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Several top European leagues launched their new campaigns last weekend, among them the English Premier League, Spain's La Liga and Italy's Serie A, as key members of the U.S. men's national team returned to competitive play on the continent.
Some of the American players hit the ground running, while others struggled in their opening appearances of the season.
Here's Sports Illustrated's weekly stock up, stock down breakdown for USMNT players.
USMNT Stock Up
Zavier Gozo
Zavier Gozo puts us in front 😍 pic.twitter.com/ZEGMUXSFni
It took just 50 minutes for Zavier Gozo to leave his mark at Crystal Palace.
The Premier League club signed the 19-year-old rising talent for more than $15 million from Real Salt Lake last week. Given the tight turnaround ahead of Palace's season opener against Everton just three days later, the south London club chose to give Gozo some playing time with the U-21 squad in Premier League 2 instead, allowing him to settle in properly.
As it turned out, Gozo needed no such gentle introduction, as the teenager from West Valley City, Utah thoroughly commanded the pitch. He earned a starting spot at right wing and scored the academy side's first goal of the new season. Gozo displayed his pace, bursting into the opposition's box just in time to collect a short, square pass. He finished the ball into the net first-time with his right foot, helping the Eagles to a 1–1 draw with Arsenal's U-21 side. He also finished with 100% shot accuracy across four total attempts.
PL2 action is back. 🤌#CPFC pic.twitter.com/oHT5ULU3uU
Gozo demonstrated he's ready for the top level and could make his first-team debut alongside fellow American Chris Richards as early as Friday. Palace are set to face Manchester City in their first home fixture of the season at Selhurst Park.
Should that happen, the young talent will surely attract the attention of USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who has yet to call Gozo into the senior setup but may do so as early as the September international window.
Matt Freese
Matt Freese looked every inch a World Cup-caliber starting goalkeeper over the weekend.
Pochettino's first-choice shot-stopper this summer produced five saves for club side New York City FC on Sunday, highlighted by a stunning double-save on a penalty kick in the 27th minute. He initially dove to his left to deny a powerful low effort from captain Carles Gil, then reacted quickly to smother the rebound just as Gil made contact with it again.
MATT FREESE! 🤯
Double save on the penalty to keep Carles Gil & New England off the board.
📺 Apple TV: https://t.co/6ILfSjncpp pic.twitter.com/JZCRZdGLLT
The 27-year-old's outstanding performance proved crucial; it not only helped the seventh-ranked Pigeons earn a 1–1 draw away against the tough fourth-placed New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium, but it also snapped a four-game losing run his side had carried into the match. With the point, NYCFC narrowly cling to seventh in the Eastern Conference table, the final automatic playoff-qualifying spot.
USMNT Stock Down
Tyler Adams
Tyler Adams could do little to rescue Sunday's Premier League opener, watching helplessly as Bournemouth surrendered a 1–0 lead to Manchester City in the closing stages at the Etihad. City struck twice within five minutes to claim all three points, denying the Cherries what would have been an ideal start to their new campaign.
It was a largely forgettable outing for the American defensive midfielder, who only entered the pitch as a substitute in the 75th minute. Bournemouth boss Marco Rose was keen to carefully manage the 27-year-old's workload following his demanding World Cup with the USMNT and a minor injury that kept Adams out of preseason. He registered just 14 touches on Sunday.
Adams, who was a key figure in central midfield for Bournemouth last season, is expected to gradually receive more playing time and will be looking for a stronger personal showing on Saturday when the Cherries welcome Everton to Vitality Stadium.
Christian Pulisic
Christian Pulisic continues to wait for his return to competitive action.
The USMNT winger sustained a microfracture and bone bruise in his leg during the World Cup round of 16 defeat to Belgium, ruling him out for the whole of AC Milan's preseason. The 27-year-old returned to training early last week, participating in some speed and agility work. Though he was included in the Rossoneri's squad for their Serie A opener against Torino on Sunday, he ultimately remained unused.
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New head coach Ruben Amorim was similarly cautious with Pulisic's minutes. The attacker, who is typically a starter for AC Milan, is expected to need some time before reaching full match sharpness. Before the leg injury in the round of 16, "Captain America" had also picked up a separate calf problem in the World Cup opener, keeping him sidelined for much of the group stage.
Pulisic faces a tough challenge upon his return, however, having endured a career-worst season for AC Milan in the previous campaign.