USMNT’s Johnny Cardoso nets stunning goal as Atletico Madrid advances in Champions League

U.S. men's national team midfielder Johnny Cardoso scored a crucial goal for Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League knockout playoff round. His long-range strike in the 48th minute against Club Brugge broke a 1-1 draw on the day, ultimately proving to be the winning goal as Atlético advanced 7-4 on aggregate after a 4-1 second-leg victory.

This marks Cardoso's first career Champions League goal and his first for Atlético Madrid since his €30 million transfer from Real Betis in the summer. The goal ended a 10-month scoring drought for the player, with his last goal dating back to April 2025. His performance comes at a key time as he aims to secure a spot in the upcoming USMNT World Cup squad, with friendlies against Belgium and Portugal scheduled for next month.

In other USMNT news, midfielder Malik Tillman missed Bayer Leverkusen's Champions League match due to an ankle injury sustained over the weekend, though Leverkusen advanced to the last 16 without him. Several other American players, including Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, and Folarin Balogun, are also involved in Champions League knockout playoffs with their respective clubs, all currently trailing after the first legs of their ties.

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