Not only did U.S. Men’s National Team players enjoy another productive week, but they also set some new standards as well.
Nine Americans, including eight USMNT players, competed in the UEFA Champions League on the same day for the first time. PSV Eindhoven's Malik Tillman led the way with a goal and two assists as he became the first American player with three goal contributions in a UCL match. Christian Pulisic set up AC Milan’s first goal in its big win over defending champion Real Madrid. Both players were selected to the U.S. team for its Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series against Jamaica this week.
Other players who were selected to the squad also contributed in their matches last week. Ricardo Pepi scored one goal and set up another in a PSV victory. Tim Weah continued his hot goal-scoring for Juventus. Cade Cowell and Alejandro Zendejas tallied for Guadalajara and Club America, respectively, in Liga MX, and left back Antonee Robinson assisted on a score for Fulham.
A TERRIFIC TUESDAY
For the first time on Tuesday, Nov. 5, nine Americans players performed on a single day in the UEFA Champions League.
Most of the participants competed in pairs - Malik Tillman and Ricardo Pepi for PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands), Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah for AC Milan (Italy), Tim Weah and Weston McKennie for Juventus (Italy) and Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty for Celtic (Scotland). Forward Cole Campbell also played for Borussia Dortmund.
It turned out to be a winning day for the American players' clubs, as they finished with an impressive 4-0-1 mark.
Tillman grabbed the spotlight, netting a goal and assisting on two others in a 4-0 home victory over 10-man Girona. Ricardo Pepi came on as a late-match substitute in the 85th minute and Richie Ledezma did not come off the bench. Ryan Flamingo headed home Tillman’s long throw-in in the 16th minute. Tillman struck for PSV's second goal, beating goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga at the near post in the 33rd minute. He finished his Man of the Match performance as his short corner kick to Johan Bakayoko was turned into a three-goal advantage in the 83rd minute.
Pulisic sparked Milan's stunning 3-1 win at UCL defending champion Real Madrid by setting up the first goal in the 12th minute. He sent in a corner kick that Malick Thiaw headed home for a 1-0 lead. Pulisic, who has four assists across all competitions, played 70 minutes, while Musah went the full 90.
Carter-Vickers and Trusty started for Celtic on its backline in its 3-1 home win over RB Leipzig. Trusty went the entire way, while Carter-Vickers was subbed out in the 74th minute.
Mckennie and Weah came off the bench in the 68th minute in Juve's 1-1 draw at Lille.
Campbell, 18, who has played for U.S. Youth National Teams, came on as a substitute in the 77th minute for Dortmund in its 1-0 home win over Sturm Graz.
THE WEAH WAY
Tim Weah certainly has found his form. He scored his third goal in four matches and fourth overall for Juve in its 2-0 home win over Torino on Saturday, Nov. 9. He wound up in the right spot at the right time, slotting home a rebound of Andrea Cambiaso's shot past keeper Vanja Milinković-Savić for a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute with his father, the legendary George Weah, watching from the stands. Juventus remained undefeated in Italy's Serie A with a 6-0-6 record and 24 points.
ONE OF EACH
Ricardo Pepi continued to make a convincing argument to go from a super-sub to a starting role for PSV Eindhoven. In yet another start, Pepi scored one goal and set up another over 71 minutes in PSV’s 3-0 road triumph past NAC Breda in the Dutch Eredivisie on Saturday, Nov. 9. Ismael Saibari set up Pepi's goal in the 21st minute. Pepi, who has six league goals in only 420 minutes, returned the favor in the 33rd minute, assisting on Saibari's tally for a 2-0 margin. PSV (11-1-0, 33) leads the league.
SPARK PLUG
Cade Cowell tallied his fifth goal of the season in the 45th minute to start Guadalajara to a 2-0 win over Santos Laguna in Liga MX on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Cowell beat his marker to a José Castillo cross and headed home from close range past goalkeeper Carlos Acevedeo for a 1-0 edge in the 45th minute. The team finished the Apertura in ninth place with a 7-4-5 record and 26 points.
THE EQUALIZER
Alejandro Zendejas struck for the equalizer and his second goal of the campaign to help Club America to a 2-1 comeback victory over Pachuca in its penultimate Liga MX match of the season on Wednesday, Nov. 6. Zendejas knotted things up via an assist by Henry Martin in the 42nd minute. America (8-6-3, 27) finished the Apertura regular season in seventh place.
TWO WEEKS IN A ROW
Paxten Aaronson scored for the second successive contest, in Utrecht's 1-0 victory over Heracles in a Dutch Eredivisie encounter on Friday, Nov. 8. The 21-year-old midfielder tallied the lone goal of the match and his fourth of the season in the 67th minute, off a corner kick past goalkeeper Fabian de Keijzer. Aaronson also found the net in a 4-1 win past Sparta Rotterdam on Nov. 3. Utrecht (9-1-1, 28 points) is in second place, trailing PSV by five points.
