Members of the U.S. Men's National Team player pool filled the net and then some this past week, with ten players combining for 10 goals and three assists.
In Italy, Christian Pulisic led the way with a rare and spectacular Olimpico goal in the UEFA Champions League for AC Milan. Tim Weah and Weston McKennie played their roles to perfection, recording a goal and two assists (respectively) in Juventus' wild draw at Inter Milan.
Ricardo Pepi struck not once, but twice for PSV Eindhoven in a big Dutch Eredivisie win, while teammate Malik Tillman also joined the party with a goal.
In England, Haji Wright performed his goal-scoring heroics early and late in two matches for Coventry City in the English Championship. Brendan Aaronson scored what turned out to be the winning goal to propel Leeds United to a win. Josh Sargent recorded an assist for the second successive contest for Norwich City. And while he did not figure in the scoring, AFC Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams made his first appearance since Copa America.
Cade Cowell and Alejandro Zendejas also found the net south of the Rio Grande for their respective clubs, Guadalajara and Club America, in Liga MX.
WHAT A GOAL!
Christian Pulisic continued his remarkable start to the Serie A season in another spectacular way on Tuesday, Oct. 29. The AC Milan man scored an Olimpico goal for his club in its 3-1 win over Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League at the San Siro. Pulisic curled a corner kick into the Belgian club’s net from the left corner flag in the 34th minute to give the hosts a 1-0 advantage. Pulisic has tallied seven goals and recorded three assists across all competitions for the Serie A side. After losing to Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen, the victory was Milan’s first win in the UCL.
EARLY AND LATE
In a matter of days, Haji Wright demonstrated he could score goals early and late for his English Championship club, Coventry City. On Tuesday, Oct. 22, Wright connected in the fourth minute in what turned into a 1-1 draw at Queens Park Rangers. On Saturday, Oct. 26, the 26-year-old forward slammed home a rebound a minute into second-half stoppage time to finish Coventry's comeback from a two-goal deficit en route to a 3-2 home victory over Luton Town. Wright has five goals for 18th-place Coventry (3-6-3, 18 points), which climbed out of the relegation zone.
AMERICANS ON ATTACK
Tim Weah (a goal) and Weston McKennie (two assists) were involved in three goals in Juventus' wild 4-4 tie at Inter Milan on Sunday, Oct. 27. McKennie's short pass to Dusan Vlahovic equalized to make it 1-1 in the 20th minute. Weah scored his second goal with the Bianconeri to give the visitors a 2-1 lead, slotting home a Francisco Conceição feed from close range in the 26th minute. McKennie helped ignite Juve's comeback from a 4-2 deficit in the 71st minute, setting up the first of two Kenan Yıldız's goals against the defending champions. Unbeaten Juventus (4-0-5, 17) is in third place, trailing leader Napoli (7-1-1, 22) and second place Inter (5-1-3, 18).
BAGGING A BRACE AGAIN
Ricardo Pepi certainly is making his minutes count when he starts for PSV Eindhoven. He has started two matches for the Dutch Eredivisie leaders this season, and both times he has secured a brace. The 21-year-old forward struck on either side of halftime in the team's 6-0 home victory over PEC Zwolle on Friday, Oct. 26. Pepi tallied a side volley in the ninth minute to give PSV a 1-0 lead. He added his second in the 58th minute, eight minutes after Malik Tillman's header had given the hosts a 3-0 lead. In his other start this season, Pepi scored twice in a 2-0 win at Willem II on Sept. 28. Pepi has scored five goals over nine games and 340 minutes this season, only two off his seven goals during the 2023-24 campaign (27 games, 459 minutes). Tillman has five goals.
PSV is off to another quick start at 10-0-0 and 30 points, outscoring its opposition, 35-6, and leading second-place Utrecht (7-1-1, 22) by eight points.
GOAL NO. 1
Alejandro Zendejas tallied his first goal of the season in his seventh start and ninth game for Club America in its 2-2 draw at Tijuana in Liga MX on Wednesday, Oct. 23. He put home Henry Martin's assist to give the visitors a 1-0 edge in the 35th minute. America (5-5-3, 18) is 10th place in Liga MX.
OFF THE BENCH
Cade Cowell came on at halftime and started Guadalajara to a 3-2 comeback win over Puebla in Liga MX on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Only five minutes after replacing Omar Govea, Cowell put in a Mateo Chávez feed for the equalizer and a 1-1 deadlock and his fourth goal of the season. Guadalajara (5-5-3 18) is in seventh place.
