Christian Pulisic, Haji Wright, Brenden Aaronson and Ricardo Pepi warmed up for the U.S. Men's National Team's confrontation with Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals in the best way possible last week.
They scored goals as part of a group of 10 members of the USMNT pool found the net.
Pulisic extended his goal-scoring streak to a career-best four games for A.C. Milan. Wright and Pepi tallied deep into stoppage time to boost their respective teams - Coventry City and PSV Eindhoven -to dramatic victories. Aaronson also found the net for Union Berlin.
Malik Tillman assisted on Pepi's tally, and left back Antonee Robinson set up a goal for Fulham in its win.
Next, the Americans will face the Reggae Boyz at A&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Thursday, March 21 at 7 p.m. ET. The winner will advance to the Nations League final against the victor of the Mexico-Panama semifinal, on Sunday, March 24. The loser will play in the third-place match the same day.
Several other players who won't be joining the squad also did some damage. The list included Josh Sargent in England, Brandon Vazquez, Alejandro Zendejas and Cade Cowell in Mexico, and Kellyn Acosta (a Hail Mary winning goal) and Aidan Morris in Major League Soccer.
FOUR IN A ROW
Christian Pulisic will enter the CNL semis in the best form of his career. He scored for the fourth consecutive match for A.C. Milan in a 3-1 victory over Verona in Italian Serie A action on Sunday, March 17.
Pulisic lifted Milan to a 2-0 lead in the 50th minute. Noah Okafor dispossessed Pawel Dawidowicz of the ball at midfield and bolted in toward the net on the right flank. Okafor drilled a shot that goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo saved. An onrushing Pulisic snapped home the rebound from five yards for his ninth league tally of the campaign. The win solidified Milan's (19-5-5, 62 points) in second place, but the team still trails Inter Milan (24-1-4, 76) by 14 points.
In the team's 3-1 win over Slavia Prague in the Europa League Round of 16 second leg on Thursday, March 14, Pulisic boosted Milan into a 1-0 advantage in the 33rd minute, making a nifty move to score from 12 yards, while reaching 100 points in his professional career (56 goals, 44 assists), which has included stops with Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea. The Italian side won the series, 7-3.
Pulisic started his streak with a goal in a 4-2 home vs. Slavia Prague on March 7 and continued it in a 1-0 victory over visiting Empoli in league play three days later.
The 25-year-old striker is enjoying the best season of his pro career, having scored 12 goals across all competitions for his club. His previous best season was 11 for Chelsea in the 2019-20 campaign.
STOPPAGE TIME HEROICS
Haji Wright scored one of the most important goals of his career - a dramatic, stoppage-time game-winner for Coventry City - which reached the English FA Cup semifinals for the first time since 1987. Coventry scored twice in injury time to transform a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wolves on Saturday, March 16. After Ellis Simms equalized seven minutes into added time, Wright put away Simms' short pass from 15 yards past keeper Jose Sa in the 10th minute of injury time. Wright has scored 15 goals and has added seven assists across all competitions.
Coventry will play Manchester United in the semifinals at Wembley Stadium during the weekend of April 20.
SUPER SUB STRIKES AGAIN
Ricardo Pepi did it again late in a match for PSV Eindhoven as he struck for a dramatic game-winning goal in its 1-0 home victory over Twente on Sunday, March 17 in the Dutch Eredivisie. Inserted for Saint-Cyr Johan Bakayoko in the 80th minute, Pepi waited until seven minutes into injury time to perform his heroics, scoring off a pass from second-half substitute Malik Tillman past goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall. Pepi, who has recorded six goals in only 363 minutes over 21 league matches, has tallied nine goals across all competitions this season.
PSV (23-0-3, 72) retained its 10-point advantage over Feyenoord (19-2-5, 62).
SOME INSURANCE
Brenden Aaronson registered his second goal of the Bundesliga season for host Union Berlin in its 2-1 win over Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Saturday, March 16. After Yorbe Vertessen scored the opening goal in the 50th minute, Aaronson doubled the lead off a Vertessen feed only two minutes later, past keeper Michael Zetterer. Aaronson, who was named man of the match, helped 13th-place Union Berlin (8-14-4, 28 points) stay away from the relegation zone in the 18-team league.
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS
Josh Sargent recorded his 10th goal since the beginning of the new year, connecting for the first score of Norwich City's 3-0 away triumph over Stoke City on Saturday, March 16. Sargent, who has 13 goals this English Championship season, tallied the Canaries' opening goal in the 24th minute. Kenny McLean found an onrushing Borja Sainz with a through ball, as the latter began a two-man breakaway. Sainz passed the ball to Sargent on his right and the American slipped it home from three yards past goalkeeper Daniel Iversen for a 1-0 lead. Sargent, who was supposed to join the USMNT for the Nations League, was dropped from the roster after suffering a right ankle irritation.
