Ricardo Pepi's stock continued to soar, as El Tren’s onslaught on opposing goalkeepers in the Eredivisie rolled on in cup competition in the Netherlands. His PSV Eindhoven teammate, Malik Tillman, also chipped in with a brilliant goal in league play.
The Aaronson brothers, Brenden and Paxten, finished with duplicate score lines, recording a goal and an assist for their respective teams, Leeds United in England and Utrecht in the Netherlands.
In Italy, Weston McKennie connected on an impressive half-volley goal from a corner kick in Juventus’ victory.
And in Spain, Johnny Cardoso also found the net for the first time this season for Real Betis, highlighting U.S. Men's National Team players’ performances last week.
A BAKER'S DOZEN
Ricardo Pepi produced yet another big game for PSV Eindhoven. He struck twice for the Dutch Eredivisie side in its 8-0 triumph over Koninklijke HFC in the KNVB Beker second round on Tuesday, Dec. 17. It was the fourth time the 21-year-old striker registered a multiple-goal game this campaign.
With PSV enjoying a 2-0 lead, Pepi put home his first goal in the 31st minute, before finding the net again for a six-goal margin in the 83rd minute against goalkeeper Mitchel Michaelis. He has tallied 13 goals in 23 matches across all competitions. Counting his two goals against Jamaica at the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals, Pepi has scored 14 goals since August.
ADDING MORE INSURANCE
Malik Tillman put the finishing touches on PSV Eindhoven's 3-0 blanking of Feyenoord in Dutch Eredivisie action on Sunday, Dec. 22. He buried his seventh league goal of the season and his tenth across all competitions, past goalkeeper Justin Bijlow in the 63rd minute. Tillman was assisted by Noa Lang, who had scored the first goal of the contest in the 19th minute. PSV (15-2-0, 45 points) will finish the calendar year atop the league with a six-point lead over Ajax (12-2-3 39).
SOME VOLLEY BALL
Weston McKennie jump-started Juventus to a 1-0 lead in its 2-1 win over Monza in Italy's Serie A on Sunday, Dec. 22. McKenzie volleyed home Tuen Koopmeiners's corner kick from close range at the far left post past keeper Stefano Turati in the 14th minute. It was McKennie’s second league goal and fourth overall for Juve. He also has two assists. Undefeated Juventus (7-0-10, 31) sits in seventh place, nine points behind first-place Atalanta (13-3-1, 40).
THE BROTHERS AARONSON
It turned into quite a week for the Aaronson brothers, Paxten and Brenden, who each recorded a goal and an assist in big wins.
Paxton, 21, started it in the KNVB Beker cup competition on Wednesday, Dec. 18, as he recorded a goal and an assist in an 8-0 away victory over AFC. He found the net on a Miguel Rodriguez feed past goalie Gijs van Zetten for a 6-0 margin in the 78th minute. Aaronson played set-up man for the next goal by David Min in the 87th minute. Utrecht completed the calendar year at 11-3-3 and 36 points, nine points behind first-place PSV.
Three days later, on Saturday, Dec. 21, it was older brother Brenden's turn to stand out with a goal and an assist in Leeds United's 4-0 home triumph over Oxford United in the English Championship. He did his damage during a 10-minute span in the opening half. With the hosts leading 1-0, Aaronson set up Jayden Bogle's 57th-minute goal with his second assist of the season. Ten minutes later, Aaronson was celebrating his fifth goal of the campaign at Elland Road, and sixth overall, depositing a Manor Solomon through ball past keeper James Cumming for a 3-0 advantage.
Entering the Boxing Day (Dec. 26) match at Stoke City, Leeds (13-3-6, 45) sits in second place, three points behind leader Sheffield United (15-2-5, 48).
GREAT TIMING
Johnny Cardoso could not have picked a better time to score his first goal of the season for Real Betis than in its 1-0 victory over HJK Helsinki in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday, Dec. 19. It began with the interception of a rather ill-advised pass from goalkeeper Thijmen Nijhuis at the top of the penalty area. Cardoso then bolted toward the goal and rounded the keeper on the left side of the box before poking the ball into the unattended net from close range.
