Malik Tillman wound up having the last and first words thanks to some heady finishes in a pair of Rangers' wins in two separate competitions last week.
The 20-year-old connected on a close-range header in the 79th minute for the final goal of the Scottish side's 3-0 second-leg win over Union Saint-Gilloise (Belgium) on Tuesday, Aug. 9. The victory gave his team a 3-2 aggregate win in the UEFA Champions League third preliminary round of qualifying. Tillman headed in Borna Barisic's cross past goalkeeper Anthony Moris for his first goal with the club, celebrating in front of raucous, Rangers faithful at Ibrox Stadium.
The Belgian side had secured a 2-0 advantage in the first leg.
Tillman was far from finished. On Saturday, Aug. 13, he headed in a James Tavernier feed from an acute angle in the 32nd minute to start Rangers on a 4-0 romp against visiting St. Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership. The result kept the Glasgow side unbeaten in three matches and tied with archrival Celtic with nine points apiece. Celtic, however, is in first place on the strength of its superior goal differential (plus nine to plus seven).
Rangers will meet Dutch club PSV in the playoff round with the first leg on Tuesday, August 16. Six winners from that round will qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stage.
Tillman, who is on loan from Bayern Munich, made his U.S. Men's National Team debut in a 3-0 victory against Morocco in a friendly on June 1.
FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS
Jesús Ferreira continued to fill the net for FC Dallas as he registered a brace in the 4-1 triumph over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday. The USMNT striker boosted the hosts into the lead in the third minute, which is the earliest goal Dallas has scored this season, tapping home Alan Velasco's left-flank feed from seven yards.
He added his second in the 41st minute. Catching San Jose out in transition, USMNT teammate Paul Arriola threaded Ferreira into the box where his initial shot was deflected off a defender back to him and he made no doubt slamming the second effort into the net.
Ferreira, whose 14 goals is tied for third place in the MLS Golden Boot race, is within striking distance of the club record of 18 goals in a season. That mark is jointly held by Jason Kreis and Kenny Cooper in the 1998 and 2008 campaigns, respectively.
A COUPLE OF HELPERS
While Ferreira was filling the net, newly acquired teammate Sebastian Lletget was setting up teammates for goals as he recorded two assists in a match for the first time in his career in his home debut at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
The 29-year-old midfielder, who joined the Texan squad in an Aug. 3 deal with the New England Revolution, set up Marco Farfan's first MLS goal in the 20th minute for a 2-0 lead before connecting with Alan Velasco for Dallas' final goal in the 57th minute.
Johnny Cardoso also assisted on Internacional's opening goal in its 3-0 victory over visiting Fluminense in Brazilian Serie A on Sunday, Aug. 14.
THE WRIGHT STUFF
Haji Wright tallied his first goal since his permanent transfer to Antalyaspor in a 1-0 win at Umranıyespor on Sunday.
He struck in the 59th minute, putting in Bunyamin Balcı's feed past goalkeeper Serkan Kırıntılı. Wright, who scored 14 goals last season, found the net on his USMNT debut, slotting home a second half penalty kick to cap the scoring in the 3-0 win against Morocco on June 1.
SHOOTOUT HERO
Forward Josh Sargent made the most of his opportunity as a 77th-minute substitute for Norwich as it advanced in the English Football League Cup on Tuesday, Aug. 9.
He converted the game-winning penalty kick in a 4-3 shootout victory over Birmingham City after playing to a 2-2 draw.
PERFECT START
Royal Antwerp is off to a perfect start in the Belgian Super League this season and defender Sam Vines has played his part as the team has recorded four successive wins in as many matches en route to 12 points.
Vines went the entire 90 minutes in both his matches this past week. That included a 2-0 victory over Lillestrom in a Europa Conference League qualifier on Thursday, Aug. 11 before helping his side to another clean sheet, this time in league competition, a 1-0 win at AS Eupen on Sunday.
