Former NYCFC player Angeliño sets up RB Leipzig’s winner against Atletico Madrid

“MLS is shit.”

“Your league is comparable to lower English divisions.”

As fans of MLS clubs, we’ve heard these insults a thousand times when describing our support for our local clubs here in the United States our more “refined” English companions.

But recently, former MLS players have been making their mark on the game of football worldwide to the point where it can no longer be ignored, particularly in Germany. New York City FC Academy player Gio Reyna has inserted himself into Borussia Dortmund’s starting lineup at the tender age of 17 and has wow’d onlookers with his elite passing ability. Elsewhere, Vancouver Whitecaps product Alphonso Davies has impressed with Bavarian giants Bayern Munich and was so good this season, he earned the Bundeslisga Rookie of the Year award for his contributions during the 2019-20 season.

Just yesterday, RB Leipzig (who I hate, for the record) advanced to the semifinal for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history after defeating Atletico Madrid 2-1. And the winning tally came from the contributions of two very familiar names.

Angeliño — a Spanish left back who got his first-ever professional minutes in a New York City kit — assisted former New York Red Bulls homegrown Tyler Adams in the 88th minute of a tight contest to give Leipzig their biggest win to date.

Following Marcel Sabitzer’s brilliant incisive pass down the wing to further Leipzig’s counter, Angeliño then split two defenders with a pass to Adams who was unmarked at the edge of the attacking area. The Wappinger, New York native then fired a shot with enough pace to violently carom off of Atletico defender Stefan Savić and past Jan Oblak to give RasenBall their winning tally.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Eurosnobs!