Julian Green leads Greuther Fürth to DFB-Pokal victory

Julian Green opened his season with a stirring performance in the DFB-Pokal. The 25-year-old American international led Greuther Fürth to a 6-1 victory over RSV Meinerzhagen in the first round of Germany’s domestic cup.

The Cloverleaves got off to a slow start against their fifth-division opponents, falling behind 1-0 early in the second half. Fürth leveled proceedings in the 71^st minute when Green’s cross was headed into the net by Sebastian Ernst. Green then scored the eventual game-winner in the 98^th minute, cutting in from the left wing to the top corner of the box and placing his low, bouncing shot into the net.

Following Green’s solo effort, Fürth ensured advancement with an avalanche of goals. Eligible dual-national Timothy Tillman contributed two assists in the 103^rd and 113^th minutes. The score line belies a hard-fought match between the two clubs separated by three tiers in the German system.

“It was a tough job,” Green told the club’s official website following the match. “I think we just didn’t play well in the first half and let our opponents come into play….We always lacked the last step in the first half, the conviction. We then did better in the second half and then scored the goals, which was the most important thing in the end.”

Green joined Fürth in August of 2017 on loan from VfB Stuttgart. He made the move permanent in 2018 on a two-year contract. Regular playing time, a shift to center midfielder, and an increased scoring output has led to a career rejuvenation.

Perhaps recognizing the fruitful environment, the 25-year-old signed a new contract with Fürth in June. As reported by Soccer By Ives, the deal is guaranteed for this season with a team option for the second year and includes a buyout clause. He reportedly had interest from Major League Soccer and other German clubs.

While generally on the outskirts of the United States men’s national team, earning a mere 15 caps after debuting in 2014 and none since 2018, Green remains keen on remaining a part of the program. In July, he expressed a desire “to show the coach what [he] can do, that [he] can help the team.” Manager Gregg Berhalter is monitoring the situation and will judge how Green “fits into [the] group.”

Fürth opens the 2. Bundesliga on Sunday, September 20^th against Vfl Osnabruck. The DFB-Pokal second round draw is also on September 20^th, with the fixtures being played on December 22^nd and 23^rd. As a key player and veteran, Green is expected to perform an important role in a cup run and the push for promotion. With continued production and consistency, success at the club level should lead to a return to the USMNT.