On the Pitch

USMNT REWIND: Aaronson Provides Assist, Ferreira and Wright Find Back of the Net

By: Michael Lewis

Jesús Ferreira and Haji Wright scored key goals, Brenden Aaronson set up one on a corner kick and goalkeepers Ethan Horvath and Sean Johnson stopped potential ones from going in, among the top highlights by U.S. Men's National Team players last week.

SOME YOUNG IDEAS

Forward Jesús Ferreira became the youngest player in MLS history (22 years, 105 days) to reach 40 regular-season goals, connecting for the lone score in FC Dallas' 1-0 victory at Inter Miami on Saturday, April 8.

Ferreira tallied his fourth goal of the season in the 27th minute, helping Dallas improve to 3-0-0 this young season when he finds the net.

As it turned out, three players with the name Jesus were involved in the goal on the Easter holiday weekend. Geovane Jesus dribbled down the right flank and crossed the ball to Jesús Jiménez before it fell for Ferreira to score his fourth goal of the season.

WRIGHT ON

Haji Wright's 13th goal of the Turkish Super Lig season turned out to be a lucky one as it lifted Antalyaspor into a 1-1 draw at Konyaspor on Friday, April 7.

Wright, who is fourth in the league in goal-scoring, headed in Bunyamin Balcı's assist to equalize in the 45th minute. It was the striker's fourth goal in 2023 calendar year and first since bagging a brace in a 4-0 home win over Kayserispor on March 11.

Wright has celebrated 14 goals across all competitions during the 2022-23 campaign.

CORNERING AN ASSIST

Brenden Aaronson's corner kick in the 21st minute set up Leeds United's only goal in its 5-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday, April 9. Patrick Bamford flicked Aaronson's set piece into the top corner to give Leeds a 1-0 lead in the English Premier League match.

It was Aaronson’s third assist of the season and first since November 12.

A FEW GOOSE EGGS

Ethan Horvath recorded his 18th clean sheet, tying Coventry City's Ben Wilson for the English Championship season lead. He backstopped Luton Town to a scoreless draw at Millwall in a battle between rivals hoping for promotion to the Premier League on Friday, April 7.

The 27-year-old ‘keeper was called on twice to make saves. He gathered in Oliver Burke's attempt off Zian Flemming’s chipped ball early on. Later on in the opening half, Horvath denied Tom Bradshaw.

Luton Town (18-8-14, 68 points) is in third place, while Millwall (17-12-11, 62) is in fifth. The top two teams get automatic promotion, while the third- through sixth-place sides will meet in a playoff to move up to the Premier League.

Sean Johnson recorded his third shutout of the campaign for Toronto FC, which ran its unbeaten streak to six games in a 0-0 draw at Nashville SC on Saturday, April 8. The 33-year-old Johnson was credited with three saves.

Buoyed by defenders Walker Zimmerman and Shaq Moore, Nashville registered its MLS-leading fifth clean sheet of the season. Moore led the backline with four interceptions.

