One of the themes of the first week of the new year for U.S. Men's National Team players was better late than never.
Tim Weah tallied his very first goal for Juventus in stoppage time in a Coppa Italia victory. Christian Pulisic didn't find the net, but set up teammates in goals late in AC Milan wins in the Serie A and Coppa Italia action.
In other highlights, the team of several USMNT players advanced in their domestic competitions.
WEAH TO GO
Not only did Tim Weah score his first goal for Juventus in any competition, but he also accomplished it in a spectacular way to put an exclamation point on the Serie A team's 6-1 rout of Salernitana in the third round of Coppa Italia on Thursday, Jan. 4.
Weah, who entered the match for Samuel Iling-Junior in the 66th minute, took a pass from Manuel Locatelli and raced through the middle of the defense. He then powered a 28-yard rocket that hit the inside of the crossbar and went past goalkeeper Vincenzo Fiorillo in injury time. It was Weah's 18th appearance across all competitions for Juve.
He last found the net in a match in the USMNT's 3-0 friendly win over Uzbekistan on Sept. 9. Juventus (14-1-4, 46 points) trails leader Inter Milan (15-1-3, 48) in the league. USA teammate Weston McKennie, who was on the bench, did not play in the game.
Juve will host Frosinone in the quarterfinals on Thursday, Jan. 11.
By a scheduling coincidence, the two teams met again in Serie A three days later on Sunday, Jan. 7, as Juventus registered a 2-1 victory.
PILING UP THE POINTS
For the second time in a week, Christian Pulisic kept his contributions in an AC Milan victory at the end of the contest.
On Tuesday, Jan. 2, the forward came off the bench in the 71st minute before assisting on Rafael Leao’s score a minute into added time, as Milan rolled to a 6-1 win over Cagliari in the Round of 16 of Coppa Italia. Pulisic took possession of the ball in midfield, before finding Rafael Leao, who curled a right-footed shot into the bottom-right corner. Milan will host Atalanta in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
On Sunday, Jan. 7 he set up Chaka Traore’s goal with a spectacular box-to-box run that sealed a 3-0 win at Empoli in a Serie A encounter.
Milan cleared an Empoli corner kick. The ball went to the hosts’ Nicolo Cambiaghi, who fired a shot that bounded off Traore to Pulisic. He took control of the ball in atop penalty area before embarking on a 2-on-1 break with Traore, with two Empoli players trailing. Pulisic sent a pass to Traore on his left side and the 19-year-old curled a right-footed, 17-yard shot past goalkeeper Elia Caprile for the final goal.
Pulisic, who played the full 90 minutes, has recorded a point in seven of his last eight matches across all competitions. He has tallied six goals and five assists in 17 Serie A games. Pulisic has seven goals and six goals across all competitions for third-place Milan (12-4-3, 39).
THEY'RE MOVING ON
Several USMNT players will continue to have an opportunity to vie for trophies after their teams emerged victorious in their domestic cup competitions.
FA Cup
Defender Antonee Robinson played eight minutes off the bench in Fulham's 1-0 home win over Rotherham United in the third round on Thursday, Jan. 4. Team captain Tim Ream, who is sporting a calf injury, did not suit up for that match. The fourth round is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 27.
Striker Haji Wright did not suit up, as Coventry City rolled to a 6-2 triumph at home against Oxford United on Saturday, Jan. 6.
Defender Auston Trusty also did not dress for Sheffield United in its 4-0 win at Gillingham on Saturday, Jan. 6.
Midfielder Tyler Adams remained on the sidelines with his hamstring injury and did not play in Bournemouth's in 3-2 victory at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, Jan. 6.
Copa Del Rey
Midfielder Luca de la Torre started and played 78 minutes for Celta Vigo in its 4-2 win in a Round of 32 match at Amorebieta on Sunday, Jan. 7. The Round of 16 is set for Jan. 17, followed by the quarterfinals on Jan. 24.
Coupe de France
Forward Folarin Balogun played 68 minutes for Monaco in its 2-2 draw at Lens in the Round of 32 as it advanced moved on after winning the shootout, 6-5, on Sunday, Jan. 7.
REPLAYING IT AGAIN, SAM
Unlike many competitions that have tied cup matches decided by penalty kicks, England's FA Cup traditionally holds replays of earlier match games. So, several USA players and their teams face another game in their quest to advance in the competition. The third-round replays are set for Jan. 16-17.
