On the Pitch

USMNT REWIND: Nine Americans Score in Productive Week

Nine members of the U.S. Men's National Team wrote their names on the scoresheet in quality and quantity last week.

They combined for an impressive 13 goals on either side of the Atlantic in one of the most productive weeks in recent memory for the USMNT pool.

Jordan Pefok led the way with three tallies in two matches. Haji Wright bagged a brace and Jordan Morris hit the back of the net in consecutive playoff matches. Gianluca Busio, Jesús Ferreira, Ricardo Pepi, Kevin Paredes, Malik Tillman, and Alejandro Zendejas also contributed one goal apiece.

ON TARGET

Jordan Pefok enjoyed a memorable week for Borussia Mönchengladbach, scoring three goals. He started off with a brace in a 3-1 home victory over Heidenheim in the DFB Pokal on Tuesday, Oct. 31. He struck quickly, boosting the hosts into a two-goal advantage with goals in the third and ninth minutes.

On Saturday, Nov. 4, he again struck for Borussia's first goal, tying the match at 1-1 off Lucas Holer's header pass at Freiburg in the 25th minute. He then won a penalty kick by being fouled in the box as Julian Weigl converted the spot kick in the 39th minute. However, the 27-year-old forward was forced from the game four minutes later with an adductor injury. Pefok has four goals and two assists in 11 matches across all competitions this season.

GAME WINNER

Gianluca Busio's second goal of the season was enough for Venezia in its 1-0 victory at Ternana on Saturday, Nov. 4. On a counterattack in the 74th minute, Busio buried Dennis Johnsen's pass into the bottom right corner for the only score of the match. Venezia, which has won four of its last five matches, is in second place in Italy's Serie B.

SECOND-HALF HEROES

Malik Tillman and Ricardo Pepi entered the match inl the second half and made an impact in PSV's 6-0 road triumph at 10-man Heracles on Saturday, Nov. 4. Only 10 minutes after coming on, Tillman scored after taking a pass from Joey Veerman for his fourth of the Dutch Eredivisie season for a 3-0 margin.

Pepi entered the match on the hour before he assisted on Andre Silva’s tally nine minutes later for a 4-0 advantage. The former FC Dallas standout continued his production as a high-scoring super sub by finding the net for the final goal in the 90th minute. Pepi has three goals in 130 minutes in league play for first-place PSV.

WRIGHT'S ON

Haji Wright had the first and last words for Coventry City, but it wasn't enough in a 3-2 defeat at Preston North End in English Premier League action on Saturday, Nov. 4. He gave City a 1-0 lead, scoring from close range in the 34th minute before the hosts stormed back with three consecutive goals. Wright connected for his fourth tally of the campaign to pull City within one in the 83rd minute.

FIRST GOAL

Kevin Paredes could not have picked a better time to score his first goal of the Bundesliga season in Wolfsburg's 2-2 home draw with Werder Bremen on Sunday, Nov. 5. Paredes gave Wolfsburg a 2-1 edge in the 59th minute off a Lovro Majer assist.

STARTING IT OFF

Alejandro Zendejas sparked Club America to a 3-0 win over Tijuana as he scored the first goal in the 73rd minute in the Liga MX encounter on Saturday, Nov. 4. Zendejas put in Henry Martin's feed for his fifth goal of the season for first-place America.

PLAYOFF SHOWDOWN

Jesús Ferreira and Jordan Morris are doing their best to ensure their respective teams will reach the MLS Eastern Conference semifinals. Morris scored in both games of the Seattle Sounders' first-round series with FC Dallas. He helped Seattle to a 2-0 home victory by collecting the insurance goal off an assist by Nouhou Tolo in Game One in the 74th minute on Monday, Oct. 30.

In Game Two on Saturday, Nov. 4, FC Dallas knotted the series at 1-1 as Ferreira tallied his first postseason goal of his career. He converted an 18th-minute penalty kick to give the hosts a two-goal advantage en route to a 3-1 win. FC Dallas is 9-1-0 in 2023 MLS action when Ferreira scores. Morris sliced the lead in half with an unassisted goal in the 48th minute. The teams will meet in the deciding match in Seattle on Friday, Nov. 10.

