On the Pitch

USMNT REWIND: Pepi, McKenzie, Ferreira, Tolkin, Cremaschi On Target

There were goals and heroes galore from the U.S. Men's National Team player pool last week.

Five players celebrated goals and four others helped set up others for their respective teams on either side of the Atlantic.

Ricardo Pepi continued his super-sub heroics with yet another tally. Mark McKenzie scored a dramatic equalizer. Jesús Ferreira scored twice in a victory. John Tolkin enjoyed a career night, setting up the game-winner and recording an insurance goal. Benja Cremaschi also came off the bench to record a goal.

Luca de la Torre, Julian Gressel, Shaq Moore and Caleb Wiley also recorded assists.

SUPER SUB STRIKES AGAIN

Ricardo Pepi continued to make an impact off the bench for PSV. After he had his scoring streak as a substitute snapped in a 4-0 defeat at Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, Sept. 20, Pepi did what he does best for PSV in Dutch Eredivisie action three days later.

The 20-year-old forward recorded a goal as a late-match sub, tallying the final goal of the 4-0 rout in the third minute of second half stoppage time. Pepi ran onto a pass from Yorbe Vertessen on the left flank and rounded goalkeeper Nordin Bakker to finish into the empty net.

IN THE NICK OF TIME

Defender Mark McKenzie scored a header off a corner kick in the 85th minute to lift Genk to a 2-2 draw against Fiorentina in the UEFA Conference League Group Stage match at home on Thursday, Sept. 21.

McKenzie headed home El Khannouss' corner from six yards past goalkeeper Oliver Christensen for his first goal of the season.

BRACE AND ASSIST FOR FERREIRA

Jesús Ferreira bagged his third brace of the season while becoming the second all-time scoring leader for FC Dallas in its 3-1 triumph over host Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, Sept. 20. The MLS All-Star surpassed Kenny Cooper with his 47th and 48th goals of his regular season career. Jason Kreis is the club’s all-time leader with 97.

Ferreira, who raised his season tally to 12 goals, snapped a 1-1 tie when he converted a 62nd-minute penalty kick into the upper left corner, before adding an insurance goal off a Jader Obrian feed in the 71st minute from 12 yards.

Ferreira also set up Obrian's 43rd-minute equalizer in Dallas' 1-1 home tie with the Columbus Crew on Saturday, Sept. 23.

A CAREER NIGHT

Defender John Tolkin rose to the occasion for the New York Red Bulls in their 5-3 comeback win at D.C. United on Saturday, Sept. 23.

Tolkin's corner kick set up Sean Nealis' goal that snapped a 3-3 deadlock in the 59th minute during a rain-swept encounter. He added an insurance goal off a Luquinhas feed past goalkeeper Alex Bono in the third minute of stoppage time to seal the victory and keep his team's MLS Cup Playoff chances alive.

Tolkin has two goals this season, both against D.C.

OFF THE BENCH

Only eight minutes after coming on for David Ruiz in the 65th minute, Benja Cremaschi made his presence felt with the third goal of Inter Miami’s 4-0 home win over Toronto FC on Wednesday, Sept. 20.

Leonardo Campana passed to Cremaschi, who sent Robert Taylor the ball down the right wing. Taylor returned the pass to Cresmachi, who scored from a tight angle past goalkeeper Tomas Romero, for his second MLS goal this campaign and third overall.

HELPING OUT

Midfielder Luca de la Torre assisted on Celta Vigo's first goal in its 3-2 loss at Barcelona in Spain's La Liga on Saturday, Sept. 23. Despite getting knocked to the ground by Jules Kounde, de la Torre managed to get a pass off to Strand Larsen, who finished for a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute.

Defender Shaq Moore helped set up Nashville SC's first goal in its 1-1 draw at the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, Sept. 23. After gathering in a Hany Mukhtar feed in the penalty area, Moore found Teal Bunbury, who poked the ball into the top of the net to give the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 50th minute.

Midfielder Julian Gressel's corner kick set up the final goal of Cucho Hernandez's first-half hat-trick in the Columbus Crew's 3-0 triumph over the visiting Chicago Fire on Wednesday, Sept. 20. Cucho headed in the corner from 11 yards.

