11/15/25 10:36:00
Printable Page
11/15 22:34 CST Gio Reyna passes father for international goals, then gets
teased for scoring his first header
Gio Reyna passes father for international goals, then gets teased for scoring
his first header
By RONALD BLUM
AP Sports Writer
CHESTER, Pa. (AP) --- At first unaware he passed his father in career
international goals two days past his 23rd birthday, Gio Reyna quickly got in
touch with his dad after the final whistle.
"I sent a few texts teasing him," Reyna said, smiling widely. "He was obviously
happy for me that I passed him. I had no idea. He was more making fun of me,
the fact that that was my first header I ever scored."
Gio Reyna surpassed Claudio Reyna by scoring in his first international start
in 16 months and then set up Folarin Balogun's tiebreaking goal in the 71st
minute to lead the United States over Paraguay 2-1 on Saturday night in a
friendly between World Cup-bound teams that sparked a late brawl.
He remains the biggest enigma in American soccer.
A prodigy whose parents both played for the U.S., Reyna became the youngest
American to appear in Bundesliga at 17 years, 66 days, when he debuted for
Borussia Dortmund in 2020. Yet his playing time dwindled because of repeated
injuries and then-U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter nearly sent him home from the 2022
World Cup because of poor effort during training.
Reyna's parents retaliated by informing the U.S. Soccer Federation of a
decades-old domestic abuse allegation against Berhalter. The spat cost
Berhalter his job for a half-year, but he was rehired after a USSF
investigation cleared him of wrongdoing in the hiring process. Berhalter then
was fired after a first-round elimination at the Copa America and replaced by
Mauricio Pochettino.
Meanwhile, Reyna fell out of favor at Dortmund and transferred this summer to
Borussia Mnchengladbach, He had a thigh injury in September and missed nearly
a month.
Pochettino made the surprise decision to recall Reyna for the November
friendlies, even though the midfielder hadn't started a game since Sept. 14 ---
which had been his first since March.
"It was an opportunity for me to show that I belong here," Reyna said.
He hadn't started for the U.S. since the Copa America in July 2024 and hadn't
scored since March 2024. Reyna estimated he was at 80-85% of full fitness.
"I definitely expect when I get back to definitely start more matches," he
said. "It's nice to feel 75 minutes in the legs tonight with no problems at
all."
Reyna gives the U.S. attack a different dimension, whether from a wing or
central midfield. Pochettino told Reyna during training Friday that he earned
the start and was free to create space and chances.
"For an attacking player it's the best feeling when your coach gives you the
confidence to sort of play what you feel and what you see," Reyna said.
Teammates noticed the difference in the attack.
"I just told him when we got back in the locker room --- it's my first time
playing with him and, boy, it's fun to play with him," goalkeeper Matt Freese
said. "You can just give him, get him the ball and things will happen. He has
the confidence and the talent to make it to make things happen."
Reyna scored in the fourth minute after Sergio Dest and Cristian Roldan had
shots blocked following Max Arfsten's corner kick. Arfsten crossed to Reyna,
whose header from 8 yards glanced off the outstretched left fingertips of
goalkeeper Orlando Gill and in off the crossbar.
Reyna's ninth goal came in his 33rd international appearance. His father, the
U.S. captain at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, had eight in 112 games from 1994
to 2006.
Alex Arce took advantage of a defensive lapse to equalize in the 10th minute.
Reyna helped break to the tie in the 71st minute when his centering pass
deflected off Damin Bobadilla to Balogun, who scored his eighth international
goal and his third in fourth matches.
"We can see today that he was great, scored and assist(ed)," Pochettino said.
"The capacity to read the game and find the free space in between the lines I
think was a nightmare for Paraguay."
Reyna is desperate to play in next year's World Cup and redefine himself as the
player many thought he could be, not the one known for injuries and controversy.
"Gio wanted to come into camp and do his thing," Balogun said. "He wanted to
put the noise behind him, and I felt like he did that today."
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
|
