Three U.S. Men’s National Team players - Cameron Carter-Vickers, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah - celebrated championships last week.
A fourth player in the pool, Alejandro Zendejas, could bring home a medal while playing for Club America in the Liga MX Clausura finals.
Brenden Aaronson helped Union Berlin remain in the Bundesliga, while Josh Sargent and his Norwich City teammates experienced the bitter disappointment of failing to achieve promotion to the English Premier League.
In an American showdown in Italy's Serie B promotion semifinal playoffs, Venezia's Gianluca Busio and Tanner Tessmann will battle Palermo's Kristoffer Lund.
In a rare feat, defenders, Shaq Moore and Walker Zimmerman combined to score a goal for Nashville SC.
Jordan Morris, Djordje Mihailovic and Kevin Paredes also scored goals.
Finally, goalkeeper Drake Callender recorded two clean sheets within a four-day period for Inter Miami CF, capping an impressive list of highlights last week.
THAT CHAMPIONSHIP FEELING
Defender Cameron Carter-Vickers played the full 90 and stoppage time as Celtic captured its third consecutive Scottish Premiership title with a 5-0 win at Kilmarnock on Wednesday, May 15. Carter-Vickers was on the bench but did not play in the team's 3-2 come home victory over St. Mirren on Saturday, May 18. Celtic and Carter-Vickers will try to make it a double when they meet Rangers in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park in Glasgow on Saturday, May 25.
COPPA CHAMPIONS
Midfielders Weston McKennie and Tim Weah earned winners' medals as Juventus defeated Atalanta, 1-0, in the Coppa Italia final in Rome on Wednesday, May 15. McKennie played 90 minutes while Weah came off the bench, replacing Andrea Cambiaso in the 81st minute. Juve has now won 15 Coppa Italia titles.
FINAL BOUND
Alejandro Zendejas will have an opportunity to secure a winners' medal as Club America will face Cruz Azul in the finals of the Liga MX Clausura playoffs. America won its semifinal series, 1-0. After playing host Guadalajara and Cade Cowell to a scoreless draw on Wednesday, May 15, America won at home, 1-0 on Saturday, May 18. Monterrey and Brandon Vazquez failed to get past Cruz Azul, despite their series ending in a 2-2 tie. Cruz Azul, however, was given a ticket to the final series because it was the higher seeded team. America will visit Cruz Azul on Thursday, May 23, and will host its rivals on Sunday, May 26.
STAYING UP
Thanks in-part to Brenden Aaronson, Union Berlin will remain in the Bundesliga for the 2024-25 campaign. The U.S. midfielder assisted on Benedict Hollerbach's 68th-minute goal to give his side a 1-0 lead en route to a 2-1 win over Freiburg on Saturday, May 18. Union Berlin (9-29-6, 33), which finished in 17th place, needed a stoppage-time score by Janik Haberer to stay in the first tier, after the team missed two penalty kicks.
WAIT TIL NEXT YEAR
Josh Sargent and Norwich City fell short in their pursuit of gaining promotion to the English Premier League, losing to Leeds United in the aggregate goals series, 4-0. After playing to a scoreless tie at home in the first leg, the Canaries were defeated at Leeds in the second leg, 4-0, in the English Football League playoffs on Wednesday, May 16. Former USMNT forward David Wagner was fired as manager by Norwich after the defeat.
U.S. VS. U.S.
It will be Americans vs. American in the semifinals of the Italian Serie B playoffs this week. Venezia (Gianluca Busio and Tanner Tessmann) will meet Palermo and Kristoffer Lund to continue team's quest to reach Serie A next season. The first game of the two-leg series is set for Palermo on Monday, May 20, the return leg at Venezia on Friday, May 24. Lund helped Palermo best Sampdoria, 2-0, in the preliminary round on Friday, May 17, assisting on Salim Diakite's second goal of the match in the 47th minute. The winner will meet the victor of the Cantanzaro-Cremonese semifinal. The final series is set for May 30 and June 2.
RARE COMBINATION
A pair of defenders - Shaq Moore and Walker Zimmerman - combined for Nashville SC's first goal in its 2-0 home win over Toronto FC on Wednesday, May 15. Zimmerman headed the ball on the right side to Moore, who slotted it home past goalie Luka Gavran from close range in the 81st minute. Moore, who replaced Sean Davis at halftime, tallied his first goal of the season. It also was Zimmerman's first assist.