HELPING OUT

Johnny Cardoso set up Internacional’s second goal of its 2-1 victory at Cruzeiro in Brazilian Serie A on Sunday, Nov. 5. He assisted Wanderson's 52nd-minute score, which gave the visitors a two-goal advantage.

THE PENALTY PHASE

He didn't score during regulation, but striker Brandon Vazquez converted a vital penalty kick during the shootout to boost FC Cincinnati to the Eastern Conference semifinals of the MLS Cup Playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 4.

The Supporters' Shield winners won the 10-round marathon tie-breaker, 8-7, after playing to a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. Vazquez connected on FC Cincy's fourth attempt.

On the other side of the ledger, left back John Tolkin, who put away a dramatic late penalty kick to lift the Red Bulls into the postseason in a 1-0 win at Nashville SC on Oct. 21, fired his try off the post. Cincinnati will meet the winner of the Philadelphia Union-New England Revolution series.

MOVING ON

Kellyn Acosta and Timmy Tillman will get an opportunity to compete in the Western Conference semifinals of the MLS playoffs after Los Angeles FC eliminated the Vancouver Whitecaps in two games in the best-of-three first round series.

LAFC defeated the host Whitecaps, 1-0, on Sunday, Nov. 5, after registering a 5-2 triumph in the opening match. LAFC will play the winner of the Seattle-Dallas series.

AARONSON DERBY

In the first meeting between the Aaronson brothers, Paxten's Eintracht Frankfurt's side registered a 3-0 win at Union Berlin on Saturday, Nov. 4. Neither player had much time to make an impact. Brenden came on as a substitute in the 83rd minute, and Paxten entered the match two minutes later.

As a substitute in the 2-0 win over Viktoria Köln in the DFB Pokal on Wednesday, Nov. 1, Paxten came in the 82nd minute and picked up an assist on Ansgar Knauff's goal eight minutes later.