Forward Josh Sargent started his first game since his ankle injury, playing the opening 45 minutes in Norwich City's 1-1 home draw with the Bristol Rovers on Saturday, Jan. 6. He came close to scoring his second goal since his return, but goalkeeper Matthew Cox denied him at the near post in the 19th minute. On Monday, Jan. 1, he scored the equalizer as a second-half substitute in a 1-1 home tie with Southampton in English Championship action.
Defender Chris Richards played 90 minutes in a 0-0 home draw with Everton on Thursday, Jan. 4.
Goalkeepers Matt Turner and Ethan Horvath did not see any action in Nottingham Forest's 2-2 draw with Blackpool on Sunday, Jan. 7. Turner was on the bench and Horvath did not dress.
BACK IN ACTION
Midfielder Yunus Musah returned to play for AC Milan in Italy's Serie A on Sunday, Jan. 7 after missing four matches with a muscle issue. Musah, 21, who replaced Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the 70th minute, saw his first action since Dec. 13.
In a special moment for forward Daryl Dike, the former Orlando City man returned to action for West Brom for the first time since suffering an Achilles injury last spring, and provided a 27th minute goal in the team’s 4-1 FA Cup win over Aldershot Town.
FULL RUNDOWN
- Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin; Bundesliga) – 85 minutes, GOAL, in 2-0 friendly win against DSC Arminia Bielefeld (Jan. 6)
- Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt; Bundesliga) - No games
- Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth; English Premier League) - Injured, DNP in 3-2 win at Queens Park Rangers in FA Cup (Jan. 6)
- Folarin Balogun (Monaco; French Ligue 1) - 68 minutes in 2-2 draw (6-5 PK winners) at Lens in Coupe de France (Jan. 7)
- Taylor Booth (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - No games
- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italian Serie B) – No games
- Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis; Spain La Liga) - Not in 18, DNP in 1-0 loss at Alaves in Copa Del Rey (Jan. 6); Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 loss at Celta Vigo (Jan. 3)
- Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - Injured, DNP in 3-0 win at St. Mirren (Jan. 2)
- Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - No games
- Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo, Spain La Liga) - 78 minutes in 4-2 win at Amorebieta in Copa Del Rey (Jan. 7); 16 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win vs. Real Betis (Jan. 3)
- Daryl Dike (West Bromwich Albion, EFL Championship) – 45 minutes, GOAL, in 4-1 FA Cup win against Aldershot Town (Jan. 7)
- Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest; English Premier League) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-2 draw vs. Blackpool in FA Cup (Jan. 7)
- Kristoffer Lund (Palmero; Italy Serie B) - No games
- Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim; Bundesliga) - No games
- Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Salernitana (Jan. 7); In 18, DNP in 6-1 win vs. Salernitana in Coppa Italia (Jan. 4)
- Mark McKenzie (Genk; Belgian Pro League) - No games
- Djordje Mihailovic (AZ Alkmaar; Dutch Eredivisie) - No games
- Yunus Musah (AC Milan; Italy Serie A) - 20 minutes as a substitute in 3-0 win at Empoli (Jan. 7); Injured, DNP in 4-1 win vs. Cagliari in Coppa Italia (Jan. 2)
- Erik Palmer-Brown (Panathinaikos; Greek Super League) - No games
- Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - No games
- Jordan Pefok (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) – No games
- Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - No games
- Christian Pulisic (AC Milan; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 3-0 win at Empoli (Jan. 7); 19 minutes as a substitute, ASSIST, in 4-1 win vs. Cagliari in Coppa Italia (Jan. 2)
- Tim Ream (Fulham; English Premier League) - Injured, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Rotherham United in F.A. Cup (Jan. 4)
- Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; Bundesliga) - No games
- Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo; Belgian Pro League) - No games
- Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Everton in FA Cup (Jan. 4)
- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) - 8 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win vs. Rotherham United in F.A. Cup (Jan. 4)
- Josh Sargent (Norwich City; Championship) - 45 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Bristol Rovers (Jan. 6)
- Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - No games
- Gaga Slonina (Eupen; Belgian Pro League) - No games
- Tanner Tessmann (Venezia; Italy Serie B) - No games
- Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - No games
- Auston Trusty (Sheffield; English Premier League) - Not in 18, DNP in 4-0 win at Gillingham in F.A. Cup (Jan. 6)
- Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 2-2 draw vs. Blackpool in FA Cup (Jan. 7)
- Tim Weah (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Salernitana (Jan. 7); 24 minutes, GOAL, as a substitute in 6-1 win vs. Salernitana in Coppa Italia (Jan. 4)
- Haji Wright (Coventry City; English Championship) - Not in 18, DNP in 6-2 win vs. Oxford United in F.A. Cup (Jan. 6)
- Alejandro Zendejas (Club America; Liga MX) - No games