Two names familiar to fans of MLS Eastern Conference teams made an impact on their respective national sides in substitute appearances Sunday.
In UEFA European Championship Qualifying, Chicago Fire midfielder Przemyslaw Frankowski made a difference immediately after coming on, scoring a 74th-minute goal to open the scoring in Poland’s 2-0 victory over North Macedonia. Poland currently sit three points in front on top of Group G with two matches to play, and have already qualified for Euro 2020.
Meanwhile, New York Red Bulls winger Kaku also leveled Paraguay’s friendly against Slovakia in the 85th match, 22 minutes after his entrance, in a game that finished as a 1-1 draw.
Elsewhere, Real Salt Lake attacker Sam Johnson was named captain of his Liberia side, but they were eliminated from African Cup of Nations qualifying on penalties by Chad after Chad took a 1-0 win in the second leg of their tie to level the aggregate score 1-1.
Frankowski was among several MLSers in Euro qualifying action on Sunday.
Sporting Kansas City defender Botond Barath went the full 90 in helping Hungary preserve a 1-0 shutout victory over Azerbaijan. Hungary currently sit second in Group E, two points back of Croatia and two in front of Slovakia, who have a game in hand. Barath's SKC teammate, Johnny Russell, got a 20-minute substitute cameo as Scotland blew out minnows San Marino 6-0 but were officially eliminated from top-two contention; they can still qualify for Euro 2020 through the play-offs, though.
And Houston Dynamo center back Aljaz Struna picked up a yellow card in a 90-minute shift in Slovenia’s 1-0 home defeat to Austria. Slovenia are eight points back of Poland.
Closer to home, five MLSers took part in Honduras’ narrow home win over Martinique in Concacaf Nations League play, with a Romario Barthelery own goal the difference. The Dynamo’s Alberth Elis played the full 90 minutes and was involved in the play that led to the game’s only goal, while his club and country teammate Maynor Figueroa also went the distance, as did Seattle’s Jordy Delem for the visitors.
FC Dallas’ Bryan Acosta played 15 minutes off the bench for Los Catrachos, and recent Salt Lake signing Douglas Martinez logged 11 minutes in relief. The victory assures Honduras of first place in Group C of CNL League A.
Meanwhile, Columbus Crew SC goalkeeper Eloy Room led Curacao to a potentially crucial 0-0 away draw vs. Costa Rica at a rain-soaked Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela in League A Group D action.
MLS-based Ticos Ronald Matarrita and Kendall Waston went 90 for the hosts, while FC Cincinnati’s Allan Cruz and the Crew’s Luis Diaz each played a half. Francisco Calvo and Giancarlo Gonzalez were unused subs on a night that kept both these teams and group mates Haiti in contention heading into next month's fixtures.
