USMNT REWIND: Pulisic, Balogun, Tillman and Vazquez Score to Lift Their Clubs to Victory

By: Michael Lewis
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Christian Pulisic sparked AC Milan with the first goal in the club’s 2-0 win against Lazio after assisting on another during a mid-week encounter.

Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman scored and assisted on goals to help their respective teams, Monaco and PSV Eindhoven, earn some valuable points.

Brandon Vazquez played a vital role as FC Cincinnati secured its first piece of hardware.

Those four members of the U.S. Men's National Team pool made headlines this past weekend.

ON THE HOUR

Christian Pulisic recorded his third goal of the Italian Serie A season, connecting in the 60th minute to give AC Milan the lead in its 2-0 victory over Lazio at the San Siro on Saturday, Sept. 30. The goal was Pulisic's third in seven league matches and first since a 4-1 win against Torino on Aug. 26.


Rafael Leao chipped a one-bounce feed from the left wing to Pulisic, who volleyed the ball home with his left foot from the penalty spot, into the lower left corner. Goalkeeper Ivan Provedel got both hands on the ball but could not stop it from entering the net.

Before being replaced by Samuel Chuwueze in the 82nd minute, Pulisic was joined on the field by USMNT teammate Yunus Musah, who replaced the injured Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the 29th minute. 

On Wednesday, Sept. 27, Pulisic registered an assist Loftus-Cheek's 60th-minute goal in a 3-1 win at Cagliari.

BALO BOUNCES BACK

After missing two penalties in a 1-0 loss to Nice on Sept. 22, Folarin Balogun rebounded quite well for Monaco in its 3-2 comeback win over Marseille in French Ligue 1 on Saturday, Sept. 30.

With the hosts trailing in the 23rd minute, the U.S. forward leveled the score at 2-2. Maghnes Akliouche found Balogun, who beat keeper Pau Lopez with a low shot at the near post.


Balogun returned the favor to Akliouche, assisting on his teammate's second goal and game-winner in the 52nd minute. Balogun has two goals in four league matches this campaign.

MAN OF THE MATCH

A week after being left off the squad for oversleeping, Malik Tillman made a memorable first start for PSV Eindhoven, scoring once and assisting on another goal in the 3-1 victory over visiting Volendam in the Dutch Eredivisie on Saturday, Sept. 30.


Tillman, who earned Man of the Match honors, first made his impact in the 47th minute when he chipped a pass to Guus Til to lift PSV to a 2-1 lead. Six minutes into stoppage time, Tillman added an insurance goal when he ran onto a loose ball and drilled a shot from 12 yards past keeper Mio Backhaus.

BRANDON'S BRACE

Brandon Vazquez struck twice within a seven-minute span in the opening half to stake FC Cincinnati to a two-goal advantage en route to a 3-2 triumph at Toronto FC on Saturday, Sept. 30, to win its first MLS Supporters Shield.

After a throw-in several feet from the corner kick flag in the 28th minute, Álvaro Barreal crossed the ball into the middle of the penalty area. Yerson Mosquera directed it to Vazquez, who finished past goalkeeper Luka Gavran from the penalty spot.


He doubled the lead in the 35th minute, burying a rebound of an Aaron Boupendza shot. Vazquez has eight goals and four assists in MLS regular season play.

He also recorded a hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Chivas Guadalajara in the Leagues Cup on July 28.

A COUPLE OF HELPERS

Jordan Pefok assisted on Alassane Plea's second goal of the match three minutes into first-half injury time with a nice hold-up play in Borussia Mönchengladbach's 3-1 win at Bochum in the Bundesliga on Saturday, Sept. 30.


Defender DeJuan Jones' cross set up Dave Romney's header at the back in the 85th minute to give the New England Revolution a 2-1 home victory over Charlotte FC in MLS action on Saturday, Sept. 30. The win kept the Revs unbeaten at Gillette Stadium at 11-0-4. Jones has five assists and one goal this season.

