Pefok scores on Union debut

BERLIN, Aug 2, (AP): United States forward Jordan Pefok scored on his debut for Union Berlin to help the team reach the second round of the German Cup with an edgy 2-1 win over fourth-tier Chemnitzer FC .

Union needed extra time to progress after Pefok canceled Tobias Müller’s opening score for the home side. Pefok scored with an acrobatic finish in the 64th minute, his first goal since switching from Swiss team Young Boys in the offseason.

Kevin Behrens sealed Union’s progress in extra time.

Eintracht Frankfurt had an easier time in a 4-0 win at second-division team Magdeburg, though it needed a penalty save from Kevin Trapp early on before easing to victory. Germany World Cup winner Mario Götze made his debut for Frankfurt.

Also, Werder Bremen defeated fourthtier Energie Cottbus 2-1 and third-division Ingolstadt enjoyed a 3-0 win at home over Darmstadt.

Juventus midfielder

Weston McKennie

will miss the start of Serie A with a shoulder injury.

After the United States international was sidelined for Juventus’ final friendly of its tour of his homeland - a 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid - tests in Turin on Monday revealed McKennie has “a capsular lesion of the left shoulder” and will be out for at least three weeks.

That means he will miss Juve’s first two matches of Serie A, against Sassuolo on Aug. 15 and Sampdoria on Aug. 22, although he could return in time for the home match against Roma on Aug. 27.

The news is particularly troublesome for Juventus as they are already without Paul Pogba, who has a knee injury and could reportedly miss the rest of 2022, including the World Cup.

Juventus also announced that young French winger Marley Aké, who was promoted from the under-23 team in the second half of last season, will be out for two months after breaking a bone in his right ankle.