USMNT Watch: John Brooks Helps Hertha Berlin Earn Win in Champions League Race
United States men's national team center-back John Brooks and Hertha Berlin moved one step closer to the UEFA Champions League on Friday.
The 23-year-old, who should be a key part of the USMNT's Copa America Centenario squad in June, played a vital role in Hertha Berlin's 2-0 win over Schalke in the Bundesliga.
In addition to Brooks' stellar showing in the German top flight, a few other Americans made waves in Germany over the weekend, including the American in the best scoring form at the moment.
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We'll have updates on the rest of the USMNT-eligible players plying their trade across the globe below in our latest USMNT Watch.
John Brooks Helps Hertha Berlin Record Vital Clean Sheet
Brooks turned in a stellar 90-minute performance for the home side on Friday at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
The 2-0 victory kept Hertha Berlin in third place in the Bundesliga table. Since reaching the top two is an impossible goal, the club are looking to secure third, but they've faced some tough competition throughout the season.
Hertha Berlin fended off one of their challengers on Friday as they knocked off fifth-place Schalke, but Borussia Monchengladbach still sit three points behind them in fourth.
Speaking of Monchengladbach, American winger Fabian Johnson featured for 86 minutes in their 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
Down in the 2.Bundesliga, Bobby Wood netted his 13th goal of the season for Union Berlin. All signs are pointing to Wood earning significant playing time in March against Guatemala.
USMNT U20 international Russell Canouse made his club debut for Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday. The midfielder was promoted to the first team earlier in the week due to injuries in the squad.
Matt Miazga Makes Appearance for Chelsea's U21 Team
Most of the news surrounding Matt Miazga over the last few weeks has focused on developments off the pitch.
The former New York Red Bulls center-back finally made his first appearance for the Blues in a U21 match on Friday against Leicester City. Miazga played 90 minutes in the 2-1 victory.
In the FA Cup on Friday, Danny Williams came off the bench for 15 minutes in Reading's 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.
Geoff Cameron headlined Saturday's small slate of Premier League games as he played 90 minutes for Stoke City at right-back.
Down in the Championship, Eric Lichaj started at right-back and played the full 90 for Nottingham Forest. The club announced Lichaj signed a one-year extension on Sunday.
Eighteen-year-old American prospect Matthew Olosunde officially linked up with Manchester United's academy and played for the club's U18 squad on Friday against Brighton and Hove Albion. Olosunde signed on January 29, but he didn't receive international clearance until Friday, per the club's website.
Matt Hedges Scores Own Goal in Humiliating Defeat
No players on the USMNT depth chart scored for their own teams on Saturday in Major League Soccer. However, one defender did find the back of the net.
FC Dallas center-back Matt Hedges scored an embarrassing own goal in the 13th minute of FC Dallas' shocking 5-0 defeat to the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium. Kellyn Acosta and DaMarcus Beasley played 90 minutes for their respective sides in the match.
Ethan Finlay was also on the losing end of a surprising result. The winger played 74 minutes in the Crew's 2-1 home defeat to Philadelphia. Tony Tchani, Wil Trapp and Michael Parkhurst also started for Columbus on Saturday.
Gyasi Zardes, Robbie Rogers, Clint Dempsey, Jordan Morris, Brek Shea, Kyle Beckerman, Lee Nguyen, Sacha Kljestan, Matt Besler and Graham Zusi were among the American starters in MLS this weekend.
Jorge Villafana, Omar Gonzalez Go Head-to-Head in Shootout
Two players who left MLS for Liga MX during the offseason lined up against each other on Friday night at the Estadio Corona.
Jorge Villafana started at left-back for Santos Laguna in their 3-2 win over Omar Gonzalez and Club Pachuca.
William Yarbrough recorded a clean sheet and made five saves in Club Leon's 2-0 victory over Queretaro on Saturday. Luis Gil started for Queretaro, while Jonathan Bornstein did not play.
Paul Arriola earned a start for Club Tijuana and played a role in setting up the game-winner against Chiapas on Saturday.
News and Notes: Perry Kitchen Makes Hearts Debut
Former D.C. United midfielder Perry Kitchen made his first appearance for Hearts in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday. Kitchen came off the bench in the 72nd minute in the club's 1-0 win over Dundee.
Bob Bradley's Le Havre fell 1-0 on the road to Sochaux on Friday. Le Havre sit in fourth place in Ligue 2.
Joe Tansey covers U.S. Soccer for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter, @JTansey90.
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