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On Wednesday evening, the 24-year-old American national team player Johnny Cardoso put his name in the history books and joined an elite club among American football greats.
After seeing just 60 seconds of action in the quarter-final against Barcelona, Cardoso was a surprise inclusion in the starting XI for the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Arsenal.
In doing so, the New Jersey-born star became just the third American ever to start a semifinal match in the world’s most prestigious club competition.
Born in the US but raised in Brazil, the midfielder provided the steel and composure Atlético needed against a high-flying Gunners attack. He joins an ultra-exclusive club of Americans to reach this height, second only to the likes of Christian Pulisic.
Although Cardoso did not find the back of the net to match Pulisic’s famous semi-final goalscoring record, his presence enabled Atlético to come back in a game that appeared to be slipping away in the first half.
Griezmann’s last dance in Madrid
Antoine Griezmann made the most of his final home game with Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Griezmann did not score despite having a few good chances, but he led Atlético’s attack alongside Julian Alvarez and was named the match’s most valuable player after the 1-1 draw with Arsenal in the first leg of the semi-final.
“It’s a shame I couldn’t find the net,” said Griezmann, who will join MLS club Orlando City this summer. “But it will definitely happen in the second half. We are all putting in a lot of effort.”
Griezmann’s best chance at the Metropolitano stadium was a second-half shot that hit the crossbar. He also came close with a strike from inside the area.
Griezmann, 35, missed a penalty in the 2016 Champions League final, which Atlético lost to Real Madrid.
“We want to reach the final,” Griezmann said. “It’s my dream. I’ve prepared a lot for this match and the one we have in London and hopefully we can get to the final.”
The French playmaker said Atlético deserved a better result after improving in the second half at the Metropolitano.
“The bad minutes we played in the first half hurt a bit,” Griezmann said. “We fixed a few things tactically in the second half and we were able to press better and move better. The fans kept pushing and that helped as well.”
Griezmann is Atlético’s all-time leading goalscorer, but his minutes have been managed by coach Diego Simeone this season. He has spent 10 seasons with Atlético. He also played for Real Sociedad and Barcelona.
“We all want to get to the final,” said Atlético midfielder Koke Resurreccion, “and hopefully the game in London will not be Griezmann’s last in this competition.”
