A 10-minute span in Barcelona’s 6-1 win at Real Sociedad turned the game upside down and turned Sergino Dest into an instant attacking hero Sunday.
Dest connected twice during that time to help Barca to its La Liga victory and make some history as well.
The U.S. men’s national team right back became the first American to score multiple goals in a match and became the all-time leading goal-scorer in Spain’s top tier.
❝𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑭𝑬𝑬𝑳𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑰𝑺 𝑨𝑴𝑨𝒁𝑰𝑵𝑮❞
— @sergino_dest after he became the first 🇺🇸 player to score a brace in the history of @LaLigaEN pic.twitter.com/cmyoJ5iB7W— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 21, 2021
With the visitors enjoying a 1-0 lead, the 20-year-old Dest latched onto a pass from Lionel Messi and first a shot from the right edge of the goalkeepers box past keeper Alex Remiro.
Eight minutes into the second half, Dest added No. 2. This time Jordi Alba did most of the hard work, running down the right flank and then parallel to the goal line before shuffling off a pass to the wing back. Dest, who worked himself free, drilled it home on the right side for a three-goal lead.
GOALLLL FOR @sergino_dest! 🇺🇸
Assist from a guy named Leo.
(@beINSPORTSUSA) pic.twitter.com/zhF8ccluQL
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) March 21, 2021
To truly appreciate Dest’s accomplishment, it took him 1,513 minute of La Liga action this season to score his first goal for Barca. And then only 10 minutes for the second one.
The 20-year-old defender Dest joined USMNT teammates Jozy Altidore and Yunus Musah as the three players who have scored in La Liga.
Dest will join his USMNT teammates at training camp in Wiener Neustadt, Austria for two friendlies this week. The Americans meet Jamaica in Wiener Neustadt, Austria Thursday, March 25 before taking on host Northern Ireland in Belfast Sunday, March 28.