FULL RUNDOWN

  • Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United; English Premier League) - 60 minutes, ASSIST, in 5-1 loss vs. Crystal Palace (April 9); 74 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Nottingham Forest (April 4)
  • Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt; Bundesliga) - In 18, DNP in 3-1 loss at Bayer Leverkusen (April 8); 3 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 win vs. Union Berlin in DFB Pokal (April 4)
  • Kellyn Acosta (Los Angeles FC; MLS) - 84 minutes in 3-0 win vs. Austin FC (April 8); 90 minutes in 3-0 win at Vancouver Whitecaps in CCL (April 5)
  • Tyler Adams (Leeds United; MLS) - Injured, DNP in 5-1 loss vs. Crystal Palace (April 9); Injured, DNP in 2-1 win vs. Nottingham Forest (April 4)
  • Paul Arriola (FC Dallas; MLS) - 71 minutes in 1-0 win at Inter Miami CF (April 8)
  • George Bello (Arminia Bielefeld; 2. Bundesliga) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-2 draw vs. Fortuna Dusseldorf (April 9)
  • Taylor Booth (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - 41 minutes in 2-1 win at Groningen (April 7)
  • John Brooks (Hoffenheim; Bundesliga) – 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Schalke 04 (April 9)
  • Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italian Serie B) - At Reggina (Monday, 9 a.m. ET)
  • Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; Brazilian Serie A) - 70 minutes in 1-1 draw at Independiente Medellin in CONMEBOL Liberatores (April 4)
  • Reggie Cannon (Boavista; Portuguese Primeira) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Vitoria Guimaraes (April 7)
  • Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 3-2 win vs. Rangers (April 8)
  • Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; MLS) - 89 minutes in 1-1 draw at New York Red Bulls (April 8)
  • Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo, Spain La Liga) - 45 minutes as a substitute in 2-2 draw at Sevilla (April 7)
  • Sergiño Dest (AC Milan; Italy Serie A) - Not in 18, DNP in 0-0 draw vs. Empoli (April 7)
  • Daryl Dike (West Bromwich Albion; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 3-1 loss at Rotherham United (April 7)
  • Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; MLS) - 71 minutes, GOAL, in 1-0 win at Inter Miami CF (April 8)
  • Matthew Hoppe (Hibernian; Scottish Premiership) - In 18, DNP in 2-1 loss at Dundee United (April 9)
  • Ethan Horvath (Luton Town; English Championship) - 90 minutes, SHUTOUT, in 0-0 draw at Millwall (April 7)
  • Sean Johnson (Toronto FC; MLS) - 90 minutes, SHUTOUT, in 0-0 draw at Nashville SC (April 8)
  • Richy Ledezma (New York City FC; MLS) - 26 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw vs. Atlanta United (April 8)
  • Aaron Long (Los Angeles FC; MLS) - In 18, DNP in 3-0 win vs. Austin FC (April 8); 90 minutes in 3-0 win at Vancouver Whitecaps in CCL (April 5)
  • Weston McKennie (Leeds United; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 5-1 loss vs. Crystal Palace (April 9); 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Nottingham Forest (April 4)
  • Mark McKenzie (Genk; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Standard Liege (April 9)
  • Matt Miagza (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Philadelphia Union (April 8)
  • Djordje Mihailovic (AZ Alkmaar; Dutch Eredivisie) - 59 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Sparta Rotterdam (April 8)
  • Shaq Moore (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Toronto FC (April 8)
  • Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-0 win vs. St. Louis City (April 8)
  • Yunus Musah (Valencia; Spain La Liga) - 17 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 loss at Almeria (April 9); 45 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw vs. Vallecano (April 3)
  • Erik Palmer-Brown (Troyes; French Ligue 1) - 90 minutes in 2-0 loss vs. Clermont (April 9)
  • Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - 31 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 loss at Borussia Mönchengladbach (April 9)
  • Jordan Pefok (Union Berlin; Bundesliga) - 6 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 loss at Borussia Dortmund (April 8); 30 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 loss at Eintracht Frankfurt (April 4)
  • Ricardo Pepi (Groningen; Dutch Eredivisie) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Utrecht (April 7)
  • Christian Pulisic (Chelsea; Premier League) - 29 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 loss at Wolverhampton Wanderers (April 8)
  • Tim Ream (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. West Ham United (April 8)
  • Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 2-1 win vs. Union Berlin (April 8); In 18, DNP in 2-0 loss at RB Leipzig in DFB Pokal (April 5)
  • Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo; Belgian Pro League) - Not in 18, DNP in 0-0 draw at Anderlecht (April 8)
  • Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - Injured, DNP in 5-1 win at Leeds United (April 9)
  • Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. West Ham United (April 8)
  • Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at New York City FC (April 8)
  • Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-0 win vs. St. Louis City (April 8)
  • James Sands (New York City FC; MLS) – 66 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Atlanta United (April 8)
  • Josh Sargent (Norwich City; English Championship) - 83 minutes in 2-0 win at Blackburn Rovers (April 7)
  • Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 76 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Wolfsburg (April 9)
  • Alan Soñora (FC Juarez; Liga MX) - In 18, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Atlas (April 9)
  • Zack Steffen (Middlesbrough; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Burnley (April 7)
  • Malik Tillman (Rangers; Scottish Premiership) - 69 minutes in 3-2 loss at Celtic (April 8)
  • John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; MLS) - Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. San Jose Earthquakes (April 8)
  • Auston Trusty (Birmingham City; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Reading (April 7)
  • Matt Turner (Arsenal; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 2-2 draw at Liverpool (April 9)
  • Brandon Vazquez (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Philadelphia Union (April 8)
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  • Sam Vines (Royal Antwerp; Belgian Pro League) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 win vs. Cercle Brugge (April 9)
  • Tim Weah (Lille; French Ligue 1) – 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Angers (April 8)
  • Eryk Williamson (Portland Timbers; MLS) - Injured, DNP in 1-0 loss at Vancouver Whitecaps (April 8)
  • Haji Wright (Antalyaspor; Turkey Super Lig) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 1-1 draw at Konyaspor (April 7)
  • DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - 89 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. FC Dallas (April 8)
  • Alex Zendejas (Club America; Liga MX) - 72 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Monterrey (April 8)
  • Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Toronto FC (April 8)

Go Deeper

MNTJesus FerreiraBrenden AaronsonBrenden AaronsonEthan HorvathSean Johnson