Young Americans Abroad: Limited slate

After a weekend off for international duty, youth leagues around Europe resumed over the weekend.

Young American players seeking to make the grade were back in action as well, although it was hit or miss in Germany for some players.

Schalke 04 U23 forward Matthew Hoppe entered in the 63rd minute of a 0-0 draw with TSV Alemannia Aachen. Evan Rotundo started and played 73 minutes for the Under-17s, which won by a 4-3 score against Wuppertaler SV.

Carver Miller, a goalkeeper for Arminia Bielefeld’s Under-17 team, started and played the duration of a 3-3 draw against Preussen Munster.

U.S. Under-20 midfielder Leon Flach was in the starting lineup for FC St. Pauli II, playing the entirety of a 1-1 tie with Hamburger SV II.

Kobe Hernandez-Foster started for Wolfsburg Under-19s, which fell by a 1-0 score to Hamburger SV.

Also on the losing side of things was Orrin McKinze Gaines, who started for Hannover II in a 2-0 loss to TSV Havelse in Regionalliga Nord action. He played the full match in the defeat.

From elsewhere around Europe:

One of only a couple of players on professional deals in Portugal, Johan Gomez remained in the starting lineup for FC Porto’s B team. His side fell by a 2-1 score to Casa Pia Atletico Clube.

In France, Kaile Auvray was back amongst the goals in a 2-2 draw with RC Lens. He’s tied for second on Lille’s Under-17s with four goals. Fellow member of the U.S. Under-17 squad for the 2021 cycle, midfielder Rokas Pukstas started again for his Hajduk Split youth side. A potential captain of the squad, he joined the Croatian club earlier in the year.

Up in England, center back Jonathan Tomkinson remained in the starting lineup for Norwich City Under-23s, helping his side to a 2-1 victory against Stoke City last Friday. Chituru Odunze conceded eight goals as Leicester City fell by an 8-2 score against Southampton in an Under-18 match. Midfielder Zach Booth also started for the Leicester outfit.

Mendez exits with injury

It was a busy four-day stretch for Jong Ajax and U.S. midfielder Alex Mendez that ended in less than encouraging circumstances. After playing 88 minutes in Friday’s 3-2 win against Jong AZ, Mendez remained in the starting lineup for Monday’s match with Jong FC Utrecht. Mendez exited that game in the 16th minute due to a reported injury.

In the first game, he did setup one of Ajax’s goal with a set piece delivery.

@AjaxYA pic.twitter.com/HXuu5T2v51

— AjaxYA_2 📼 (@AjaxYA_2) October 16, 2020

There wasn’t much good news for Richie Ledezma or Chris Gloster with Jong PSV. Lined up against FC Volendam, Ledezma played the full match in a 5-1 defeat, with Gloster remaining on the bench.