FULL RUNDOWN

  • Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin; Bundesliga) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 loss at Heidenheim (Sept. 30)
  • Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt; Bundesliga) - 8 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 loss at Wolfsburg (Sept. 30)
  • Kellyn Acosta (Los Angeles FC; MLS) - 34 minutes in 1-0 loss to Real Salt Lake (Oct. 1); 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Tigres (4-2 PK loss) in Campeones Cup final (Sept. 27)
  • Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth; English Premier League) - Injured, DNP in 4-0 loss vs. Arsenal (Sept. 30); 20 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 win over Stoke City in Carabao Cup (Sept. 27)
  • Folarin Balogun (Monaco; French Ligue 1) - 83 minutes, GOAL, ASSIST, in 3-2 win vs. Marseille (Sept. 30)
  • Taylor Booth (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - Injured, DNP in 2-0 loss vs. Almere City (Sept. 30)
  • Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italian Serie B) - 80 minutes in 3-1 win at Modena (Sept. 30); 68 minutes in 3-1 loss vs. Palermo (Sept. 26)
  • Drake Callender (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. New York City FC (Sept. 30); 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Houston Dynamo in Open Cup final (Sept. 27)
  • Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; Brazilian Serie A) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-0 loss at Atletico Mineiro (Sept. 30); 45 minutes in 2-2 draw at Fluminense (Sept. 27)
  • Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - Injured, DNP in 2-0 win at Motherwell (Sept. 30)
  • Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; MLS) - 30 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw at Minnesota United (Sept. 30)
  • Ben Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF; MLS) 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. New York City FC (Sept. 30); 84 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Houston Dynamo in Open Cup final (Sept. 27)
  • Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - In 18, DNP in in 3-1 win vs. Volendam (Sept. 30); Not in 18, DNP in 3-0 win vs. Go Ahead Eagles (Sept. 27)
  • Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo, Spain La Liga) - 68 minutes, RED CARD, in 1-1 draw vs. Deportivo Alaves (Sept. 28)
  • Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; MLS) - 89 minutes in 0-0 draw at Houston Dynamo (Sept. 30); 22 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw at Philadelphia Union (Sept. 27)
  • Julian Gressel (Columbus Crew; MLS) - 80 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Philadelphia Union (Sept. 30)
  • Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest; English Premier League) - Not in 18, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Brentford (Oct. 1)
  • Sean Johnson (Toronto FC: MLS) – Injured, DNP in 3-2 loss vs. FC Cincinnati (Sept. 30)
  • DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution; MLS) - 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 2-1 win vs. Charlotte FC (Sept. 30)
  • Kristoffer Lund (Palmero; Italy Serie B) - 59 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Südtirol (Oct. 1); 64 minutes in 3-1 win at Venezia (Sept. 26)
  • Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 84 minutes in 0-0 draw at Atalanta (Oct. 1); 87 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Lecce (Sept. 26)
  • Mark McKenzie (Genk; Belgian Pro League) - Injured, DNP in 3-3 draw vs. Westerlo (Oct. 1); Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw at Club Brugge (Sept. 28)
  • Djordje Mihailovic (AZ Alkmaar; Dutch Eredivisie) - 7 minutes as a substitute in 4-0 win vs. Fortuna Sittard (Oct. 1); In 18, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Heracles (Sept. 28)
  • Shaq Moore (Nashville SC; MLS) - 70 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Seattle Sounders (Sept. 30)
  • Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; MLS) - 60 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Philadelphia Union (Sept. 30)
  • Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; MLS) - Not in 18, DNP in 0-0 draw at Nashville SC (Sept. 30)
  • Yunus Musah (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - 61 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 win vs. Lazio (Sept. 30); 31 minutes as a substitute in 3-1 win at Cagliari (Sept. 27)
  • Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy; MLS) - Injured, DNP in 3-3 draw vs. Portland Timbers (Sept. 30)
  • Erik Palmer-Brown (Panathinaikos; Greek Super League) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-2 draw vs PAOK (Oct. 1); 45 minutes in 4-1 win at Asteras Tripolis (Sept. 28); In 18, DNP in 2-1 loss vs. AEK Athens (Sept. 25)
  • Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - 11 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 win vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (Sept. 30)
  • Jordan Pefok (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 64 minutes, ASSIST, in 3-1 win at Bochum (Sept. 30)
  • Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 20 minutes as a substitute in 3-1 win vs. Volendam (Sept. 30); 13 minutes as a substitute in 3-0 win vs. Go Ahead Eagles (Sept. 27)
  • Christian Pulisic (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - 82 minutes, GOAL, in 2-0 win vs. Lazio (Sept. 30); 69 minutes, ASSIST, in 3-1 win at Cagliari (Sept. 27)
  • Tim Ream (Fulham; English Premier League) - Vs. Chelsea (Monday, 3 p.m. ET); 7 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win vs. Norwich City in Carabao Cup (Sept. 27)
  • Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; Bundesliga) - In 18, DNP in 3-1 win in Hoffenheim (Sept. 29)
  • Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 3-3 draw at Genk (Oct. 1)
  • Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - 2 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win at Manchester United (Sept. 30); 90 minutes in 3-0 loss at Manchester United in Carabao Cup (Sept. 26)
  • Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) - Vs. Chelsea (Monday, 3 p.m. ET); 21 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win vs. Norwich City in Carabao Cup (Sept. 27)
  • Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; MLS) - No game
  • James Sands (New York City FC; MLS) – 90 minutes 1-1 draw at Inter Miami CF (Sept. 30)
  • Josh Sargent (Norwich City; Championship) - Injured, DNP in 2-0 win vs. Birmingham City (Sept. 30); Injured, DNP in 2-1 loss at Fulham in Carabao Cup (Sept. 27)
  • Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 18 minutes as a substitute in 3-1 win at Bochum (Sept. 30)
  • Gaga Slonina (Eupen; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 3-1 loss vs. Anderlecht (Sept. 30)
  • Tanner Tessmann (Venezia; Italy Serie B) - 90 minutes in 3-1 win at Modena (Sept. 30); 90 minutes in 3-1 loss vs. Palermo (Sept. 26)
  • Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 90 minutes, GOAL, ASSIST, in 3-1 win vs. Volendam (Sept. 30); 22 minutes as a substitute in 3-0 win vs. Go Ahead Eagles (Sept. 27)
  • Timmy Tillman (Los Angeles FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss to Real Salt Lake (Oct. 1); 13 minutes as a substitute in 0-0 draw vs. Tigres (4-2 PK loss) in Campeones Cup final (Sept. 27)
  • John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Chicago Fire (Sept. 30)
  • Auston Trusty (Sheffield; English Premier League) - 11 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 win at West Ham United (Sept. 30)
  • Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Brentford (Oct. 1)
  • Brandon Vazquez (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - 90 minutes, TWO GOALS, in 3-2 win at Toronto FC (Sept. 30)
  • Tim Weah (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 6 minutes as a substitute in 0-0 draw at Atalanta (Oct. 1); 3 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win vs. Lecce (Sept. 26)
  • Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United; MLS - No game
  • Haji Wright (Coventry City; English Premier League) - 11 minutes in 3-1 win at Queens Park Rangers (Sept. 30); 20 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw vs. Huddersfield Town (Sept. 25)
  • DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - Not in 18, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. New York City FC (Sept. 30); 76 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Houston Dynamo in Open Cup final (Sept. 27)
  • Alex Zendejas (Club America; Liga MX) - 25 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win vs. Pumas UNAM (Sept. 30)
  • Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Seattle Sounders (Sept. 30)