USMNT REWIND: Kellyn Acosta Scores to Help LAFC WIN MLS CUP
Gio Reyna Tallies Penalty for Dortmund; Ricardo Pepi Registers Assist for Groningen
U.S. Men's National Team players last week made their final push to be included in the 26-man roster for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Midfielder Kellyn Acosta scored off a free kick and earned a medal as LAFC captured MLS Cup in an epic confrontation with the Philadelphia Union.
Attacker Gio Reyna became only the fourth American to convert a penalty kick in the Bundesliga in a Borussia Dortmund victory.
Forward Ricardo Pepi continued to produce, assisting a Groningen teammate on a goal.
Forward Josh Sargent was not credited with an assist, but he helped set up a Norwich City goal.
Forward Haji Wright found the net in consecutive matches for Antalyaspor.
Luton Town goalkeeper Ethan Horvath registered back-to-back clean sheets.
Midfielder Tyler Adams and forward Brenden Aaronson helped Leeds United pull off another big victory in the English Premier League.
And forward Tim Weah played 90 minutes for Lille.
USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter will reveal the USA roster for Qatar at Brooklyn Steel in New York City on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN+), prior to FIFA's Nov. 14 deadline. The USMNT opens its World Cup against Wales on Nov. 21, meets England on Nov. 25 and finishes group play against Iran on Nov. 29.
A MEDAL AND A GOAL
Midfielder Kellyn Acosta capped a memorable season for Los Angeles FC, connecting for the first goal of the MLS Cup final at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 5 as the five-year club secured its first Major League Soccer crown. In a wild match, LAFC outlasted the Philadelphia Union, winning the penalty-kick shootout, 3-0, after playing to a 3-3 draw after 120 minutes in an epic confrontation.
Acosta fired a 26-yard free kick that deflected off the head of Union midfielder Jack McGlynn and into the net past goalkeeper Andre Blake in the 28th minute to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. He became the second player to score off a direct free kick in an MLS Cup final, duplicating the feat by the San Jose Earthquakes' Ronnie Ekelund in a win over the Chicago Fire in 2003.
It was Acosta's first MLS Cup Playoff tally in 11 appearances dating back to 2014. Acosta finished the regular season with two goals and five assists, the latter number equaling a career high.
GOING FOURTH
Gio Reyna became the seventh American to attempt a penalty kick in the Bundesliga and only the fourth to convert as he buried his try in Borussia Dortmund's 3-0 home triumph over Bochum on Saturday, Nov. 5. Gio's father, former USMNT captain Claudio Reyna, was the first American to take a PK but he missed his attempt with Wolfsburg in October 1997.
With Dortmund enjoying an early one-goal lead, Donyell Malen was fouled in the box by defender Vasilios Lampropoulos in the 12th minute. Reyna stepped up against goalkeeper Manuel Riemann, a penalty kick specialist. Reyna, who turns 20 on Nov. 13, waited until the keeper made his move slotting the ball home to double the advantage. He has scored two league goals in eight matches over 288 minutes this season. Dortmund (8-4-1, 25 points) is in fourth place, trailing leader Bayern Munich (8-1-4, 28) by three points, heading into its final two Bundesliga games of 2022.
HELPING OUT
Facing Utrecht on Sunday, Groningen striker Ricardo Pepi, on the right side of the penalty area, sent the ball Florian Kruger, who poked home the opening goal in the 40th minute. Groningen, however, could not hold the lead and suffered a 2-1 loss in the Dutch Eredivisie.
Josh Sargent, back after missing two matches with a calf injury, helped set up Norwich City's winning goal in a 2-1 win over Rotherham United in the English Championship on Friday, Nov. 5. The 22-year-old forward's shot was parried by goalkeeper Viktor Johansson. The rebound found Aaron Ramsey, who scored from close range past in the 50th minute. Norwich (9-6-5, 32) is in fourth place in the 24-team league.