First-place Antwerp, which enjoys a three-point lead over Anderlecht and Genk (9 points apiece), has conceded only twice in the league.
SEVEN STARS FOR VICTORY
Seven USMNT players participated in Major League Soccer's 2-1 win over its LIGA MX counterparts in the MLS All-Star Game in Saint Paul, Minn. on Wednesday, Aug. 10.
Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), who started the game, was part of the build-up of Carlos Vela's header to open the scoring in the third minute.
Coming in off the bench were goalkeeper Sean Johnson (New York City FC), defenders Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami CF) and Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC), and forwards Paul Arriola (FC Dallas) and Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas).
FULL RUNDOWN
-- Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 2-2 draw at Southampton (Aug. 13)
-- Kellyn Acosta (Los Angeles FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 5-0 win vs. Charlotte FC (Aug. 13)
-- Tyler Adams (Leeds United; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 2-2 draw at Southampton (Aug. 13)
-- Paul Arriola (FC Dallas; MLS) - 75 minutes in 4-1 win vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Aug. 13); 38 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win vs. LIGA MX in MLS All-Star game (Aug. 10)
-- Cole Bassett (Fortuna Sittard; Dutch Eredivisie) - Not in 18, DNP in 3-0 loss at Twente (Aug. 14)
-- George Bello (Arminia Bielefeld; 2. Bundesliga) - 29 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 loss vs. Hamburg (Aug. 13)
-- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italian Serie B) - 69 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Genoa (Aug. 14)
-- Reggie Cannon (Boavista; Portuguese Primeira) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Santa Clara (Aug. 14)
-- Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; Brazilian Serie A) – 84 minutes, ASSIST, in 3-0 win vs. Fluminense (Aug. 14); In 18, DNP in 0-0 draw vs. Melgar in CONMEBOL Sudamericana (Aug. 11)
-- Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 5-0 win at Kilmarnock (Aug. 14)
-- Konrad de la Fuente (Marseille; French Ligue 1) - Not in 18, DNP in 1-1 draw at Brest (Aug. 14)
-- Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo; Spain La Liga) - In 18, DNP in 2-2 draw vs. Espanyol (Aug. 13)
== Sergiño Dest (Barcelona; Spain La Liga) - Not in 18, DNP in 0-0 draw vs. Rayo Vallecano (Aug. 13)
-- Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; MLS) - 66 minutes, TWO GOALS, in 4-1 win vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Aug. 13); 45 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win vs. LIGA MX in MLS All-Star game (Aug. 10)
-- Nicholas Gioacchini (D.C. United; MLS) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 win at New York Red Bulls (Aug. 13)
-- Matthew Hoppe (Middlesbrough; English Championship) - 1 minute as a substitute in 2-2 draw vs. Sheffield United (Aug. 14)
-- Ethan Horvath (Luton Town; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Preston North End (Aug. 13); Not in 18, DNP in 3-2 loss vs. Newport County in EFL Cup (Aug. 9)
-- Sean Johnson (New York City FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-2 loss at Inter Miami CF (Aug. 13); 29 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win vs. LIGA MX in MLS All-Star game (Aug. 10)
-- Richy Ledezma (PSV; Belgian Pro League) - 38 minutes in 5-2 win at Go Ahead Eagles (Aug. 13); In 18, DNP in 3-2 win vs. Monaco in UEFA Champions League Qualifier (Aug. 9)
-- Sebastian Lletget (FC Dallas; MLS) - 66 minutes, TWO ASSISTS, in 4-1 win vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Aug. 13)
-- Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Orlando City SC (Aug. 13); 45 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win vs. LIGA MX in MLS All-Star game (Aug. 10)
-- Mark McKenzie (Genk; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 4-1 win at Zulte Waregem (Aug. 14)
-- Matt Miazga (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - 66 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. Atlanta United (Aug. 13)
