On the Pitch

USMNT REWIND: Dike, Morris Record Braces; Carter-Vickers Wins Scottish League Cup

Pepi, Roldan and Zimmerman also find the back of the net
By: Michael Lewis

The unofficial theme for U.S. Men's National Team players last week was doubling up.

Daryl Dike broke his personal scoring drought in style by bagging a brace in the English Championship. Jordan Morris did as well in his Major League Soccer season debut. And Ricardo Pepi hit double figures in the Dutch Eredivisie.

They weren't the only ones in the spotlight.

Cameron Carter-Vickers won a championship medal, Walker Zimmerman could not have gotten off to a better start to the MLS season and Cristian Roldan celebrated a goal as well.

TWO-MINUTE BRACE

Daryl Dike hit for two goals inside the first 10 minutes to give West Bromwich Albion a 2-0 victory against USMNT teammate Zack Steffen and Middlesbrough on Saturday.


Dike found the opener eight minutes into the match, scoring off a Jed Wallace pass. Only two minutes later, he saw his initial effort saved by Steffen, only to slot home the rebound.

Now with five goals in 15 matches for WBA this season, Dike helped the club snap a three-game winless streak and move within five points of a promotion playoff spot.

HEAD OF THE CLASS

Jordan Morris found the net twice and Cristian Roldan once, all off  headers, as the Seattle Sounders rolled to a 4-0 home triumph over the Colorado Rapids in their MLS opener on Sunday.

After Roldan nodded in his own rebound in the 25th minute, Morris took over. He headed home the ball in the 45th minute for a two-goal advantage before scoring from close range, his 54th career goal, in the 83rd minute.

STRIKING FIRST

Nashville SC captain center back Walker Zimmerman had the honor of scoring the first goal of the Major League Soccer season coming in a 2-0 home victory over New York City FC on Saturday.

Zimmerman tallied his 23rd career goal, and 11th for Nashville in the 34th minute. Randall Leal started the scoring sequence with a free kick from the left side that he looped into the box. NYCFC center back Maxime Chanot tried to head it out of harm's way, but the ball went to Fafa Picault. Picault then headed the ball to Zimmerman, who hammered it past goalkeeper Luis Barraza from point-blank range.


Zimmerman then ran to the left corner flag to celebrate as he used it as a "microphone" while signing "Ring of Fire," in homage to the late Johnny Cash. For the first time in its history, Nashville SC did not wear gold on its uniform for a home game as players wore their new Man in Black jersey on the same night the club honored Cash.

His son, John Carter Cash, performed at halftime. Zimmerman, incidentally, has scored the first goal of the campaign in two of his four seasons with Nashville.

PEPI SCORES AGAIN

Ricardo Pepi continued to make life miserable for opposing goalkeepers in Holland, scoring for the second week in a row for Groningen in the club’s 3-0 win against Excelsior on Saturday. The former FC Dallas forward doubled his team's lead in the 50th minute, getting on the end of a ball over the top before cutting back to his left and finishing to the opposite post.  

The goal was Pepi’s ninth in Eredivisie play and 10th across all competitions this season.

CUP WINNER

Cameron Carter-Vickers earned a winners' medal as Celtic defeated archrival Rangers and USMNT teammate Malik Tillman, 2-1, in the Scottish League Cup Final on Sunday. While still scoreless in the 30th minute, the defender cut out a centering pass destined for an unmarked Tillman inside the six.


Carter-Vickers went the full 90 minutes, while Tillman was replaced in the 65th and USMNT teammate James Sands was an unused sub for Rangers.

Celtic has won the League Cup seven times in the last nine years. It also owns a nine-point lead in the Scottish Premiership.