FROM THE BACK
Left back Antonee Robinson assisted on Rodrigo Muniz's 42nd-minute goal, which started Fulham to a 3-0 home triumph over Tottenham in the English Premier League on Saturday, March 16. The win improved the 12th-place Cottagers (38 points) to 11-13-5.
HAIL MARY WINNER
With the Chicago Fire in a 3-3 deadlock nine minutes into stoppage time, Kellyn Acosta scored a once-in-a-lifetime goal to boost his team to a 4-3 dramatic come-from-behind victory over CF Montreal on Saturday, March 16 in MLS action. A few yards on his side of midfield, the midfielder lofted a high, looping ball toward the Montreal net. Goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois, standing a few yards outside the six-yard box, misjudged the ball. He got two hands on the ball but couldn't stop it from entering the goal as Chicago capped a late comeback from a 3-1 deficit. It was Acosta's first goal since joining the Fire from Los Angeles FC this season.
GETTING ON THE SCORESHEET
Midfielder Aidan Morris recorded his first goal of the MLS campaign on Saturday, March 16 in Columbus Crew's 3-0 home win over the New York Red Bulls. Morris slotted home Steve Zawadzki's header off Diego Rossi's corner kick for the defending MLS Cup champions' final goal, in the 66th minute.
AGAINST SOME OLD FRIENDS
For the second week in a row, Brandon Vazquez scored for Monterrey against his old team, FC Cincinnati, in the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16, on Thursday, March 14. With Monterrey leading 1-0 entering the second leg, the 25-year-old forward put home a Maximiliano Meza feed to snap a 1-1 deadlock in the game past goalkeeper Roman Celentano in the 67th minute en route to a 2-1 win. Vazquez scored in the 1-0 road win on March 7. Monterrey will visit Inter Miami CF in the first leg of the quarterfinals on April 3, before welcoming the MLS side on April 10 in the second leg.
SOUTH OF THE BORDER DUEL
Alejandro Zendejas and his Club America teammates might have lost the battle on Wednesday, March 13, but won the war. America dropped a 3-2 decision to Guadalajara and Cade Cowell in the second leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16. America and Zendejas, however, captured the series, 5-3, on the strength of a 3-0 away win a week prior. What made the second leg intriguing was that both Americans scored in the encounter. Cowell struck first in the 12th minute to give the visitors a 1-0 lead, and Zendejas found the net on the hour, which leveled the match at 2-2.
America will play at the New England Revolution in the first leg of the quarterfinals on April 2 before hosting the final leg on April 9.
HELPING OUT
Nashville SC right back Shaq Moore picked up a couple of assists in two competitions. He set up Samuel Surridge's stoppage-goal in the 3-1 loss at Inter Miami in the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday, March 13. Three days later, he assisted on Alex Muyl's score, which gave the hosts a 2-0 lead in the 40th minute en route to a 2-1 victory in MLS action.
* Left back DeAndre Yedlin set up FC Cincinnati's lone goal, a 47th-minute score by Luciano Acosta, in its 2-1 road loss at Monterrey on Thursday, March 14 in the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 second leg.
* FC Dallas forward Jesús Ferreira assisted on Sebastian Lletget's goal in the 40th minute of a 3-1 home defeat to the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, March 16.
* Forward Jordan Pefok set up Borussia Mönchengladbach's lone goal, Robin Hack's ninth-minute tally in a 1-1 Bundesliga draw at Heidenheim on Saturday, March 16.
FIRST STEPS
Midfielder Tyler Adams made his first appearance for AFC Bournemouth in its 4-3 home win over Luton Town in the English Premier League on Wednesday, March 13. Adams, who had been sidelined for the entire season with a hamstring injury, replaced defender Adam Smith in the 71st minute with the game tied at 3-3.