GOAL NO. 2
Forward Jordan Morris registered his second goal of the MLS season in the ninth minute of the Seattle Sounders' 1-1 home draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, May 18. He put home a rebound of Joao Paulo's deflected shot past goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka to lift Seattle into a 1-0 lead.
IN DEFEAT
Djordje Mihailovic and Kevin Paredes scored goals in losses for their respective teams.
-- Mihailovic registered his third goal of the campaign and 23rd of his MLS career in the Colorado Rapids' 5-3 loss at Real Salt Lake on Saturday, May 18. The midfielder tapped in a rebound of an Omir Fernandez's shot, from close range, to give the visitors a 3-2 lead in the 56th minute. Mihailovic has eight goal contributions in his last eight matches.
-- Paredes scored the first goal of the match in the 18th minute of Wolfsburg's 3-1 home loss to Mainz in its Bundesliga season finale on Saturday, May 18. He put away Jakub Kamiński's feed for his third goal of the campaign.
KEEPING IT CLEAN
Drake Callender extended his scoreless streak to 238 minutes by registering a pair of shutouts in MLS last week. The Inter Miami CF goalkeeper blanked Orlando City SC in a 0-0 away tie on Wednesday, May 15. He then backstopped a 1-0 home win over D.C. United on Saturday, May 18. Callender came up big in both matches. Wearing the captain's armband in the absence of an injured Lionel Messi, the 26-year-old keeper made a diving save on Martin Ojeda's shot from inside the penalty area in the first half of the Orlando City contest. Three minutes into second-half stoppage time on Saturday, he denied Cristian Dajome's attempt from the center of the box. Callender, who has four clean sheets, made three saves in each game.
-- Colorado Rapids goalie Zack Steffen made two saves in his third shutout of the campaign, in a 1-0 home victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday, May 15.
FULL RUNDOWN
-- Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin; Bundesliga) - 88 minutes, ASSIST, in 2-1 win vs. Freiburg (May 18)
-- Paxten Aaronson (Vitesse; Dutch Eredivisie) - 90 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. Ajax (May 19)
-- Kellyn Acosta (Chicago Fire; MLS) - 45 minutes as a substitute in 3-1 loss vs. Columbus Crew (May 18); 67 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Charlotte FC (May 15)
-- Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth; English Premier League) – Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 loss at Chelsea (May 19)
-- Folarin Balogun (Monaco; French Ligue 1) – 84 minutes in 4-0 win vs. Nantes (May 19)
-- Taylor Booth (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - 72 minutes in 3-3 draw at AZ (May 19)
-- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italian Serie B) – At Palermo in Serie B playoffs (Monday, 2:30 p.m. ET)
-- Drake Callender (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - 90 minutes, SHUTOUT, in 1-0 win vs. D.C. United (May 18); 90 minutes, SHUTOUT, in 0-0 draw at Orlando City SC (May 15)
-- Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis; Spain La Liga) - 90 minutes in 2-0 loss vs. Real Sociedad (May 19); 70 minutes as a substitute in 2-2 draw at Las Palmas (May 16)
-- Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - In 18, DNP in 3-2 win vs. St. Mirren (May 18); 90 minutes in 5-0 win at Kilmarnock (May 15)
-- Cade Cowell (Guadalajara; Liga MX) - 45 minutes as a substitute in1-0 loss at Club Americain Clausura playoffs (May 18); 28 minutes as a substitute in 0-0 draw vs. Club America in Clausura playoffs (May 15)
-- Ben Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - 56 minutes in 1-0 win vs. D.C. United (May 18); 10 minutes as a substitute in 0-0 draw at Orlando City SC (May 15)
-- Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - Injured, DNP in 3-1 win vs. RKC Waalwijk (May 19)
-- Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo, Spain La Liga) - 45 minutes in 2-1 win at Granada (May 19)
-- Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; MLS) - 81 minutes in 1-0 win at Houston Dynamo (May 18)
-- Julian Gressel (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - 82 minutes in 1-0 win vs. D.C. United (May 18); 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at Orlando City SC (May 15)
-- DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution; MLS) – 40 minutes as a substitute in 3-0 loss vs. Philadelphia Union (May 18)
-- Kristoffer Lund (Palmero; Italy Serie B) - Vs. Venezia in Serie B playoffs (Monday, 2:30 p.m. ET); 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 2-0 win vs. Sampdoria (May 17)
-- Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim; Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 4-1 win vs. Köln (May 18)
-- Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - At Bologna (Monday, 2:45 p.m. ET); 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Atalanta in Rome in Coppa Italia (May 15)
