U.S. national team midfielder Claudio Reyna made his Bundesliga debut Aug. 12.
The 22-year-old New Jersey native signed with Bayer Leverkusen in 1994, but only played for the reserve team. In the club’s first game of the 1995-96 season, Reyna entered in the 52nd minute as Leverkusen beat Hansa Rostock 2-1 on the road.
Reyna’s U.S. teammate, Paul Caligiuri, also made his First Division debut. Newly promoted St. Pauli, which Caligiuri joined in late July, beat Munich 1860, 4-2.
Bayer Leverkusen had considered loaning out Reyna this season, but now plans on keeping him at least until December.
“We were tied 1-1,” Reyna said. “I came in for Ramon Hubner. I got the ball a lot, but Hansa Rostock was playing for the counterattack so I wasn’t able to move forward too much. Then, Bernd Schuster got a red card and I had to play defensive midfielder.”
Schuster had been playing sweeper. His absence forced defensive midfielder Ioan Lupescu to the backline.
Leverkusen scored in the 86th minute through Markus Feldhoff. Reyna came close in the last minute, his 13-yard chip flying a foot over the crossbar.
“It was a good win — three points away,” Reyna said. “And it felt good to play.” Bayer Leverkusen has five foreigners on its books, including Reyna, and only three can play. Ramon Hubner — one of three Brazilians along with forward Paulo Sergio and defender Rodrigo — is in the process of getting a German passport. Lupescu is Romanian.
“The chances that I’ll keep playing are OK,” Reyna said. “Ramon Hubner plays the same position I do. He’s good, and fit, but hasn’t quite adjusted to the style yet. Maybe I’ll keep getting subbed in for him. Also, this year, you’re allowed three substitutions, so that increases my chances.”
Caligiuri, 31, had previously played in the German Second Division and in the East German First Division. His performance in St. Pauli’s win earned him a spot on the Bundesliga team of the week. Previous U.S. products who have made First Division appearances are: Eric Wynalda (Saarbruecken, Bochum), Peter Woodring (Hamburg SV), Chad Deering (Schalke 04), and John Doyle (VfB Leipzig).
Tom Dooley, born and raised in Germany but a U.S. national team member since 1992, had a bad start to his ninth First Division season. He was subbed because of a leg injury during his club Schalke 04’s 1-0 win at Cologne. He’ll be out five weeks with a hairline fracture.
In the Second Division, Nuremberg’s Joe-Max Moore was ejected after his second yellow-card offense in 0-0 tie with Unterhaching.
by Soccer America Senior Editor Mike Woitalla