USMNT Watch: Fabian Johnson Scores 3 Times for Borussia Monchengladbach
An argument can be made that Fabian Johnson is the best outfield player in the United States men's national soccer team's current talent pool.
The 27-year-old midfielder backed up those credentials this week with three goals in two games for Borussia Monchengladbach.
In addition to Johnson's success for his club at the domestic and continental levels, a few other USMNT-eligible players starred for their respective sides over the last seven days.
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We have news on Johnson and plenty of others below in our latest USMNT Watch.
Fabian Johnson Nets Trio of Goals
Johnson's terrific week began on Wednesday, when he found the back of the net in the 68th minute of Borussia Monchengladbach's 4-2 win over Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League. The victory kept the German side's European hopes alive. They sit in third place in Group D with one match to play.
On Saturday, Johnson notched a pair of tallies against his old side Hoffenheim in a 3-3 draw at the Rhein-Neckar Arena.
Johnson first found his name on the scoresheet in the fifth minute, after he darted into the right side of the box and finished off a solid team move put together on the right wing.
In the 87th minute, Johnson secured a point for Monchengladbach when he cut in from the right side of the penalty area past a few defenders and nailed his shot into the roof of the net.
With his two-goal performance, Johnson became the fifth American to bag a brace in the Bundesliga. He also became the third American to score over 10 goals in the German top flight.
Elsewhere in Germany, John Brooks started and played 90 minutes for Hertha Berlin, while Alfredo Morales did the same for Ingolstadt. Timmy Chandler did not feature for Eintracht Frankfurt.
Bobby Wood picked up another start in the 2.Bundesliga for Union Berlin this weekend.
Howard Involved in Wild Affair
Tim Howard was a part of the wildest game in the English Premier League on Saturday, as Everton drew Bournemouth 3-3 on the road.
The American goalkeeper conceded a late strike in stoppage time to Junior Stanislas to finish off the six-goal affair, which featured four goals in the final 10 minutes.
Brad Guzan's disaster season at Aston Villa continued on Saturday as he let in three goals at home to Watford. There appears to be no end in sight for Villa's struggles, which means relegation looks like a real possibility this season.
Geoff Cameron came off the bench as an early second-half substitute for Stoke City, while DeAndre Yedlin started for Sunderland.
Down in the lower tiers of English football, Tim Ream, Eric Lichaj, Jonathan Spector and Gboly Ariyibi all earned starts for the their respective sides.
Moreno, Arriola Score for Club Tijuana's U20s
Two American forwards found the back of the net for Club Tijuana's U20 side on Saturday. Amando Moreno and Paul Arriola each netted a strike in Xolos' 3-1 win over Tigres.
Both forwards are members of the USMNT U20 and U23 sides, and there is a possibility either player could help out at the Olympics if they continue to score goals south of the border.
At the senior club level in Mexico, William Yarbrough made eight saves for Club Leon in its 2-1 win over Club America. Ventura Alvarado and Miguel Ibarra did not feature in the match.
News and Notes: Bedoya Returns to Starting Lineup
Alejandro Bedoya regained his spot in the Nantes starting 11 on Saturday after coming on as a sub against Monaco on Nov. 21. The winger played 90 minutes in the club's 0-0 draw with Bastia.
Gedion Zelalem earned another start for Rangers on Saturday in their 4-0 win over St. Mirren in the Scottish Challenge Cup.
Ethan Horvath and Molde fell 2-0 to Fenerbahce in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday. Despite the defeat, the Norwegian side is still first in Group A with 10 points.
Joe Tansey covers U.S. Soccer for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter, @JTansey90.
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