CLAUDIO REYNA

(AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) (Eduardo Verdugo)MEXICO CITY — (AP) — All at once, Gio Reyna showed the promise of the U.S. national team’s future and the frustration of its present. Just back from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for more than half a season, the young American midfielder entered Thursday night's World Cup qualifier in the 60th minute. "Mexico was the host of the '86 World Cup, where Maradona scored his wonderful goal, and I had visions of that while Gio was dribbling," U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said after the 0-0 draw. “I don’t know about that, but, yeah, it was a nice run,” Reyna said. Berhalter often points out how young the U.S. is at it tries to rebound from failing to reach the 2018 World Cup.

With a dazzling 14-touch run.

All at once, Gio Reyna showed the promise of the U.S. national team’s future and the frustration of its present. Just back from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for more than half a season, the young American midfielder entered Thursday night's World Cup qualifier in the 60th minute. In the match's most memorable moment, the 19-year-old ran onto a ball poked loose by Walker Zimmerman outside the U.S. penalty area and sprinted half the length of the field on a dazzling run of 14 touches.

His son Gio has a chance to play at Azteca for the first time Thursday night, when the U.S. faces El Tri in the start of the last trio of World Cup qualifiers. Claudio’s last national team appearance was a 2006 World Cup loss to Ghana, so Gio never saw his dad play for the Stars & Stripes. “My dad retired from the national team when I was only 3 or 4,” 19-year-old Gio said Tuesday in Houston, where the Americans were training. “Qualifying for the World Cup is the absolute minimum,” midfielder Tyler Adams said. Gio Reyna injured a hamstring in the opener last September and hasn’t played for the national team since.

Gio Reyna has a chance to play at Azteca for the first time Thursday night, when the U.S. faces El Tri in the start of the last trio of World Cup qualifiers.

Gio Reyna, Jordan Pefok and Ethan Horvath are back for the United States’ final World Cup qualifiers but Sergiño Dest appears likely to miss the three games.

Brenden Aaronson scored in the eighth minute, Daryl Dike and Reggie Cannon added their first international goals and the United States beat Costa Rica 4-0 in an exhibition to complete a grueling stretch of four games in 11 days.

United States' Giovanni Reyna instructs his teammates during the international friendly soccer match between Wales and USA at Liberty stadium in Swansea, Wales, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)Gio Reyna walked onto the field for his U.S. national team debut, just like mom Danielle in 1993, just like dad Claudio in 1994. Reyna played 78 minutes Thursday night and was among six debuts for the Americans in a 0-0 tie against Wales in an exhibition at Swansea. And overall, a 17-year-old debuting and he didn’t look like that.”Claudio Reyna made 112 international appearances from 1994 to 2006, playing in three World Cups. Reyna was in a mobile and dynamic midfield, combining with 21-year-old Tyler Adams of Leipzig and 22-year-old Weston McKennie of Juventus.

Gio Reyna made his U.S. national soccer team debut against Wales at Swansea on Thursday night on the day before his 18th birthday, joining his father and mother as the first three-member family in American history to make international soccer appearances. Reyna and Musah became just the 12th and 13th players to make an appearance before turning 18. Claudio Reyna was a U.S. captain and played in three World Cups. He was 20 years, 5 months, 26 days when he made the first of 112 national team appearances as a 61st-minute substitute in an exhibition against Norway at Tempe, Arizona, on Jan. 15, 1994. Adams makes his first appearance since March 21, 2019, against Ecuador, and Robinson makes his first since June 5, 2019, against Jamaica.

FILE - In this Wednesday, July 17, 2019 file photo, Borussia Dortmund's Gio Reyna, left, reacts after missing a shot against Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Bryan Meredith during a friendly soccer match, in Seattle. American youngster Gio Reyna's first Bundesliga start for Borussia Dortmund was foiled Saturday, May 16, 2020 by a pre-match injury. Reyna made his debut for Dortmund on Jan. 18, becoming the youngest American in the Bundesliga at 17 years, 2 months, 5 days. He is a son of former U.S. national team captain Claudio Reyna and women's team player Danielle Egan Reyna. The game, played without fans, was among five Saturday as the Bundesliga became the first major European league to resume following the coronavirus outbreak.

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