FULL RUNDOWN

  • Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United; English Premier League) - 75 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Southampton (Feb. 25)
  • Kellyn Acosta (Los Angeles FC; MLS) - Ppd. vs. LA Galaxy (Feb. 25)
  • Tyler Adams (Leeds United; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Southampton (Feb. 25)
  • Paul Arriola (FC Dallas; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Minnesota United (Feb. 25)
  • George Bello (Arminia Bielefeld; 2. Bundesliga) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 loss vs. Heidenheim (Feb. 26)
  • Taylor Booth (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - 69 minutes in 3-0 win at Sparta Rotterdam (Feb. 25)
  • John Brooks (Hoffenheim; Bundesliga) – In 18, DNP in 1-0 loss vs. Borussia Dortmund (Feb. 25)
  • Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italian Serie B) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Cagliari (Feb. 25)
  • Reggie Cannon (Boavista; Portuguese Primeira) - 90 minutes in 3-1 loss at Benfica (Feb. 20)
  • Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; Brazilian Serie A) - 22 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 win in Gaucho at Aimore (Feb. 25)
  • Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Rangers in Scottish League Cup (Feb. 26)
  • Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; MLS) - 69 minutes in 2-1 loss at Atlanta United (Feb. 25)
  • Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo, Spain La Liga) - 73 minutes in 3-0 win vs. Real Valladolid (Feb. 26)
  • Sergiño Dest (AC Milan; Italy Serie A) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-0 win vs. Atalanta (Feb. 26)
  • Daryl Dike (West Bromwich Albion; English Championship) - 78 minutes, TWO GOALS, in 2-0 win vs. Middlesbrough (Feb. 25); 28 minutes as a substitute in 3-2 loss at Watford (Feb. 20)
  • Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Minnesota United (Feb. 25)
  • Ethan Horvath (Luton Town; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win at Birmingham City (Feb. 25)
  • Sean Johnson (Toronto FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-2 loss at D.C. United (Feb. 25)
  • Richy Ledezma (PSV; Dutch Eredivisie) - In 18, DNP in 3-1 win vs. Twente (Feb. 26); In 18, DNP in 2-0 win vs. Sevilla in Europa League (Feb. 23)
  • Aaron Long (Los Angeles FC; MLS) - Ppd. at LA Galaxy (Feb. 25)
  • Weston McKennie (Leeds United; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Southampton (Feb. 25)
  • Mark McKenzie (Genk; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 3-0 win vs. KV Oostende (Feb. 25)
  • Matt Miagza (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Houston Dynamo (Feb. 25)
  • Djordje Mihailovic (AZ Alkmaar; Dutch Eredivisie) - In 18, DNP in 2-1 win vs. Cambuur (Feb. 25)
  • Shaq Moore (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. New York City FC (Feb. 25)
  • Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; MLS) - 85 minutes, TWO GOALS, in 4-0 win vs. Colorado Rapids (Feb. 26)
  • Yunus Musah (Valencia; Spain La Liga) - 78 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Real Sociedad (Feb. 25); 69 minutes in 1-0 loss at Getafe (Feb. 20)
  • Erik Palmer-Brown (Troyes; French Ligue 1) - 8 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 loss at Ajaccio (Feb. 26)
  • Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - 2 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 win at  Köln (Feb. 25)
  • Jordan Pefok (Union Berlin; Bundesliga) - 63 minutes in 3-0 loss at Bayern Munich (Feb. 26); 25 minutes as a substitute in 3-1 win vs. Ajax in Europa League (Feb. 23)
  • Ricardo Pepi (Groningen; Dutch Eredivisie) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 3-0 win vs. Excelsior (Feb. 25)
  • Tim Ream (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Wolverhampton Wolves (Feb. 24)
  • Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; Bundesliga) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 win at Hoffenheim (Feb. 25)
  • Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 0-0 draw vs. Liverpool (Feb. 25)
  • Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Wolverhampton Wolves (Feb. 24)
  • Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Feb. 25)
  • Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; MLS) - 71 minutes, ONE GOAL, in 4-0 win vs. Colorado Rapids (Feb. 26)
  • James Sands (Rangers; Scottish Premiership) – Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 loss vs. Celtic in Scottish League Cup (Feb. 26)
  • Josh Sargent (Norwich City; English Championship) - Injured, DNP in 2-0 win vs. Cardiff City; Injured, DNP in 3-1 win vs. Birmingham City (Feb. 21)
  • Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 10 minutes as a substitute in 4-0 loss at Mainz (Feb. 24)
  • Tanner Tessmann (Venezia; Italian Serie B) - Not in 18, DNP in 0-0 draw vs. Cagliari (Feb. 25)
  • Malik Tillman (Rangers; Scottish Premiership) - 65 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Celtic in Scottish League Cup (Feb. 26)
  • John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Orlando City SC (Feb. 25)
  • Auston Trusty (Birmingham City; English Championship) - Not in 18, DNP in 1-0 loss vs. Luton Town (Feb. 25); 90 minutes in 3-1 loss at Norwich City (Feb. 21)
  • Matt Turner (Arsenal; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 win at Leicester City (Feb. 25)
  • Brandon Vazquez (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Houston Dynamo (Feb. 25)
  • Tim Weah (Lille; French Ligue 1) – 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Brest (Feb. 24)
  • Eryk Williamson (Portland Timbers; MLS) - Vs. Sporting Kansas City (Monday, 10 p.m. ET)
  • DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - 89 minutes in 2-0 win vs. CF Montreal (Feb. 25)
  • Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 2-0 win vs. New York City FC (Feb. 25)

Go Deeper

MNTDaryl DikeJordan MorrisCristian RoldanWalker ZimmermanRicardo PepiCameron Carter Vickers