Borussia Dortmund's Mathis Albert makes instant impact on USA debut against Peru
On his debut for the USMNT, Mathis Albert needed just a few minutes to show what he could offer on the international stage. The 17-year-old Borussia Dortmund forward helped turn a closely fought contest in the USA's favour, winning a penalty that Bayer Leverkusen's Malik Tillman converted in a 4-1 friendly victory over Peru.
Making your senior international debut is one thing. Helping change the course of a game almost immediately is another. For Albert, Saturday's outing in Orlando offered the chance to do both.
With the score level at 1-1, Mauricio Pochettino introduced the Borussia Dortmund youngster in place of former BVB and Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Gio Reyna shortly after the hour mark. It proved an inspired change, with Albert quickly giving Peru something new to think about.
An explosive burst down the left took the teenager clear before Jesús Pretell brought him down near the edge of the penalty area. The referee pointed to the spot, allowing Tillman to restore the hosts' lead in the 66th minute.
It was a decisive contribution from one of the youngest players on the pitch. Albert had immediately unsettled the visitors, providing an early glimpse of the qualities that have helped him rise through the ranks at Dortmund.
The occasion marked another milestone in an eventful year for the starlet. In April, he became the youngest American player to appear in the Bundesliga, making his Dortmund bow against Freiburg aged 16 years, 11 months and five days. That saw him surpass a record previously held by Reyna, the very player he replaced against Peru.
Earlier this season, he also made his DFB Cup bow against HEBC Hamburg, playing the 90 minutes in a 5-0 win for the Bundesliga side. While he is not yet a regular starter in the Bundesliga, Albert's time will surely come for Dortmund in the coming weeks and months.
There may still be plenty of development to come, but Albert has already given both Pochettino and Niko Kovač a reason to take another look. For Dortmund's latest American prospect, it was an encouraging first foray into the international game.
Albert will be hoping for more minutes as this extended international break continues, with the USA still set to face Chile (29 September), Mexico (3 October) and Canada (6 October) in a series of friendly encounters.
Dortmund's Bundesliga campaign will then resume as they welcome Werder Bremen to the Westfalenstadion on 9 October, with Kovač's charges looking to extend their lead atop the league table.