-- Mark McKenzie (Genk; Belgian Pro League) - Vs. Antwerp in Jupiler Pro League playoffs (Monday, 12:30 p.m. ET)
-- Djordje Mihailovic (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 83 minutes, GOAL, in 5-3 loss at Real Salt Lake (May 18); 71 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (May 15)
-- Shaq Moore (Nashville SC; MLS) - 45 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Atlanta United (May 18); 45 minutes as a substitute, GOAL, in 2-0 win vs. Toronto FC (May 15)
-- Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; MLS) - 45 minutes in 3-1 win at Chicago Fire (May 18); 90 minutes in 3-1 win at CF Montreal (May 15)
-- Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; MLS) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 1-1 draw vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (May 18); 25 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 loss at Real Salt Lake (May 15)
-- Yunus Musah (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - 77 minutes in 3-1 loss at Torino (May 18)
-- Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy; MLS) – 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at Charlotte FC (May 18); 13 minutes as a substitute in 2-2 draw at Minnesota United (May 15)
-- Erik Palmer-Brown (Panathinaikos; Greek Super League) - Injured, DNP in 2-2 draw vs. Olympiakos (May 19)
-- Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - 45 minutes, GOAL, in 3-1 loss vs. Mainz (May 18)
-- Jordan Pefok (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 80 minutes in 4-0 loss at Stuttgart (May 18)
-- Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 21 minutes as a substitute in 3-1 win vs. RKC Waalwijk (May 19)
-- Christian Pulisic (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes in 3-1 loss at Torino (May 18)
-- Tim Ream (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 4-2 win at Luton Town (May 19)
-- Gio Reyna (Nottingham Forest; English Premier League) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 win at Burnley (May 19)
-- Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minute in 2-0 loss vs. Mechelen (May 18)
-- Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 5-0 win vs. Aston Villa (May 19)
-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) - 78 minutes in 4-2 win at Luton Town (May 19)
-- Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - In 18, DNP in 3-1 win vs. St. Louis CITY (May 18); 89 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Atlanta United (May 15)
-- James Sands (New York City FC; MLS) – 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. New York Red Bulls (May 18)
-- Josh Sargent (Norwich City; Championship) - 45 minutes in 4-0 loss at Leeds United in EFL playoffs (May 16)
-- Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - In 18, DNP in 4-0 loss at Stuttgart (May 18)
-- Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 90 minutes in 5-3 loss at Real Salt Lake (May 18); 90 minutes, SHHUTOUT, in 1-0 win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (May 15)
-- Tanner Tessmann (Venezia; Italy Serie B) – At Palermo in Serie B playoffs (Monday, 2:30 p.m. ET
-- Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 69 minutes in 3-1 win vs. RKC Waalwijk (May 19)
-- Timmy Tillman (Los Angeles FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win at St. Louis CITY (May 15)
-- John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at New York City FC (May 18); 90 minutes in 4-1 win at D.C. United (May 15)
-- Auston Trusty (Sheffield United; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 3-0 loss vs. Tottenham (May 19)
-- Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 2-1 win at Burnley (May 19)
-- Brandon Vazquez (Monterrey; Liga MX) – 45 minutes in 2-1 win at Cruz Azul in Clausura playoffs (May 19); 45 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 loss to Cruz Azul in Clausura playoffs (May 16)
-- Tim Weah (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - At Bologna (Monday, 2:45 p.m. ET); 9 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win vs. Atalanta in Rome in Coppa Italia (May 15)
-- Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United; MLS - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Nashville SC (May 18); 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at FC Cincinnati (May 15)
-- DeAndre Yedlin (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - Injured, DNP in 3-1 win vs. St. Louis CITY (May 18); Injured, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Atlanta United (May 15)
-- Alejandro Zendejas (Club America; Liga MX) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Guadalajara in Clausura Playoffs (May 18); 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at Guadalajara in Clausura playoffs (May 15)
-- Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Atlanta United (May 18); 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 2-0 win vs. Toronto FC (May 15)
