It was a big day for Americans in Europe on Tuesday as Brenden Aaronson’s RB Salzburg took on Brøndby in the first leg of their Champions League playoff, while over in Germany Gio Reyna’s Borussia Dortmund welcomed Bayern Munich to the Westfalenstadion for the DFL-Supercup.
Brøndby had taken a surprise 1-0 halftime lead at Red Bull Arena, prompting 33-year-old manager Matthias Jaissle (who used to be an assistant at Brøndby) to turn to Aaronson for the second 45.
That change brought good things for Salzburg.
In the 56th minute, Karim Adeyemi found the equalizer. Then, with the clock about to strike 90:00, Aaronson hit the winner. His first touch on the edge of the 18 was clean, and his second drilled the ball inside the near post.
Brenden Aaronson scores a late winner for @FCRBS_en in the first leg of the #ucl play-offs pic.twitter.com/UKvTcgyHKE
— Serie A on Paramount+ ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 17, 2021
The second leg in Denmark is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 25.
Over in Dortmund, Reyna displayed his growing influence in the team by not just showing for the ball but absolutely demanding it. Over 78 minutes he showed a great mixture of tenacity and grace, but BVB was ultimately undone by Robert Lewandowski.
Gio Reyna started for Borussia Dortmund in the Super Cup and went 78 minutes against Bayern Munich.
▪️ 59 touches
▪️ 25/31 passing (81%)
▪️ 1 key pass
▪️ 4 dribbles (3 completed)
▪️ 16 duels (10 won)
▪️ 2 clearances
▪️ 4 tackles pic.twitter.com/oYI6xEt7KA— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) August 17, 2021
Marco Reus looked destined to open the scoring for Dortmund in the first half, but this save from Manuel Neuer gets more and more preposterous with every watch.
What a save by Manuel Neuer to deny Marco Reus pic.twitter.com/KAhHvG9evU
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 17, 2021
Then, four minutes before the halftime whistle, a slashing run from Lewandowski preceded a thumping header. As far as headed goals go, it doesn’t get much better than this.
LEWANDOWSKI WITH THE BULLET HEADER pic.twitter.com/UFMLguqTp7
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 17, 2021
Erling Haaland was pissed.
Haaland reaction to Bayerns goal pic.twitter.com/aRRPP05ZGy
— O. (@SznValverdee) August 17, 2021
Bad went to worse only four minutes into the second half after Felix Passlack got torched by Alphonso Davies out wide. Davies squared across the face of goal, where Thomas Müller ultimately got the final touch.
Lewandowski with the flick! Müller with the tap-in! pic.twitter.com/xNS3Kpyu73
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 17, 2021
Reus pulled one back in the 64th minute, and it was absolutely glorious.
MARCO REUS WHAT A HIT! pic.twitter.com/K8pCWwMiDT
— ESPN (@espn) August 17, 2021
Haaland went ballistic again.
Haaland is nonstop energy pic.twitter.com/7mW58fUchi
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 17, 2021
But what should’ve been an electric final 15 minutes was ruined by Manuel Akanji. Lewandowski still had to provide the finish (if it’s at the other end, Neuer probably saves it), but he stepped up to ensure that Julian Nagelsmann’s first win as Bayern boss = trophy.
Lewandowski with a gift in front of goal pic.twitter.com/Azt87ohIsP
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 17, 2021
Dortmund plays Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday, Aug. 21.
