Highlights from last week’s U.S. Men’s National Team players around the globe include three players who recorded braces, as Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Djordje Mihailović (Colorado Rapids) and Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders) all pulled off the feat.
Juventus’ Tim Weah also scored a memorable goal in UEFA Champions League play, while Club América’s Alejandro Zendejas also found the net.
In the assist column, Marlon Fossey set up the winner for Standard Liege, and Jesús Ferreira also secured an assist for the Sounders in a Concacaf Champions Cup victory.
In net, goalkeeper Zack Steffen registered a clean sheet in the Colorado Rapids' MLS season opener.
DOUBLING HIS PLEASURE
Josh Sargent continued his torrid streak by striking twice in the second half in Norwich City's 4-2 home victory over Stoke City in the English Championship on Saturday, Feb. 23. He has six goals in his past six contests. Three minutes into the second half, Sargent snapped a 1-1 deadlock. After Ante Crnac was tripped in the penalty area by a Stoke City defender, Sargent picked up the loose ball and drilled an eight-yard shot into the back of the net past goalkeeper Viktor Johansson. Sargent, who turned 25 on Feb. 20, gave the hosts some breathing room in the 71st minute, putting away a Borja Sainz feed for a 3-1 advantage. He has now reached double figures for the third consecutive season with the Canaries, as he has tallied 11 times in 18 matches.
The 10th-place Canaries (12-11-11, 47 points) kept within striking distance of the promotion playoffs to the English Premier League, trailing sixth-place Blackburn Rovers (15-13-6, 51) by four points with 12 games remaining in the season.
A WEAH OF A GOAL
Tim Weah scored a brilliant goal off of a 22-yard drive, but it was not enough to help Juventus get past PSV Eindhoven in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 32 match on Wednesday, Feb. 19. He intercepted a clearance and powered his shot past the goalkeeper to knot the match up at 1-1 in the 63rd minute. PSV, however, won the game in extra time to win the series on aggregate goals, 4-3. Weston McKennie and Weah both played 120 minutes. The USA’s Richy Ledezma played 78 minutes for PSV.
WHAT A START
It didn't take Djordje Mihailović long to make his mark on the new season as he put away a pair of second-half goals to power the Colorado Rapids to a 2-1 home win over the Los Angeles Football Club in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup first round on Tuesday, Feb. 18. After Kevin Cabral was fouled in the penalty area, the 26-year-old midfielder converted his penalty into the middle of the net past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris for a 1-0 margin in the 48th minute. Mihailovic doubled the lead with another set piece after he was fouled some 25 yards out in the 78th minute. Mihailovic curled a shot into the top left corner. He loves playing against LAFC, having seven goal contributions (five goals, two assists) in six games across three competitions (MLS, Leagues Cup and CCC).
TWICE AS NICE
Jordan Morris, who finished in double figures in goals in four of the past six seasons, got off to a rousing start with a brace in the Seattle Sounders' 2-2 home draw with Charlotte FC on Saturday, Feb. 22. The veteran forward lifted Seattle into a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute as he redirected Georgi Minoungou’s right-wing cross past keeper Kristijan Kahlina. After Charlotte equalized, Morris latched onto an Albert Rusnak through ball and ripped a shot from the top of the box into the left side in the 49th minute.
SIX IN A ROW
Alejandro Zendejas extended his goal production streak to six matches as he tallied a goal in Club América's 1-1 draw with Leon in a Liga MX contest on Wednesday, Feb. 19. He put away a Henry Martin feed to give the hosts a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute. During that 4-1-1 streak, Zendejas had five goals and four assists. Zendejas’ streak was snapped in a 2-0 win at Pumas UNAM on Saturday, Feb. 22. America (6-1-2, 20), which hopes to win its fourth successive Liga MX crown, trails Leon (7-0-2, 23) by three points in Torneo Clausura.
HELPING OUT
Marlon Fossey assisted on Dennis Eckert Ayensa's goal that broke a 1-1 tie in the 80th minute to boost Standard Liege to a 2-1 win over Club Brugge in the Jupiler Pro League in Belgium on Sunday, Feb. 23.