FULL RUNDOWN

  • Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin; Bundesliga) - 7 minutes as a substitute in a 3-0 loss vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (Nov. 4); 18 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 loss at Stuttgart in DFB Pokal (Oct. 31)
  • Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt; Bundesliga) - 5 minutes as a substitute in 3-0 win at Union Berlin (Nov. 4); 8 minutes as a substitute, ASSIST, in 2-0 win at Viktoria Koln in DFB Pokal (Nov. 1)
  • Kellyn Acosta (Los Angeles FC; MLS) 90 minutes in 1-0. Vancouver Whitecaps (Nov. 5)
  • Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth; English Premier League) - Injured, DNP in 6-1 loss vs. Manchester United (Nov. 4); Injured, DNP in 2-1 loss vs. Liverpool (Nov. 1)
  • Folarin Balogun (Monaco; French Ligue 1) - 81 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Brest (Nov. 5)
  • Taylor Booth (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - 61 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Twente (Nov. 5); 64 minutes in 3-2 win vs. RKC Waalwijk in KNVB Beker (Oct. 31)
  • Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italian Serie B) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 1-0 win at Ternana (Nov. 4)
  • Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; Brazilian Serie A) - 87 minutes, ASSIST, in 2-1 win at Cruzeiro (Nov. 5)
  • Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 3-0 win at Ross County (Nov. 4); Not in 18, DNP in 3-1 win vs. St. Mirren (Nov. 1)
  • Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 60 minutes in 6-0 win at Heracles (Nov. 4)
  • Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo, Spain La Liga) - Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Sevilla (Nov. 4)
  • Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; MLS) - 84 minutes, GOAL, in 3-1 win vs. Seattle Sounders in MLS Cup Playoffs (Nov. 4); 90 minutes in 2-0 loss Seattle Sounders in MLS Cup Playoffs (Oct. 30)
  • Julian Gressel (Columbus Crew; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Atlanta United in MLS Cup Playoffs (Nov. 1)
  • Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest; English Premier League) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-0 win vs. Aston Villa (Nov. 5)
  • DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution; MLS) - No game
  • Kristoffer Lund (Palmero; Italy Serie B) - 79 minutes in 1-0 loss at Sampdoria (Nov. 4)
  • Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim; Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Stuttgart (Nov. 5); 45 minutes in 3-1 loss at Borussia Mönchengladbach in DFB Pokal (Oct. 31)
  • Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win at Fiorentina (Nov. 5)
  • Mark McKenzie (Genk; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 3-2 loss at Antwerp (Nov. 4); 90 minutes in 4-0 win at URSL Vise in Belgian Cup (Nov. 1)
  • Djordje Mihailovic (AZ Alkmaar; Dutch Eredivisie) - In 18, DNP in 1-1 draw at Excelsior (Nov. 4)
  • Shaq Moore (Nashville SC; MLS) - 86 minutes in 1-0 loss at Orlando City in MLS Cup Playoffs (Oct. 30)
  • Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Atlanta United in MLS Cup Playoffs (Nov. 1)
  • Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; MLS) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 3-1 loss at FC Dallas in MLS Cup Playoffs (Nov. 4); 83 minutes, GOAL, in 2-0 win vs. FC Dallas in MLS Cup Playoffs (Oct. 30)
  • Yunus Musah (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - 45 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Udinese (Nov. 4)
  • Erik Palmer-Brown (Panathinaikos; Greek Super League) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 loss at Lamia (Nov. 4)
  • Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - 84 minutes, GOAL, in 2-2 draw vs. Werder Bremen (Nov. 5); 25 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win vs. RB Leipzig in DFB Pokal (Oct. 31)
  • Jordan Pefok (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 43 minutes, GOAL, in 3-3 draw at Freiburg (Nov. 4); 65 minutes, TWO GOALS, in 3-1 win vs. Heidenheim in DFB Pokal (Oct. 31)
  • Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 30 minutes as a substitute, GOAL, ASSIST, in 6-0 win at Heracles (Nov. 4)
  • Christian Pulisic (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - Injured, DNP in 1-0 loss vs. Udinese (Nov. 4)
  • Tim Ream (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Manchester United (Nov. 4); In 18, DNP in 3-1 win at Ipswich Town in League Cup (Nov. 1)
  • Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; Bundesliga) - In 18, DNP in 4-0 loss vs. Bayern Munich (Nov. 4); 70 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Hoffenheim in DFB Pokal (Nov. 1)
  • Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win at OH Leuven (Nov. 4); 90 minutes in 3-1 loss at SK Beveren in Belgian Cup (Nov. 1)
  • Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - 4 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 win at Burnley (Nov. 4)
  • Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Manchester United (Nov. 4); In 18, DNP in 3-1 win at Ipswich Town in League Cup (Nov. 1)
  • Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Columbus Crew in MLS Cup Playoffs (Nov. 1)
  • Josh Sargent (Norwich City; Championship) - Injured, DNP in 3-1 loss at Blackburn Rovers (Nov. 5)
  • Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 3-3 draw at Freiburg (Nov. 4); 90 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Heidenheim in DFB Pokal (Oct. 31)
  • Gaga Slonina (Eupen; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Sint-Truiden (Nov. 3); 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at KV Oostende (Oct. 31)
  • Tanner Tessmann (Venezia; Italy Serie B) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win at Ternana (Nov. 4)
  • Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 36 minutes as a substitute, GOAL, in 6-0 win at Heracles (Nov. 4)
  • Timmy Tillman (Los Angeles FC; MLS) - 80 minutes in 1-0 win at Vancouver Whitecaps (Nov. 5)
  • John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. FC Cincinnati in MLS Cup Playoffs (lost in in PKs, 8-7) (Nov. 4)
  • Auston Trusty (Sheffield; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers (Nov. 4)
  • Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 2-0 win vs. Aston Villa (Nov. 5)
  • Brandon Vazquez (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. New York Red Bulls in MLS Cup Playoffs (won in PKs, 8-7) (Nov. 4)
  • Tim Weah (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - Injured, DNP in 1-0 win at Fiorentina (Nov. 5)
  • Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Columbus Crew in MLS Cup Playoffs (Nov. 1)
  • Haji Wright (Coventry City; English Premier League) - 90 minutes, TWO GOALS, in 3-2 loss at Preston North End (Nov. 4); 77 minutes in 2-0 loss vs West Bromwich Albion (Oct. 30)
  • Alejandro Zendejas (Club America; Liga MX) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 3-0 win vs. Tijuana (Nov. 4); 90 minutes in 1-0 win at Atletico San Luis (Nov. 1)
  • Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Orlando City in MLS Cup Playoffs (Oct. 30)

Go Deeper

Jordan PefokHaji WrightJordan MorrisGianluca BusioJesus FerreiraRicardo PepiKevin ParedesMalik TillmanAlejandro ZendejasMNT