Gio Reyna enters game and almost right away plays a back heel assist to Ramy Bensebaini to put Borussia Dortmund up 3-1 over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. Reyna came on in the 64th minute and 15 minutes later back heeled the ball to Bensebaini for the goal. All in all, it is a skillful give and go between the two Borussia Dortmund players. I’m guessing they might’ve done this in training a time or two.
See Bensebaini’s chip to finish off the lovely assist from Gio Reyna in the video below. The fake shot by Bensebaini and the chip over the goalkeeper is pure genius. The fake shot freezes Dmytro Riznyk, the Ukrainian goalkeeper for Shakhtar Donetsk, in place for a second. With the keeper stuck in place for a moment, Bensebaini cleverly chips the soccer ball up and over his head.
The pass into Reyna by Bensebaini is actually pretty hard. Reyna goes well to control it with multiple defenders on his back, and then play the back heel through pass.
Maybe Reyna should get more time for the German club! While enduring various injuries throughout his time with Borussia Dortmund, he’s proven time and time again he is incredibly creative on the soccer ball whenever he steps on the soccer pitch. Reyna has played 99 matches throughout the course of his football career in the Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund. And don’t forget that he is only 22 years old still.
In a credit to his character, Reyna’s perspective about playing time at Borussia Dortmund is good. Saying no player is in automatic starter. And Reyna added that he will, “fight for more opportunities” at Dortmund.
Finally, hopefully this is the start of a good run of form for Reyna with the United States national team as well. He should be a key player for the World Cup team in 2026. Furthermore, don’t forget Reyna’s Maradona like dribbling run versus Mexico. Is one of the smoothest players on the team.
However, he will need to stay healthy and get more playing time at Dortmund if he’s going to be a key figure in the national team.