Jesús Ferreira received the assist on Paul Arriola's third-minute tally in the Seattle Sounders' 3-1 victory at Antigua in the first leg of a Concacaf Champions Cup first-round match on Wednesday, Feb. 19.
FIRST CLEAN SHEET
It turned into a pretty good week for Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffen. He backstopped the Colorado Rapids' 2-1 first-leg triumph over the Los Angeles Football Club in the first round of the Concacaf Champions Cup on Tuesday, Feb. 18. He then produced five saves in a scoreless draw in his MLS season opener against St. Louis CITY on Saturday, Feb. 22. Steffen twice denied Simon Becher on close-range attempts in the 16th and 49 minutes. The hosts outshot the Rapids, 17-2.
A SURPRISING DEBUT
He did not score a goal or assist on one, but midfielder Luca de la Torre helped expansion team San Diego FC stun MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy, 2-0, in the new club’s first competitive game on Sunday, Feb. 23. De la Torre, who is on loan from Real Betis from La Liga in Spain, started and played 63 minutes.
FULL RUNDOWN
-- Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United; English Championship) - At Sheffield United (Monday, 3 p.m. ET); 78 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Sunderland (Feb. 17)
-- Paxten Aaronson (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - No games
-- Kellyn Acosta (Chicago Fire; MLS) - 90 minutes in 4-2 loss at Columbus Crew (Feb. 22)
-- Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth; English Premier League) – 30 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 loss vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers (Feb. 22)
-- Folarin Balogun (Monaco; French Ligue 1) – Injured, DNP in 2-1 loss at Lille (Feb. 22); Injured, DNP in 3-3 draw at Benfica in UCL (Feb. 18)
-- Taylor Booth (Twente; Dutch Eredivisie) - 62 minutes in 2-0 win vs. NEC (Feb. 23); 15 minutes as a substitute in 5-2 loss at Bodø/Glimt in UEFA Europa League (Feb. 20)
-- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italian Serie A) – 14 minutes as a substitute in 0-0 draw vs. Lazio (Feb. 22); 33 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 loss at Genoa (Feb. 17)
-- Drake Callender (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - Injured, DNP in 2-2 draw vs. New York City FC (Feb. 22); Injured, DNP in 1-0 win at Sporting Kansas City in Concacaf Champions Cup (Feb. 19)
-- Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis; Spain La Liga) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Getafe (Feb. 23); 31 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 loss vs. Gent in UEFA Conference League (Feb. 20)
-- Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Hibernian (Feb. 22); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Bayern Munich in UCL (Feb. 18)
-- Cade Cowell (Guadalajara; Liga MX) – Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 win vs. Pachuca (Feb. 22)
-- Ben Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - 59 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. New York City FC (Feb. 22); 11 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win at Sporting Kansas City in Concacaf Champions Cup (Feb. 19)
-- Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC; MLS) – 63 minutes in 2-0 win at LA Galaxy (Feb. 23)
-- Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - Injured, DNP in 3-1 win vs. Juventus in UCL (Feb. 19)
-- Jesús Ferreira (Seattle Sounders; MLS) - 10 minutes as a substitute in 2-2 draw vs. Charlotte FC (Feb. 22); 67 minutes, ASSIST, in 3-1 win at Antigua in Concacaf Champions Cup (Feb. 19)
-- Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 2-1 win at Club Brugge (Feb. 23)
-- Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City; Championship) - In 18, DNP in 1-1 draw at Plymouth Argyle (Feb. 22)
-- Sean Johnson (Toronto FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-2 draw at New England Revolution (Feb. 22)
-- DeJuan Jones (Columbus Crew; MLS) – In 18, DNP in 4-2 win vs. Chicago Fire (Feb. 22)
-- Richy Ledezma (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 78 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Juventus (4-3 aggregate win) in UCL (Feb. 19)
-- Kristoffer Lund (Palermo; Italy Serie B) - 90 minutes in 3-0 win at Cosenza (Feb. 23)
-- Lennard Maloney (Mainz; Bundesliga) - In 18, DNP in 2-0 win vs. St. Pauli (Feb. 22)
-- Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win at Cagliari (Feb. 23); 120 minutes in 3-1 loss at PSV Eindhoven (4-3 aggregate defeat) in UCL (Feb. 19)
-- Mark McKenzie (Toulouse; French Ligue 1) - 90 minutes in 4-1 win at Le Havre (Feb. 23)
-- Djordje Mihailović (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at St. Louis CITY (Feb. 22); 90 minutes, TWO GOALS, in 2-1 win vs. Los Angeles FC in Concacaf Champions Cup (Feb. 18)
-- Shaq Moore (FC Dallas; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Houston Dynamo (Feb. 22)
-- Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough; Championship) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Bristol City (Feb. 21)
-- Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; MLS) - 90 minutes, TWO GOALS, in 2-2 draw vs. Charlotte FC (Feb. 22); 76 minutes in 3-1 win at Antigua in Concacaf Champions Cup (Feb. 19)
-- Yunus Musah (AC Milan; Italy Serie A) - 54 minutes in 2-1 loss at Torino (Feb. 22); 82 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Feyenoord in UCL (Feb. 18)
-- Jalen Neal (CF Montreal; MLS) – Not in 18, DNP in 3-2 loss at Atlanta United (Feb. 22)
-- Erik Palmer-Brown (Panathinaikos; Greek Super League) - Injured, DNP in 3-1 loss at Lamia (Feb. 23); Injured, DNP in 2-0 win vs. Víkingur Reykjavík in UEFA Conference League (Feb. 20)
-- Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Bochum (Feb. 22)
-- Jordan Pefok (Reims; France Ligue 1) - Injured, DNP in 1-0 loss at Rennes (Feb. 21)
-- Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - Injured, DNP in 3-1 win vs. Juventus in UCL (Feb. 19)
-- Christian Pulisic (AC Milan; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Torino (Feb. 22); 63 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Feyenoord in UCL (Feb. 18)
-- Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-2 draw at Seattle Sounders (Feb. 22)
-- Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; Bundesliga) - 70 minutes in 6-0 win vs. Union Berlin (Feb. 22); 21 minutes as a substitute in 0-0 draw vs. Sporting Lisbon in UCL (Feb. 19)
-- Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 3-1 loss vs. Sporting Charleroi (Feb. 22)
-- Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win at Fulham (Feb. 22)
-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 2-0 loss vs. Crystal Palace (Feb. 22)
-- Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. New York Red Bulls (Feb. 22)
-- James Sands (St. Pauli; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 2-0 loss at Mainz (Feb. 22)
-- Josh Sargent (Norwich City; English Championship) - 86 minutes, TWO GOALS, in 4-2 win vs. Stoke City (Feb. 22)
-- Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 3-0 loss vs. Augsburg (Feb. 22)
-- Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; MLS) - 90 minutes in 4-2 win vs. Chicago Fire (Feb. 22)
-- Gaga Slonina (Chelsea U-21; English Premier League 2) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-0 win vs. Manchester United U-21 (Feb. 19)
-- Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 90 minutes, SHUTOUT, in 0-0 draw at St. Louis CITY (Feb. 22); 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Los Angeles FC in Concacaf Champions Cup (Feb. 18)
-- Tanner Tessmann (Lyon; French Ligue 1) – 90 minutes in 3-2 loss vs. Paris St-Germain (Feb. 23)
-- Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - Injured, DNP in 3-1 win vs. Juventus in UCL (Feb. 19)
-- John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP IN 2-0 loss vs. Bayer Leverkusen (Feb. 22)
-- Auston Trusty (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Hibernian (Feb. 22); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Bayern Munich in UCL (Feb. 18)
-- Matt Turner (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 2-0 win at Fulham (Feb. 22)
-- Tim Weah (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win at Cagliari (Feb. 23); 120 minutes, GOAL, in 3-1 loss at PSV Eindhoven (4-3 aggregate defeat) in UCL (Feb. 19)
-- Caleb Wiley (Watford; English Championship) - Injured, DNP in 2-0 win vs. Luton Town (Feb. 23)
-- Haji Wright (Coventry City; Championship) - Injured, DNP in 2-1 win vs. Preston North End (Feb. 21)
-- Alejandro Zendejas (Club America; Liga MX) - 68 minutes in 2-0 win at Pumas UNAM (Feb. 22); 84 minutes, GOAL, in 1-1 draw vs. Leon (Feb. 19)
-- Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. New England Revolution (Feb. 22)