Defender Caleb Wiley played a role in Atlanta United clinching an MLS Cup Playoff berth by recording the second assist its second goal of a 4-1 home win past CF Montreal on Saturday, Sept. 23. During a quick build-up from the back in the 33rd minute, Xande Silva laid off the ball to Wiley. The Homegrown player dribbled into the penalty area and laid off the ball to Silva at the top of the box. Silva then found Thiago Almada, who tapped it home for a 2-0 lead. Wiley has four assists.

FULL RUNDOWN

  • Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin; Bundesliga) - 45 minutes in 2-0 loss vs. Hoffenheim (Sept. 23); 24 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 loss at Real Madrid in UCL (Sept. 20)
  • Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt; Bundesliga) - In 18, DNP in 0-0 draw vs. Freiburg (Sept. 24); 45 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Aberdeen in UEFA Conference League (Sept. 21)
  • Kellyn Acosta (Los Angeles FC; MLS) - 71 minutes in 0-0 draw at Philadelphia Union (Sept. 23); 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at St. Louis CITY (Sept. 20)
  • Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth; English Premier League) - Injured, DNP in 3-1 loss at Brighton & Hove Albion (Sept. 24)
  • Folarin Balogun (Monaco; French Ligue 1) - 67 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Nice (Sept. 22)
  • Taylor Booth (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - Injured, DNP in 3-0 loss at NEC (Sept. 23)
  • Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italian Serie B) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at Brescia (Sept. 23)
  • Drake Callender (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Orlando City SC (Sept. 24); 90 minutes, SHUTOUT, in 4-0 win vs. Toronto FC (Sept. 20)
  • Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; Brazilian Serie A) - Injured, DNP in 2-1 loss at Atletico Paranaense (Sept. 21)
  • Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - Injured, DNP in 3-0 win at Livington (Sept. 23); Injured, DNP in 2-0 loss at Feyenoord in UCL (Sept. 19)
  • Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; MLS) - 61 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Nashville SC (Sept. 23); 31 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 loss at Portland Timbers (Sept. 20)
  • Ben Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF; MLS) 89 minutes in 1-1 draw at Orlando City SC (Sept. 24); 25 minutes as a substitute, GOAL, in 4-0 win vs. Toronto FC (Sept. 20)
  • Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 84 minutes in 4-0 win at Almere City (Sept. 23); 90 minutes in 4-0 loss at Arsenal in UCL (Sept. 20)
  • Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo, Spain La Liga) - 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 3-2 loss at Barcelona (Sept. 23)
  • Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; MLS) - 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 1-1 draw vs. Columbus Crew (Sept. 23); 79 minutes, TWO GOALS, in 3-1 win at Real Salt Lake (Sept. 20)
  • Julian Gressel (Columbus Crew; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at FC Dallas (Sept. 23); 45 minutes, ASSIST, in 3-0 win vs. Chicago Fire (Sept. 20)
  • Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest; English Premier League) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-0 loss at Manchester City (Sept. 23); Not in 18, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Burnley (Sept. 18)
  • DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-2 draw at Chicago Fire (Sept. 23)
  • Kristoffer Lund (Palmero; Italy Serie B) - 45 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 loss vs. Cosenza (Sept. 22)
  • Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 60 minutes in 4-2 loss at Sassuolo (Sept. 23)
  • Mark McKenzie (Genk; Belgian Pro League) - Not in 18, DNP in 3-3 draw vs. Sint-Truiden (Sept. 24); 90 minutes, GOAL, in 2-2 draw vs. Fiorentina in UEFA Conference League (Sept. 21)
  • Djordje Mihailovic (AZ Alkmaar; Dutch Eredivisie) - In 18, DNP in 3-0 win at PEC Zwolle (Sept. 24); In 18, DNP in 4-3 loss at Zrinjski in UEFA Conference League (Sept. 21)
  • Shaq Moore (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 1-1 draw at San Jose Earthquakes (Sept. 23); 90 minutes in a 3-0 win at Sporting Kansas City (Sept. 20)
  • Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; MLS) - 88 minutes in 1-1 draw at FC Dallas (Sept. 23); 45 minutes in 3-0 win vs. Chicago Fire (Sept. 20)