GAME-WINNER
Brendan Aaronson scored his third goal of the English Championship campaign to help Leeds United to a 2-1 victory over Watford on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Only three minutes after Largie Ramazani had given the hosts the lead in the fourth minute, Aaronson tallied from 12 yards for a two-goal advantage. Leeds (6-1-5, 23) sits in third place, five points behind first-place Sunderland (9-2-1, 28).
HELPING OUT
Better known for his goal-scoring, Josh Sargent recorded an assist for the second successive match for Norwich City in its 2-2 tie at Preston North End on Tuesday, Oct. 27 in the English Championship. He assisted on Shane's Duffy's tying goal in the 61st minute. He also set up a goal in the Canaries' 1-1 draw at Stoke City on Oct. 19. Interestingly, Sargent, who has four goals after last year's career-high 16-goal season, did not register a point in Norwich City's 3-3 deadlock with Middlesbrough on Sunday, Oct. 27. Norwich City (4-2-6, 18) is in eighth place, 10 points behind leader Sunderland.
TYLER'S BACK
Midfielder Tyler Adams made his first appearance since the Copa America on Saturday, Oct. 26, coming off the bench to help AFC Bournemouth to a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa in the English Premier League. Adams, who captained the United States at the 2022 World Cup, came on as a substitute in place of Ryan Christie in the 81st minute at Villa Park in his season debut. The 25-year-old defensive midfielder had been sidelined since late July after undergoing back surgery. Bournemouth (3-3-3, 12) sits in 11th place in the EPL.
FULL RUNDOWN
-- Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at Bristol City (Oct. 26); 90 minutes, GOAL, in 2-1 win vs. Watford (Oct. 22)
-- Paxten Aaronson (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - 90 minutes in 2-0 loss vs. Feyenoord (Oct. 27)
-- Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth; English Premier League) – 9 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw at Aston Villa (Oct. 26)
-- Folarin Balogun (Monaco; French Ligue 1) – Injured, DNP in 2-1 loss at Nice (Oct. 27); Injured, DNP in 5-1 win vs. Red Star Belgrade in UCL (Oct. 22)
-- Taylor Booth (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - 74 minutes in 2-0 loss vs. Feyenoord (Oct. 27)
-- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italian Serie A) – 90 minutes in 2-2 draw at Monza (Oct. 27)
-- Drake Callender (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Atlanta United in MLS Cup Playoffs (Oct. 25)
-- Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis; Spain La Liga) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Atletico Madrid (Oct. 27); 81 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. FC Copenhagen in UEFA Conference League (Oct. 24)
-- Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 22 minutes as a substitute in 3-0 win at Motherwell (Oct. 27); Injured, DNP in 0-0 draw at Atalanta in UCL (Oct. 23)
-- Cade Cowell (Guadalajara; Liga MX) - 74 minutes in 1-0 loss at Puebla (Oct. 25); 45 minutes as a substitute, GOAL, in 3-2 win vs. Necaxa (Oct. 22)
-- Ben Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - 22 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win vs. Atlanta United in MLS Cup Playoffs (Oct. 25)
-- Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - Injured, DNP in 6-0 win vs. PEC Zwolle (Oct. 26); Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw at Paris Saint-Germain in UCL (Oct. 22)
-- Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo, Spain La Liga) - Injured, DNP in 3-0 loss at Leganes (Oct. 27)
-- Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege; Belgian Pro League) - 84 minutes in 3-0 loss at Antwerp (Oct. 27)
-- Julian Gressel (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - In 18, DNP in 2-1 win vs. Atlanta United in MLS Cup Playoffs (Oct. 25)
-- Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City; Championship) - In 18, DNP in 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion (Oct. 26); In 18, DNP in 2-0 win over Portsmouth (Oct. 22)
-- DeJuan Jones (Columbus Crew; MLS) – No games
-- Richy Ledezma (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - In 18, DNP in 6-0 win vs. PEC Zwolle (Oct. 26); 6 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw at Paris Saint-Germain (Oct. 22)
-- Kristoffer Lund (Palmero; Italy Serie B) - 18 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 win vs. Reggiana (Oct. 26)
- Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim; Bundesliga) - Not in 18, DNP in 0-0 draw at Hoffenheim (Oct. 27; 13 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win at PAFOS in UEFA Conference League (Oct. 24)
-- Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 83 minutes, TWO ASSISTS, in 4-4 draw at Inter Milan (Oct. 27); 55 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Stuttgart in UCL (Oct. 22)
-- Mark McKenzie (Toulouse; French Ligue 1) - 90 minutes in 3-0 win at Montpellier (Oct. 27)