FULL RUNDOWN
- Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin; Bundesliga) - 78 minutes, GOAL, in 2-1 win vs. Werder Bremen (March 16)
- Paxten Aaronson (Vitesse; Dutch Eredivisie) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Almere City (March 16)
- Kellyn Acosta (Chicago Fire; MLS) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 4-3 win vs. CF Montreal (March 16)
- Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth; English Premier League) - 19 minutes as a substitute in 4-3 win vs. Luton Town (March 13)
- Folarin Balogun (Monaco; French Ligue 1) – 2 minutes as a substitute in 2-2 draw vs. Lorient (March 17)
- Taylor Booth (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - Injured, DNP in 1-0 win vs. NEC (March 17)
- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italian Serie B) – 81 minutes in 3-0 win at Palermo (March 15)
- Drake Callender (Inter Miami CF; MLS) 90 minutes in 3-1 win at D.C. United (March 16); 90 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Nashville SC in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 13)
- Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis; Spain La Liga) - 54 minutes in 2-0 loss at Rayo Vallecano (March 17)
- Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 75 minutes in 3-1 win vs. St. Johnstone (March 16)
- Cade Cowell (Guadalajara; Liga MX) - 69 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Club America (March 16); 83 minutes, GOAL, in 3-2 win at Club America in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 13)
- Ben Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF; MLS) Injured, DNP minutes in 3-1 win at D.C. United (March 16); Injured, DNP 90 in 3-1 win vs. Nashville SC in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 13)
- Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Twente (March 17); 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Borussia Dortmund in UCL (March 13)
- Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo, Spain La Liga) - Injured, DNP in 2-1 win at Sevilla (March 17)
- Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; MLS) - 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 3-1 loss vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (March 16)
- Julian Gressel (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - 76 minutes in 3-1 win at D.C. United (March 16); 90 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Nashville SC in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 13)
- Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Swansea City (March 16)
- DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution; MLS) – 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. FC Cincinnati (March 17)
- Kristoffer Lund (Palmero; Italy Serie B) - 45 minutes in 3-0 loss vs. Venezia (March 15)
- Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Mönchengladbach (March 16)
- Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 58 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Genoa (March 17)
- Mark McKenzie (Genk; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Westerlo (March 17)
- Djordje Mihailovic (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Seattle Sounders (March 16)
- Shaq Moore (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 2-1 win vs. Charlotte FC (March 16); 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 3-1 loss at Inter Miami CF in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 13)
- Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; MLS) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 3-0 win vs. New York Red Bulls (March 16); 29 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw vs. Houston Dynamo in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 12)
- Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; MLS) - 80 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Colorado Rapids (March 16)
- Yunus Musah (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - 24 minutes as a substitute in 3-1 win at Verona (March 17); 90 minutes in 3-1 win at Slavia Prague in UEFA Europa League (March 14)
- Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy; MLS) - Injured, DNP in 3-3 draw vs. St. Louis City (March 16)
- Erik Palmer-Brown (Panathinaikos; Greek Super League) - No game
- Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - 86 minutes in 3-1 loss vs. Augsburg (March 16)
- Jordan Pefok (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) – 71 minutes, ASSIST, in 1-1 draw at Heidenheim (March 16); 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Saarbrucken in DFB Pokal (March 12)
- Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 10 minutes as a substitute, GOAL, in 1-0 win vs. Twente (March 17)
- Christian Pulisic (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - 66 minutes, GOAL, in 3-1 win at Verona (March 17); 63 minutes, GOAL, in 3-1 win at Slavia Prague in UEFA Europa League (March 14)
- Tim Ream (Fulham; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 3-0 win vs. Tottenham (March 16)
- Gio Reyna (Nottingham Forest; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 1-1 draw at Luton Town (March 16)
- Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Genk (March 17)
- Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - No game
- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 3-0 win vs. Tottenham (March 16)
- Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at New England Revolution (March 17); 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Monterrey in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 14)
- James Sands (New York City FC; MLS) – 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Toronto FC (March 16)
- Josh Sargent (Norwich City; Championship) - 82 minutes, GOAL, in 3-0 win at Stoke City (March 16)
- Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Heidenheim (March 16); 9 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 loss at Saarbrucken in DFB Pokal (March 12)
- Gaga Slonina (Eupen; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 4-0 loss at Standard Liege (March 16)
- Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Seattle Sounders (March 16)
- Tanner Tessmann (Venezia; Italy Serie B) – 90 minutes in 3-0 win at Palermo (March 15)
- Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 26 minutes as a substitute, ASSIST, in 1-0 win vs. Twente (March 17); 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Borussia Dortmund in UCL (March 13)
- Timmy Tillman (Los Angeles FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Minnesota United (March 16)
- John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-0 loss at Columbus Crew (March 16)
- Auston Trusty (Sheffield; English Premier League) - No game
- Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 1-1 draw at Luton Town (March 16)
- Brandon Vazquez (Monterrey; Liga MX) – 22 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 win at Atlas (March 17); 83 minutes, GOAL, in 2-1 win vs. FC Cincinnati in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 14)
- Tim Weah (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 12 minutes as a substitute in 0-0 draw vs. Genoa (March 17)
- Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United; MLS - 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Orlando City SC (March 17)
- Haji Wright (Coventry City; English Championship) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 3-2 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers in FA Cup (March 16)
- DeAndre Yedlin (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at New England Revolution (March 17); 84 minutes, ASSIST, in 2-1 loss at Monterrey in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 14)
- Alejandro Zendejas (Club America; Liga MX) - 72 minutes in 0-0 draw at Guadalajara (March 16); 90 minutes, GOAL, in 3-2 loss at Guadalajara in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 13)
- Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; MLS) - Injured, DNP in 2-1 win vs. Charlotte FC (March 16); Injured, DNP in 3-1 loss at Inter Miami CF in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 13)