FULL RUNDOWN
-- Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United; English Championship) - 74 minutes, GOAL, ASSIST, in 4-0 win vs. Oxford United (Dec. 21)
-- Paxten Aaronson (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - Not in DNP, SUSPENSION, in 5-2 loss vs. Fortuna Sittard (Dec. 22); 90 minutes, GOAL, ASSIST, in in 8-0 win at AFC in KNVB Beker (Dec. 18)
-- Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth; English Premier League) – 89 minutes in 3-0 win at Manchester United (Dec. 22); 22 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw vs. West Ham United (Dec. 16)
-- Folarin Balogun (Monaco; French Ligue 1) – Injured, DNP in 4-1 win at Union Saint-Jean in Coupe de France (Dec. 22); Injured, DNP in 2-1 loss vs. Paris St. Germain (Dec. 18)
-- Taylor Booth (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - In 18, DNP in 5-2 loss vs. Fortuna Sittard (Dec. 22); Not in 18, DNP in 8-0 win in KNVB Beker (Dec. 18)
-- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italian Serie A) – 89 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Cagliari (Dec. 22)
-- Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis; Spain La Liga) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Rayo Vallecano (Dec. 22); 90 minutes, GOAL, in 1-0 win vs. HJK Helsinki in UEFA Conference League (Dec. 19)
-- Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - Not in 18, DNP in 0-0 draw at Dundee United (Dec. 22)
-- Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - Injured, DNP in 3-0 win vs. Feyenoord (Dec. 22); Injured, DNP in 8-0 win vs. Koninklijke HFC in KNVB Beker (Dec. 17)
-- Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo, Spain La Liga) - In 18, DNP in 2-0 win vs. Real Sociedad (Dec. 21)
-- Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Gent (Dec. 22)
-- Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City; Championship) - In 18, DNP in 2-0 loss vs. Sheffield United (Dec. 21)
-- Richy Ledezma (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 89 minutes in 3-0 win vs. Feyenoord (Dec. 22); 75 minutes in 8-0 win vs. Koninklijke HFC in KNVB Beker (Dec. 17)
-- Kristoffer Lund (Palermo; Italy Serie B) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Sassuolo (Dec. 21)
-- Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 2-0 loss at Bochum (Dec. 22); Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. St. Gallen in UEFA Conference League vs. Stuttgart (Dec. 19)
-- Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 89 minutes, GOAL, in 2-1 win at Monza (Dec. 22); 90 minutes in 4-0 win vs. Cagliari in Coppa Italia (Dec. 17)
-- Mark McKenzie (Toulouse; French Ligue 1) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at Hauts Lyonnais in Coupe de France (4-2 PK winners) (Dec. 21)
-- Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough; Championship) - Injured, DNP in 3-3 draw at Plymouth Argyle (Dec. 21)
-- Yunus Musah (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - Injured, DNP in 1-0 win at Verona (Dec. 20)
-- Erik Palmer-Brown (Panathinaikos; Greek Super League) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Athens Kallithea (Dec. 22); Injured, DNP in 4-0 win vs. Dinamo Minsk in UEFA Conference League (Dec. 19)
-- Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 3-1 loss vs. Borussia Dortmund (Dec. 22)
-- Jordan Pefok (Union Berlin; Bundesliga) - In 18, DNP in 4-1 loss at Werder Bremen (Dec. 21)
-- Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - In 18, DNP in 3-0 win vs. Feyenoord (Dec. 22); 90 minutes, TWO GOALS, in 8-0 win vs. Koninklijke HFC in KNVB Beker (Dec. 17)
-- Christian Pulisic (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - Injured, DNP in 1-0 win at Verona (Dec. 20)
-- Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; Bundesliga) - 3 minutes as a substitute in 3-1 win at Wolfsburg (Dec. 22)
-- Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs, Mechelen (Dec. 20)
-- Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 5-1 loss vs. Arsenal (Dec. 21); In 18, DNP in 3-2 loss at Arsenal in Carabao Cup (Dec. 18)
-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Southampton (Dec. 22)
-- Josh Sargent (Norwich City; English Championship) - Injured, DNP in 2-1 loss at Sunderland (Dec. 21)
-- Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 80 minutes in 2-1 loss at Hoffenheim (Dec. 21)
-- Gaga Slonina (Barnsley; English League One) - Injured, DNP in 4-0 kiss vs. Leyton Orient (Dec. 21)
-- Tanner Tessmann (Lyon; French Ligue 1) – 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Feignies Aulnoye in Coupe de France (Dec. 21)
-- Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 3-0 win vs. Feyenoord (Dec. 22); In 18, DNP in 8-0 win vs. Koninklijke HFC in KNVB Beker (Dec. 17)
-- Auston Trusty (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - Not in 18, DNP in 0-0 draw at Dundee United (Dec. 22)
-- Matt Turner (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 5-1 loss vs. Arsenal (Dec. 21); In 18, DNP in 3-2 loss at Arsenal in Carabao Cup (Dec. 18)
-- Tim Weah (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - Injured, DNP in 2-1 win at Monza (Dec. 22); 9 minutes as a substitute in 4-0 win vs. Cagliari in Coppa Italia (Dec. 17)
-- Caleb Wiley (Strasbourg; French Ligue 1) - Injured, DNP in 3-0 win at RC Calais in Coupe de France (Dec. 21)
-- Haji Wright (Coventry City; Championship) - Injured, DNP in 4-1 loss at Portsmouth (Dec. 21)