-- Djordje Mihailovic (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - Injured, DNP in 5-0 loss at LA Galaxy in MLS Cup Playoffs (Oct. 26)
-- Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough; Championship) - 89 minutes in 3-3 draw at Norwich City (Oct. 27); 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Sheffield United (Oct. 23)
-- Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; MLS) - Vs. Houston Dynamo in MLS Cup Playoffs (Monday, 8:50 p.m. ET)
-- Yunus Musah (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - 15 minutes as a substitute in 3-1 in vs. Club Brugge in UCL (Oct. 22)
-- Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy; MLS) – 10 minutes as a substitute in 5-0 win vs. Colorado Rapids in MLS Cup Playoffs (Oct. 26)
-- Erik Palmer-Brown (Panathinaikos; Greek Super League) - Not in 18, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Arris (Oct. 27); Not in 18, DNP in 4-1 loss vs. Chelsea in UEFA Conference League (Oct. 24)
-- Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 0-0 draw at St. Pauli (Oct. 26)
-- Jordan Pefok (Union Berlin; Bundesliga) - 25 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (Oct. 27)
-- Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 90 minutes, TWO GOALS, in 6-0 win vs. PEC Zwolle (Oct. 26); 18, DNP 1-1 draw at Paris Saint-Germain in UCL (Oct. 22)
-- Christian Pulisic (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes, GOAL, as a substitute in 3-1 in vs. Club Brugge in UCL (Oct. 22)
-- Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Orlando City in MLS Cup Playoffs (Oct. 27)
-- Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 2-1 loss at Augsburg (Oct. 26); Injured, DNP in 5-2 loss at Real Madrid in UCL (Oct. 22)
-- Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo; Belgian Pro League) - 65 minutes in 2-0 loss at Sint-Truiden (Oct. 26)
-- Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - Injured, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Tottenham (Oct. 27); Injured, DNP in 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest (Oct. 21)
-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Everton (Oct. 26)
-- Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - Vs. New York City FC in MLS Cup Playoffs (Monday, 6:45 p.m. ET)
-- James Sands (New York City FC; MLS) - At FC Cincinnati in MLS Cup Playoffs (Monday, 6:45 p.m. ET)
-- Josh Sargent (Norwich City; Championship) - 89 minutes in 3-3 draw vs. Middlesbrough (Oct. 27); 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 2-2 draw at Preston North End (Oct. 22);
-- Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 89 minutes in 1-1 draw at Mainz (Oct. 25)
-- Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; MLS) - No games
-- Gaga Slonina (Barnsley; English League One) - In 18, DNP in 2-0 win at Shrewsbury Town (Oct. 26); 90 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. Charlton Athletic (Oct. 22)
-- Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 90 minutes in 5-0 loss at LA Galaxy in MLS Cup Playoffs (Oct. 26)
-- Tanner Tessmann (Lyon; French Ligue 1) – 65 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Besiktas in UEFA Europa League (Oct. 24)
-- Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 6-0 win vs. PEC Zwolle (Oct. 26); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Paris Saint-Germain in UCL (Oct. 22)
-- Timmy Tillman (Los Angeles FC; MLS) – 81 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS Cup Playoffs (Oct. 27)
-- John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; MLS) - No games
-- Auston Trusty (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 3-0 win at Motherwell (Oct. 27); 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at Atalanta in UCL (Oct. 23)
-- Matt Turner (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Tottenham (Oct. 27); Not in 18, DNP in 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest (Oct. 21)
-- Brandon Vazquez (Monterrey; Liga MX) – 30 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 loss at Club America (Oct. 27); In 18, DNP in 0-0 draw vs. Pumas UNAM (Oct. 23)
-- Tim Weah (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 62 minutes, GOAL, 83 minutes in 4-4 draw at Inter Milan (Oct. 27); 35 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 loss vs. Stuttgart in UCL (Oct. 22)
-- Caleb Wiley (Strasbourg; French Ligue 1) - Injured, DNP in 3-0 win vs. Nantes (Oct. 27)
-- Haji Wright (Coventry City; Championship) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 3-2 win vs. Luton Town (Oct. 26); 84 minutes, GOAL, in 1-1 draw at Queens Park Rangers (Oct. 22)
-- DeAndre Yedlin (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - Vs. New York City FC in MLS Cup Playoffs (Monday, 6:45 p.m. ET)
-- Alejandro Zendejas (Club America; Liga MX) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Monterrey (Oct. 27); 90 minutes, GOAL, in 2-2 draw at Tijuana (Oct. 23)
