USMNT's Gio Reyna Scores First-Half Double in Dortmund's Cup Semifinal

Borussia Dortmund winger Gio Reyna scored two goals in the first 22 minutes of the DFB-Pokal on Saturday against Holstein Kiel.
USMNT's Gio Reyna Scores First-Half Double in Dortmund's Cup Semifinal
USMNT's Gio Reyna Scores First-Half Double in Dortmund's Cup Semifinal /

Gio Reyna entered Saturday with only one goal for Borussia Dortmund in 2021; in just 22 minutes, the U.S. men's national team phenom scored two in a 5-0 DFB-Pokal semifinal win against Holstein Kiel.

Despite star forward Erling Haaland being out with a muscle injury, Dortmund became the first team in DFB-Pokal history to score five goals in the first half of a semifinal, the first two coming via Reyna.

The 18-year-old started the scoring in the 16th minute when he received a pass from Jadon Sancho at the edge of a crowded penalty area. Reyna stepped to his right and curled in a low shot for the opening goal. 

Six minutes later, the winger had his first career double when he tapped in a wide-open chance following Raphaël Guerreiro's deflected back-heeled pass. But Reyna didn't get his chance at a hat trick after he was subbed off at halftime.

Although it came against a second-division German club, albeit one that defeated a strong Bayern Munich side on penalties in the cup's second round, the double gives Reyna seven goals on the season.

Dortmund will face RB Leipzig in the DFB-Pokal final following the club's thrilling last-second, extra-time winner against Werder Bremen on Friday. The final will pit Reyna against another U.S. international in Leipzig’s Tyler Adams.

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Andrew Gastelum
ANDREW GASTELUM

Andrew Gastelum is a programming editor and writer at Sports Illustrated who specializes in soccer, the Olympics and international sports. He joined the SI staff in March 2021 and previously contributed to Howler Magazine and NBC Sports. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame alum and is currently based in Italy.