  • Yunus Musah (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Hellas Verona (Sept. 23); 18 minutes as a substitute in 0-0 draw vs. Newcastle United in UCL (Sept. 19)
  • Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy; MLS) - Injured, DNP in 3-3 draw at Austin FC (Sept. 24); Injured, DNP in 4-3 win vs. Minnesota United (Sept. 20)
  • Erik Palmer-Brown (Panathinaikos; Greek Super League) - Vs. AEK Athens (Monday, 2 p.m. ET); In 18, DNP in 2-0 win vs. Villarreal in Europa League (Sept. 21)
  • Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - Not in 18, DNP in 1-0 loss at Borussia Dortmund (Sept. 23)
  • Jordan Pefok (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 64 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. RB Leipzig (Sept. 23)
  • Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 17 minutes as a substitute, GOAL, in 4-0 win at Almere City (Sept. 23); 1 minute as a substitute in 4-0 loss at Arsenal in UCL (Sept. 20)
  • Christian Pulisic (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - 80 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Hellas Verona (Sept. 23); 29 minutes as a substitute in 0-0 draw vs. Newcastle United in UCL (Sept. 19)
  • Tim Ream (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace (Sept. 23)
  • Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; Bundesliga) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Wolfsburg (Sept. 23); In 18, DNP in 2-0 loss at Paris Saint-Germain in UCL (Sept. 19)
  • Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at Standard Liege (Sept. 22)
  • Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 0-0 draw vs. Fulham (Sept. 23)
  • Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace (Sept. 23)
  • Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; MLS) - 90 minutes in 4-1 win vs. CF Montreal (Sept. 23); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at D.C. United (Sept. 20)
  • James Sands (New York City FC; MLS) – 90 minutes in 3-0 win vs. Toronto FC (Sept. 24); 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Orlando City SC (Sept. 20)
  • Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 79 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. RB Leipzig (Sept. 23)
  • Gaga Slonina (Eupen; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Gent (Sept. 24)
  • Tanner Tessmann (Venezia; Italy Serie B) - 67 minutes in 0-0 draw at Brescia (Sept. 23)
  • Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - Not in 18, DNP in 4-0 win at Almere City (Sept. 23); 24 minutes as a substitute in 4-0 loss at Arsenal in UCL (Sept. 20)
  • Timmy Tillman (Los Angeles FC; MLS) - 85 minutes in 0-0 draw at Philadelphia Union (Sept. 23)
  • John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; MLS) - 90 minutes, GOAL, ASSIST, in 5-3 win at D.C. United (Sept. 23); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Austin FC (Sept. 20)
  • Auston Trusty (Sheffield; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 8-0 loss vs. Newcastle United (Sept. 24)
  • Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Manchester City (Sept. 23); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Burnley (Sept. 18)
  • Brandon Vazquez (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - 74 minutes in 3-0 win vs. Charlotte FC (Sept. 23); 66 minutes in 1-1 draw at CF Montreal (Sept. 20)
  • Tim Weah (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 30 minutes as a substitute in 4-2 loss at Sassuolo (Sept. 23)
  • Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United; MLS - 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 4-1 win vs. CF Montreal (Sept. 23); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at D.C. United (Sept. 20)
  • Haji Wright (Coventry City; English Premier League) - Vs. Huddersfield Town (Monday, 2 p.m. ET); 7 minutes as a substitute at Cardiff City (Sept. 19)
  • DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Orlando City SC (Sept. 24); 90 minutes in 4-0 win vs. Toronto FC (Sept. 20)
  • Alex Zendejas (Club America; Liga MX) - 13 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw at Toluca (Sept. 24); 67 minutes in 2-1 win at Querétaro (Sept. 20)
  • Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at San Jose Earthquakes (Sept. 23); 70 minutes in a 3-0 win at Sporting Kansas City (Sept. 20)

Go Deeper

MNTRicardo PepiMark McKenzieJesus FerreiraJohn TolkinBen CremaschiLuca de la TorreShaq MooreJulian GresselCaleb Wiley