CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP
Zendejas and Cowell show Berhalter their class in Súper Clásico
Alejandro Zendejas and Cade Cowell shone in the Súper Clásico as Chivas beat América, sending a message to USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter.
América avoided a potential banana skin against Chivas and earned their ticket to the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup in a match that showed the power of the USMNT. Cade Cowell and Alejandro Zendejas both performed superbly well and put themselves in the picture for Berhalter’s upcoming squad list for the Nations League.
Last time out, Zendejas and Cowell were not called up by coach Gregg Berhalter despite the great form that both Liga MX players are showing, but this time they forced him to turn his attention to the Azteca Stadium by getting their names on the scoresheet.
USMNT a potential option for Cowell and Zendejas
Barely 12 minutes into the game, full-back Alan Mozo whipped in a fabulous cross for Cade Cowell to connect with a header that flew into the corner and was impossible for Luis Ángel Malagón to think about stopping.
A few minutes later, the former San Jose Earthquakes forward had the opportunity to score the second for Chivas, but his shot zipped over the bar. Cowell, a constant goal threat, was replaced as the game drew to a close.
As for América, Zendejas was in charge of stopping the Chivas party. The American attacker has earned a place in André Jardine’s starting XI and in a nice move from the side, he scored his side’s second goal of the night.
Berhalter looks the other way as Liga MX shines
Cowell said goodbye to the CONCACAF Champions Cup with 2 goals and an assist in four games played, while in the domestic tournament he has not yet scored a goal. Despite these numbers, the 20-year-old striker is below Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and Josh Sargent in the pecking order, the attackers previously called up by Berhalter.
However, Cowell and Zendejas were not the only ones the United States coach forgot about. Brandon Vázquez, who has 7 goals since his arrival at Rayados, was not called up to USMNT either.
In the previous squad, the United States called up 21 players who are currently plying their trade in Europe. The other two footballers from the squad are indeed active in MLS, with Drake Callender (Inter Miami) and Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati) the only players not playing away from home.