USMNT’s Tim Weah scores SCREAMER off gorgeous assist from his Juventus teammate Weston McKennie to break deadlock in friendly with Uzbekistan

Juventus’ Tim Weah has linked up with Weston McKennie – his only teammate at both club and international level – to score a screamer for the US men’s national team in a friendly match against Uzbekistan. 

The 23-year-old, who signed for the 36-time Serie A champions this summer, made it 1-0 for the Star and Stripes in the fourth minute of Saturday’s game in St. Louis after collecting a pass from McKennie from the edge of the right side of the penalty box, firing a diagonal shot into the net. 

McKennie, however, had to fend off four defenders after being on the receiving end of a cross from US captain and star player, Christian Pulisic. He controlled the cross in the air before lifting it over an Uzbek defender, dribbling three others and laying off a pass for Weah to pounce on.

‘CLASS FROM WESTON MCKENNIE TO SET UP TIM WEAH’S BANGER,’ shared USMNT Only – a  fan account – on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

‘THE JUVENTUS CONNECTION MAKES IT 1-0 FOR THE USMNT! WHAT A START.’

 Weah, 23, celebrates scoring in the fourth minute of a match between Uzbekistan and the USA

Weah and teammate Weston McKennie joke during a USMNT training session at Heritage Park in Henderson, Nevada, in June

Weah’s goal will please both coaching staffs at Juventus and on the USMNT setup, with the Bianconeri looking to reconquer Italy after missing out on qualification for the Champions League last season, while the U.S. aims for World Cup glory on its soil in 2026. 

Pulisic and his AC Milan teammate Yunus Musah are two other key US players plying their trade in Italy this season. 

Meanwhile, ahead of Saturday’s match against Uzbekistan, McKennie publicly voiced that he wants to prove he’s worthy to Juventus and its fans.

The 25-year-old midfielder joined the Turin-based club for the 2020-21 season, had his following season cut short by a broken foot, then was loaned to Leeds United last January and couldn’t prevent the English club from relegation. 

McKennie returned to Juventus this summer, coinciding his restoration to the club’s first team with Weah’s arrival. He entered the team’s first two matches as a substitute and made his first start last weekend in a 2-0 win at Empoli. 

‘Coming back to Juventus wasn’t easy,’ McKennie said oon Thursday during a news conference at U.S. national team camp in St. Louis. ‘I left the club at a time of crisis, I guess you could say. And so coming back I felt like I started back at square zero, but that is a challenge I’m always up for, a challenge that I think I needed at this time in my career to kind of prove to people that I still have it.’ 

Weah and McKennie both play for Juventus and are aiming to get the Bianconeri back to into the Champions League this season

Juventus was penalized 10 points in the standings last season for financial violations, causing it to miss out on this season’s Champions League, then was banned from all UEFA competitions because of the improprieties. A team that won its ninth straight title in 2019-20 hasn’t won another since.

McKennie has gotten used to switching teams, saying his peripatetic upbringing was preparation – his father served in the U.S. Air Force.

‘I could make friends with the rock if I needed to,’ McKennie said. ‘And that’s just because everywhere we moved, I had to make new friends. I had to adapt to new cultures, adapt to new situations and new environments. And so, obviously, moving around teams and moving to different countries, starting at a young age definitely benefits to my situation now.’

Saturday’s match against Uzbekistan will be the first match for Gregg Berhalter in his second term as coach. Berhalter, who named his starting XI for the friendly contest on Friday, led the team to the round of 16 of last year’s World Cup before a 3-1 loss to Holland, then was replaced by interim coaches from January through July.

‘It´s just picking up where we left off,’ McKennie said.