There was plenty for Gio Reyna to celebrate Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Borussia Dortmund)
Gio Reyna continued to dazzle and add to his story Saturday.
He recorded three assists in Borussia Dortmund’s 4-0 victory over Freiburg in Bundesliga action.
Not surprisingly, Reyna was named man of the match.
According to the Dortmund website, Reyna became the first 17-year-old to record three assists in a Bundesliga match and the first club player to do so since Marco Reus registered three in a game in December 2016 #BVB #BorussiaDortmund
The 17-year-old midfielder kicked off his virtuoso performance in the 31st minute. After Reus forced a turnover in the midfield, Reyna ran onto a loose ball, took two touches before setting up Erling Haaland, who pin-pointed a perfect shot to the far post.
๐ Gio Reyna with a ๐ฅ assist to Erling Hรฅland to put @BlackYellow up 1-0 vs. @scfreiburg!
๐ฅ: @espn pic.twitter.com/pxmPIZkBD4
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) October 3, 2020
Two minutes into the second half, Reyna was at it again, sending a cross to Emre Can, who headed the ball into the upper right corner.
And Gio Reyna has another!
It's the first multi-assist game of the 17-year-old's ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐ career!
๐ฅ: @espn pic.twitter.com/oWIHl4HwXr
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) October 3, 2020
The son of former U.S. men’s national team captain Claudio Reyna finished off his personal assault in the 66th minute when he dribbled around a Freiburg player at midfield and sent a through ball to Haaland. He scored his second goal for a 3-0 advantage.
HAT TRICK OF ASSISTS FOR GIO REYNA!
๐ฅ: @espn pic.twitter.com/K0REiN1juI
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) October 3, 2020
Reyna was replaced in the 80th minute.
He is probably the second U.S. men’s play to record three assists in a match for a European club, according to TruMedia’s Paul Carr, after former USMNT defender Steve Cherundolo accomplished the feat for Hannover 96 in May 2008.
According to the Borussia website, Reyna was involved in five shots on goal, set up the first three goals and won 70 percent of his challenges.
Dortmund head coach Lucien Favre certainly was happy with the win.
“It was really tough at the start,” he said. “TThey pressed very aggressively. It was really hard for us to control the ball. Things improved after 25 minutes. We were able to play better and, besides the goal, we had a lot of chances before half-time. The timing of the second goal – just two minutes after the interval – was perfect. That gave the team even more confidence and in the end it was a clear and deserved win.”