Less than a month ago Chris Richards was playing with an MLS team's U-19 side. Saturday night he was staring down Riyad Mahrez and Manchester City in his first start for Bayern Munich.
The German giants eventually fell 3-2 to their English counterparts, but that didn't do much to dampen Richards' enthusiasm. Already thin on center backs with key players still on vacation after the World Cup, Bayern also elected to rest experienced defender Javi Martinez. That meant a central partnership made up typical fullback David Alaba and the American teenager, making his first start and playing 90 minutes for the Bavarians for the first time.