DOUBLING UP
Goalkeeper Ethan Horvath was at the top of his game, recording two shutouts last week.
In the scoreless home draw against Reading on Tuesday, Nov. 1, the 27-year-old keeper produced a brilliant save with his right hand in the 35th minute, diving low to push Yakou Meite’s shot away. Horvath proved up to the task in the 73rd minute as he pushed away Thomas Ince's 30-yard volley.
In the 1-0 win at Blackpool on Saturday, Nov. 5, Horvath was called on twice early in the second half to keep the hosts off the scoreboard. He saved Gary Madine's attempt before he made a kick save to deny Keshi Anderson in was a 0-0 deadlock at the time. He ended the match with six saves.
Horvath has conceded 19 goals in as many league appearances with eight clean sheets for Luton Town (7-4-8, 29 points), which is eighth place.
COMEBACK KIDS
For the second week in a row, Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams helped Leeds United pull off another big win. Faced with a 3-1 deficit early in the second half, the hosts scored three unanswered goal to record a dramatic 4-3 home victory over Bournemouth on Saturday, Nov. 5. Crysencio Summerville scored the game-winner in 84th minute. It was second consecutive game that Summerville tallied a late deciding goal as he struck in the 89th minute of the 2-1 triumph at Liverpool on Oct. 29. Leeds (4-6-3, 15) climbed into 12th place in the EPL.
HE'S WRIGHT ON TARGET
Haji Wright found the net in consecutive wins for Antalyaspor in the Turkish Super Lig. On Monday, Oct. 31, the striker doubled the visitors' lead in the 24th minute off an assist by Sam Larsson in the team's 2-0 victory at Sivasspor.
Wright celebrated another goal in a 4-2 comeback victory over Fatih Karagümruk on Sunday, Nov. 6. After the visitors grabbed a two-goal advantage by the 19th minute, he sparked Antalyaspor's comeback with a goal off a Bunyamin Balci assist in the 35th minute. Wright has nine goals in 12 league appearances for Antalyaspor (5-6-1, 16 points), which is in ninth place out of 19 teams.
THE FULL 90
Tim Weah, who was hampered by an ankle injury at the start of the French Ligue 1 season, showed encouraging signs he was at full fitness as he played the entire way for Lille in its 1-1 draw with Rennes on Sunday, Nov. 6.
INJURY UPDATE
* Royal Antwerp left back Sam Vines broke his tibia and will be out for three to four months after undergoing ankle surgery.
* A.C. Milan right back Sergiño Dest missed two consecutive matches with what the Serie A club called adductor fatigue. He was rested as a precaution.
* Defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, sidelined from Celtic's 5-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, Nov. 2 due to muscle soreness, played the full 90 minutes in a 4-2 win over Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday, Nov. 5.
* Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner, who had missed three consecutive games due to a tight groin, was available to play for Gunners in their 1-0 win at Chelsea on Sunday, Nov. 6. Turner was on the bench.
