🇺🇸 State of the Union: Seattle win, MLS reject at Liverpool, Brenner bid | OneFootball

Good morning, USA! Here is the top news coming out of the country for your Thursday viewing pleasure!

Seattle top NYCFC in first leg

Seattle take a two-goal into the second leg of the Concacaf Champions League semi-final after Albert Rusnák, Jordan Morris, and Nicolás Lodeiro all netted for the Sounders.

The two sides will link up next Wednesday, April 13th, though NYCFC will play at Red Bull Arena as the Yankees will be in the middle of a five-game homestand.

MLS side reportedly refused Luis Díaz

Though nobody in MLS would pay $2m for Luis Díaz while he was killing it with Colombian giants Atlético Junior, Porto was willing to spend four times that.

Obviously, there’s no telling how he would have got on in MLS but it’s worth wondering what could have been now he’s tearing it up with Liverpool.

FC Cincinnati refuses Brenner offer

According to sources close to MLSsoccer.com, FC Cincinnati turned down an offer from Brazilian side Internacional for Brenner after the player asked to leave the club.

The 22-year-old, who is the fourth-most expensive signing in MLS history at $13m, scored eight goals and provided a pair of assists in 33 games in his debut season.

Unfortunately for the former São Paulo starlet, FC Cincinnati finished rock-bottom in MLS for the third season in a row.

Brenner has since been downgraded to the bench while Brandon Vazquez has thrived up top, scoring a league-leading five goals in six games.

🦅 Americans Abroad

Christian Pulisic and Chelsea were soundly beaten at home, losing their Champions League quarter-final first leg 3-1 against Real Madrid.

Pulisic started but was rather underwhelming before he was taken off in the 64th minute.

Ricardo Pepi came off the bench in Augsburg’s 2-1 Bundesliga win over Mainz but has still yet to score his debut goal in eight appearances.

📊 A numbers game

Romeo Beckham, the 19-year-old son of David Beckham, had himself quite a night in Inter Miami II’s 3-3 draw with Philadelphia Union II in the inaugural season of MLS NEXT Pro, tallying an eye-watering three assists.

Beckham made his professional debut last season with USL League One outfit Fort Lauderdale CF, where he started their five of their last six games.

These were the first points of Beckham’s young professional career.

👕 Throwback rack

Here’s another one from Major League Soccer’s debut season. Here’s Preki in the iconic 1996 Kansas City Wiz home kit.

📆 What’s going on today?

The Europa League is back, with Tyler Adams and RB Leipzig hosting Atalanta.

Don’t forget about the third and final day of the second round of the US Open Cup!