Gio Reyna's Borussia Dortmund secures brutal Champions League tie despite Canadian star

 Borussia Dortmund punched their ticket for the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday, thanks to a 3-2 aggregate win against Lille.

The chilly night in northern France got off to a rough start for Niko Kovac’s side after Canadian international Jonathan David scored his 23rd goal of the season just five minutes in, slotting a neat shot through the legs of keeper Gregor Kobel.

Excellent goalkeeping from Lucas Chevalier kept Lille in the lead heading into the break, before Emre Can fired Dortmund level from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute. Continued pressure from the Bundeliga side eventually paid off just over 10 minutes later, as Maximilian Beier fired home from just inside the box to give them the lead.

With five minutes to go, USMNT midfielder Gio Reyna was subbed on for Beier, helping to see out a victory that secured Dortmund a daunting double header with La Liga leaders Barcelona in April.

“The way we played the game today, over 90 minutes, was impressive. It was great,” Kovac said postgame. “Even the early setback after five or six minutes didn't throw us off track. Very unfortunate for us. The way we acted with the ball, but above all against the ball, the way we stressed the opponent over 90 minutes, I liked that. That's what we can do, what we want to do.”

As for Reyna, Wednesday marked his seventh Champions League appearance of the season, with all but two having come from the bench. This came a day after he was named to Mauricio Pochettino’s 23-man roster to represent the USMNT at the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League Finals in California.

There, Reyna will be hoping for some more game time as he looks to impress Pochettino amidst what has been a tough season for the 22-year-old and with the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil looming.

“I think everyone recognises his talent. And, of course, he's improving, but he needs to improve. And of course, he can do better,” Pochettino said during a press conference on Tuesday of Reyna. “We need to push him, but at the same time, we need to understand how he thinks, what he likes, what he doesn't like.

I think it's important to create this relationship for the future if he is going to have the possibility again to join us. We want to win this competition, I think he can help. That's why he's with us. But at the same time, I think he can do better. We are going to try to create this relationship, to try to discover it, and how to help.”

Should the USMNT beat Panama and Canada beat Mexico in their respective semifinals on March 20, the final could see Reyna and David face one another for a third time this month, with the in-form forward having been called up to Jesse Marsch’s roster.