-- Djordje Milhailovic (CF Montreal; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-2 win at Houston Dynamo (Aug. 13)
-- Shaq Moore (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Minnesota United (Aug. 14)
-- Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Real Salt Lake (Aug. 14); 45 minutes in 2-1 win vs. LIGA MX in MLS All-Star game (Aug. 10)
-- Yunus Musah (Valencia; Spain La Liga) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Girona (Aug. 14)
-- Erik Palmer-Brown (Troyes; French Ligue 1) - 90 minutes in 3-0 loss vs. Toulouse (Aug. 14)
-- Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-0 loss at Bayern Munich (Aug. 14)
-- Jordan Pefok (Union Berlin; Bundesliga) - 71 minutes in 0-0 draw at Mainz (Aug. 14)
-- Ricardo Pepi (Augsburg; Bundesliga) - 1 minute as a substitute in 2-1 win at Bayer Leverkusen (Aug. 13)
-- Christian Pulisic (Chelsea; English Premier League) - 6 minutes as a substitute in 2-2 draw vs. Tottenham Hotspur (Aug. 14)
-- Tim Ream (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers (Aug. 13)
-- Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; Bundesliga) - In 18, DNP in 3-1 win at Freiburg (Aug. 13)
-- Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo; Belgian Pro League) - In 18, DNP in 4-2 win vs. Standard Liege (Aug. 13)
-- Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - At Liverpool (Monday, 3 p.m. ET)
-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers (Aug. 13)
-- Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; MLS) - 77 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Real Salt Lake (Aug. 14)
-- James Sands (Rangers; Scottish Premiership) - Not in 18, DNP in 4-0 win vs. St. Johnstone (Aug. 13); 79 minutes in 3-0 win vs. Union Saint-Gilloise in UEFA Champions League Qualifier (Aug. 9)
-- Josh Sargent (Norwich City; English Championship) - 32 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 loss at Hull City (Aug. 13); 12 minutes as a substitute, SHOOTOUT GOAL in 2-2 draw vs. Birmingham City, won in Pks, 4-2 (Aug. 9)
-- Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 2-2 draw at Schalke 04 (Aug. 13)
-- Gaga Slonina (Chicago Fire; MLS) - 90 minutes in 4-1 loss at Philadelphia Union (Aug. 13)
-- Zack Steffen (Middlesbrough; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. Sheffield United (Aug. 14); Not in 18, DNP in 1-0 loss vs. Barnsley in EFL Cup (Aug. 10)
- Tanner Tessman (Venezia; Italian Serie B) - 69 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Genoa (Aug. 14)
-- Malik Tillman (Rangers; Scottish Premiership) - 67 minutes, GOAL, in 4-0 win vs. St. Johnstone (Aug. 13); 90 minutes, GOAL, in 3-0 win vs. Union Saint-Gilloise in UEFA Champions League Qualifier (Aug. 9)
-- Matt Turner (Arsenal; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 4-2 win vs. Leicester City (Aug. 13)
-- Auston Trusty (Birmingham City; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Cardiff City (Aug. 13); 90 minutes in 2-2 draw at Norwich City in EFL Cup (lost in PKs, 4-2) (Aug. 9)
-- Sam Vines (Royal Antwerp; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win at AS Eupen (Aug. 14); 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Lillestrom in Europa Conference League Qualifying (Aug. 11)
-- DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-2 win vs. New York City FC (Aug. 13); 45 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win vs. LIGA MX in MLS All-Star game (Aug. 10)
-- Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; MLS) - 90 minutes in 4-1 loss at FC Dallas (Aug. 13)
-- Eryk Williamson (Portland Timbers; MLS) - 26 minutes as a substitute in 3-1 loss at Toronto FC (Aug. 13)
-- Haji Wright (Antalyaspor; Turkish Super Lig) - 76 minutes, GOAL, in 1-0 win at Umranıyespor (Aug. 14)
-- Gyasi Zardes (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Columbus Crew (Aug. 13)
-- Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Minnesota United (Aug. 14); 45 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win vs. LIGA MX in MLS All-Star game (Aug. 10)