By OkayGoal 
Sebastian Berhalter and Max Arfsten both enjoyed a winning start to life on Teesside.
Berhalter and Arfsten both made their Middlesbrough debuts in Friday’s 1-0 EFL Cup win over Wrexham. The U.S. Men’s National Team midfielders started in the match and helped Kim Hellberg’s squad advance to the second round.
Berhalter helped set up Will Lankshear for the lone goal of the match, registering his first assist in English Football. The 25-year-old headed back across the box, allowing Lankshear the opportunity to deliver a one-time finish.
Arfsten played 67 minutes at left back, winning 10 duels, making five tackles and drawing one foul.
“It was a great time, the fans were amazing, and obviously it was a good thing to come out and get a win in the first round of the cup,” Arfsten said in an interview with ITV. “A lot has changed in the last three months but Seb and I wouldn’t want it any other way to be here at a great club with a great fanbase.”
“It was great, incredible support, this is a dream come true to be able to come and play a game in Europe,” Berhalter said. “It’s everything I ever wanted it to be so it feels amazing.”
Berhalter played the full 90 minutes, creating a match-high four chances while also delivering two interceptions and two tackles. The summer arrival earned quick praise from his teammate Lankshear for his intelligence on the Middlesbrough goal.
“It was a really clever pass from Seb and it just shows how good of a player he is and how exciting he can be,” Lankshear said in a club interview.
Aidan Morris did not dress in the match in preparation for Middlesbrough’s league opener against Lincoln City on August 15. Morris, a fellow former MLS product like Berhalter and Arfsten, is heading into his third season with the club.
Middlesbrough was one of four teams to punch their second-round ticket over the past two days, joining Walsall, Wolves, and Stevenage on that list following Thursday and Friday’s action.