second half as he followed in to tap-in from close range, courtesy of Cauley Woodrow's initial hard work.
The American forward had the opportunity to make it a hat-trick from the penalty spot, however, Simon Sluga denied him from the spot and then on the follow-up.
With links to a Premier League move in midweek, Dike will be keen to keep performing for Barnsley, who sit firmly in the Championship's playoff spots at the minute.

Rating: 8.5/10

Indiana Vassilev

2nd April, Cheltenham Town 4-0 Tranmere Rovers

After remaining an unused substitute in the last couple of weeks, the Aston Villa loanee was offered a rare 10-minute cameo at the end of Cheltenham's crushing of Tranmere.

Given the limited time, Vassilev failed to make any significant impact and he, or Dean Smith, will seriously be considering his future as Vassilev nears the end of an unsuccessful loan spell.
Rating: N/A

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