Union

Medford’s Brenden Aaronson Taking Credit for Game-Winning Goal in Premier League Debut

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Aug 6th, 2022 · 10:51 PM EDT

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Medford native and Philadelphia Union alumnus Brenden Aaronson scored on his Premier League debut Saturday morning, or so we thought:

Welcome to the Premier League, Tyler Adams & Brenden Aaronson

A #USMNT combination sees #LUFC take the lead!

@NBCSportsSoccer | #USMNTpic.twitter.com/g0r6xLNkDA

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) August 6, 2022

They actually changed this to an own-goal on the score sheet, which is a bummer because it would have been nice to say that Brenden scored a game-winner in his first EPL game with Leeds United.

Freeze frames were somewhat inconclusive, because the pass came through so quickly that it looks blurry when you try to pause it at the right moment. However, if you play the video back, it does look like the ball comes off Aaronson’s shin after the Wolves player makes contact, which is what Brenden is saying here:

Brenden: "I'm taking credit for it" pic.twitter.com/I74PSba9Oo

— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 6, 2022

Regardless, it was a fantastic debut for the 21-year-old South Jersey native. He was involved in Leeds’ first goal as well, jarring the ball loose in the final third and giving his team the ball back immediately after losing it. He ran his butt off out there and was one of the best players on the field, which was cool to see. If you want a Premier League team to root for, Leeds or Fulham is the pick. Leeds has a local kid who played for the Union, another American in the midfield (Tyler Adams), and an American manager (Jesse Marsch). Fulham starts two Americans in Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson. It’s good to see our guys doing well in England, which only helps the United States national team and earns American players and American coaches some more respect overseas.

Brenden Aaronson is “The Medford Messi.”