FULL RUNDOWN
-- Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United; English Premier League) - 86 minutes in 4-3 win vs. AFC Bournemouth (Nov. 6)
-- Kellyn Acosta (Los Angeles FC; MLS) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 3-3 draw with Philadelphia Union (won on PKs, 3-1) (Nov. 5)
-- Tyler Adams (Leeds United; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 4-3 win vs. AFC Bournemouth (Nov. 5)
-- Cole Bassett (Fortuna Sittard; Dutch Eredivisie) - 28 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 loss vs. Emmen (Nov. 5)
-- George Bello (Arminia Bielefeld; 2. Bundesliga) - In 18, DNP in 3-2 loss vs. Kaiserslautern (Nov. 5)
-- John Brooks (Benfica; Portuguese Primeira) – In 18, DNP in 5-1 win at Estoril (Nov. 6); In 18, DNP in 6-1 win at Maccabi Haifa in UCL (Nov. 2)
-- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italian Serie B) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 loss at Como (Nov. 6)
-- Reggie Cannon (Boavista; Portuguese Primeira) - 89 minutes in 1-0 loss at Rio Ave (Nov. 6)
-- Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; Brazilian Serie A) – 83 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Athletico-PR (Nov. 5); 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at America Mineiro (Nov. 2)
-- Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 4-2 win vs. Dundee United (Nov. 5); Injured, DNP in 5-1 loss at Real Madrid in UCL (Nov. 2)
- Sergiño Dest (AC Milan; Italy Serie A) - Injured, DNP in 2-1 loss vs. Spezia (Nov. 5); Injured, DNP in 4-0 win vs. Red Bull Salzburg in UCL (Nov. 2)
-- Matthew Hoppe (Middlesbrough; English Championship) - In 18, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Bristol City (Nov. 5); In 18, DNP in 3-1 win at Hull City (Nov. 1)
-- Ethan Horvath (Luton Town; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win at Blackpool (Nov. 5); 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Reading (Nov. 1)
-- Richy Ledezma (PSV; Dutch Eredivisie) - In 18, DNP in 2-1 win at Ajax (Nov. 6); 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Bodø / Glimt in Europa League (Nov. 3)
-- Mark McKenzie (Genk; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 4-1 win vs. Sporting Charleroi (Nov. 5)
-- Yunus Musah (Valencia; Spain La Liga) - 75 minutes in 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad (Nov. 6)
-- Erik Palmer-Brown (Troyes; French Ligue 1) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Auxerre (Nov. 4)
-- Jordan Pefok (Union Berlin; Bundesliga) - 59 minutes in 5-0 loss at Bayer Leverkusen (Nov. 6); In 18, DNP in 1-0 win at Union Saint-Gilloise in Europa League (Nov. 3)
-- Ricardo Pepi (Groningen; Dutch Eredivisie) - 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 2-1 loss at Utrecht (Nov. 6)
-- Christian Pulisic (Chelsea; English Premier League) - 12 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 loss vs. Arsenal (Nov. 6); 7 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win vs. Dinamo Zagreb in UCL (Nov. 2)
-- Tim Ream (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Manchester City (Nov. 5)
-- Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; Bundesliga) - 67 minutes, GOAL, in 3-0 win vs. Bochum (Nov. 5); 63 minutes in 1-1 draw at København in UCL (Nov. 2)
-- Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Union Saint-Gilloise (Nov. 6)
-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Manchester City (Nov. 5)
-- Josh Sargent (Norwich City; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Rotherham United (Nov. 5)
-- James Sands (Rangers; Scottish Premiership) – 79 minutes in 2-1 loss at St. Johnstone (Nov. 6); 90 minutes in 3-1 loss vs. Ajax in UCL (Nov. 1)
-- Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Stuttgart (Nov. 4)
-- Zack Steffen (Middlesbrough; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Bristol City (Nov. 5); 90 minutes in 3-1 win at Hull City (Nov. 1)
-- Malik Tillman (Rangers; Scottish Premiership) - 61 minutes in 2-1 loss at St. Johnstone (Nov. 6); 60 minutes in 3-1 loss vs. Ajax in UCL (Nov. 1)
-- Auston Trusty (Birmingham City; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Stoke City (Nov. 5); 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Millwall (Nov. 2)
-- Matt Turner (Arsenal; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 win at Chelsea (Nov. 6); Injured, DNP in 1-0 win vs. FC Zürich in Europa League (Nov. 3)
-- Sam Vines (Royal Antwerp; Belgian Pro League) - Injured, DNP in 0-0 draw vs. Anderlecht (Nov. 6)
-- Tim Weah (Lille; French Ligue 1) – 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Rennes (Nov. 6)
-- Haji Wright (Antalyaspor; Turkish Super Lig) - 87 minutes, GOAL, in 4-2 win vs. Fatih Karagümruk (Nov. 6); 82 minutes, GOAL, in 2-0 win at Sivasspor (Oct. 31)