Photo by: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Chris Mueller scores big in international debut
December 10, 2020 | Men's Soccer
2017 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year registered two goals for USMNT
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Following a breakout season with Orlando City SC, former Badger Chris Mueller turned heads Wednesday night when he scored twice in his debut for the US Men's National Soccer Team in a 6-0 friendly victory against El Salvador. He became the first Wisconsin men's soccer player to play for the senior U.S. Men's National Team in the process.
The Schaumburg, Illinois, native rose to the occasion, registering his first international goal in the 20th minute to put the Red, White and Blue at a 2-0 lead in Team USA's last game of the year.
With a diving header just five minutes later, Mueller knocked in his second goal at the back post to become just the sixth player in USMNT history to score multiple goals in their debut.Â
The 24-year-old attacker is now the second 2020 debuting US player to score twice in two weeks next to Ayo Akinola, whose goal he also assisted on in the 27th minute. Mueller also made the play to set up the game's first goal.
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Mueller left Wisconsin in 2017 as one of its most highly decorated players after being drafted as the sixth overall pick by Orlando City SC in 2018. Making himself a crucial player in his third Major League Soccer season with 10 goals and seven assists, the winger earned an invite to the Team USA training camp.Â
While at UW, Mueller led the nation, the Big Ten and the team in assists (20) in his final season, finishing second in all-time career assists at UW with 35 and setting the Wisconsin record for assists in a season. He also led the nation and the Big Ten in assists-per-game (.95), led the Big Ten and the team in shots (72) and shots on goal (30) and led the Big Ten and the team in points (38) to garner the prestigious honor of Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
The Schaumburg, Illinois, native rose to the occasion, registering his first international goal in the 20th minute to put the Red, White and Blue at a 2-0 lead in Team USA's last game of the year.
With a diving header just five minutes later, Mueller knocked in his second goal at the back post to become just the sixth player in USMNT history to score multiple goals in their debut.Â
The 24-year-old attacker is now the second 2020 debuting US player to score twice in two weeks next to Ayo Akinola, whose goal he also assisted on in the 27th minute. Mueller also made the play to set up the game's first goal.
Â
ÂWhat a debut!!! https://t.co/sIITvztQLI
— Wisconsin Soccer (@BadgerMSoccer) December 10, 2020
Mueller left Wisconsin in 2017 as one of its most highly decorated players after being drafted as the sixth overall pick by Orlando City SC in 2018. Making himself a crucial player in his third Major League Soccer season with 10 goals and seven assists, the winger earned an invite to the Team USA training camp.Â
While at UW, Mueller led the nation, the Big Ten and the team in assists (20) in his final season, finishing second in all-time career assists at UW with 35 and setting the Wisconsin record for assists in a season. He also led the nation and the Big Ten in assists-per-game (.95), led the Big Ten and the team in shots (72) and shots on goal (30) and led the Big Ten and the team in points (38) to garner the prestigious honor of Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
🗣 "It was a good team effort...We're going to move on, move upward."#USMNT debutant @cmueller1662 didn't want to brag too much about his Man of the Match performance last night.
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) December 10, 2020
That's okay, we did it here: https://t.co/U1lOp5CtOa pic.twitter.com/40JIXSHkLX
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