ECSTASY, THEN AGONY
Haji Wright connected for his seventh goal of the English Championship season, helping Coventry City rally from a two-goal deficit in the second half for a 2-2 draw at Sunderland on Saturday, Nov. 9. The 26-year-old forward sliced the hosts' lead in half in the 62nd minute, beating keeper Simon Moore. However, he suffered an ankle injury and was stretchered off the field in the 89th minute. Coventry (4-7-4, 16) is in 17th place in the 24-team Championship.
AT THE DEATH
Left fullback Antonee Robinson's cross set up Harry Wilson's header seven minutes into injury time to lift Fulham to a dramatic 2-1 home win over Brentford in the English Premier League on Monday, Nov. 4. Many observers felt it was Robinson's best game of the season as he completed 88 percent of his 68 passes. Fulham (4-3-3, 15) is in seventh place in the EPL.
FIRST START
Midfielder Tyler Adams made his first start of the English Premier League season for AFC Bournemouth in its 3-2 loss at Brentford on Saturday, Nov. 9. Adams, who captained the USMNT at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, played 67 minutes. He has been limited to five appearances due to several injuries since joining the club last year. Showing flashes of his dominating presence, Adams finished as the team leader in tackles (four) and interceptions (two). The 25-year-old returned to action as a substitute on Oct. 26. Bournemouth (4-4-3, 15) is in 12th place in the EPL.
MOVING ON
New York City FC defensive midfielder James Sands and Los Angeles FC midfielder Timothy Tillman will play at least one more match for their respective clubs in the MLS Cup Playoffs conference semifinals. NYCFC stunned third-place FC Cincinnati, winning the shootout, 6-5, after playing to a scoreless draw in the Eastern quarterfinals on Saturday, Nov. 9. The visitors won the decisive match of the best-of-three series. Sands, who played the full 90 minutes, converted a penalty kick in the tie-breaker. Tillman played 82 minutes in LAFC's 1-0 home win over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Friday, Nov. 8. LAFC captured the Western quarterfinals, 2-1.
FULL RUNDOWN
-- Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Queens Park Rangers (Nov. 9); 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Millwall (Nov. 6)
-- Paxten Aaronson (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 1-0 win vs. Heracles (Nov. 8)
-- Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth; English Premier League) – 62 minutes in 3-2 loss at Brentford (Nov. 9)
-- Folarin Balogun (Monaco; French Ligue 1) – Injured, DNP in 3-2 win at Strasbourg (Nov. 9); Injured, DNP in 1-0 win at Bologna in UCL (Nov. 5)
-- Taylor Booth (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - 2 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win vs. Heracles (Nov. 8)
-- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italian Serie A) – 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Parma (Nov. 9)
-- Drake Callender (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-2 loss vs. Atlanta United in MLS Cup Playoffs (Nov. 9)
-- Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis; Spain La Liga) - 56 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. Celta Vigo (Nov. 10); 71 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Celje in UEFA Conference League (Nov. 7)
-- Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-0 win at Kilmarnock (Nov. 9); 74 minutes in 2-1 win vs. RB Leipzig in UCL (Nov. 5)
-- Cade Cowell (Guadalajara; Liga MX) - 74 minutes in 1-0 loss at Atletico San Luis (Nov. 9); 90 minutes, GOAL, in 2-0 win at Santos Laguna (Nov. 5)
-- Ben Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - 60 minutes in 3-2 loss vs Atlanta United in MLS Cup Playoffs (Nov. 9)
-- Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - Injured, DNP in 4-0 win vs. Girona in UCL (Nov. 5)
-- Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo, Spain La Liga) - Injured, DNP in 2-2 draw at Real Betis (Nov. 9); Injured, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Getafe (Nov. 4)
-- Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 5-0 loss at Gent (Nov. 10)
-- Julian Gressel (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - In 18, DNP in 3-2 loss vs Atlanta United in MLS Cup Playoffs (Nov. 9)
-- Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City; Championship) - In 18, DNP in 3-1 loss vs. Blackburn Rovers (Nov. 9); In 18, DNP in 1-0 loss at Luton Town (Nov. 6)
-- Richy Ledezma (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 7 minutes as a substitute in 3-0 win at NAC Breda (Nov. 9); In 18, DNP in 4-0 win vs. Girona in UCL (Nov. 5)
-- Kristoffer Lund (Palmero; Italy Serie B) - In 18, DNP in 1-1 draw at Frosinone (Nov. 8)
- Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 3-1 loss vs. Wolfsburg (Nov. 10); 90 minutes in 2-0 win at Hearts in UEFA Conference League (Nov. 7)
-- Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 4 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 win vs. Torino (Nov. 9); 22 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw at Lille in UCL (Nov. 5)
-- Mark McKenzie (Toulouse; French Ligue 1) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win at Rennes (Nov. 10)
-- Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough; Championship) - 71 minutes in 5-1 win vs. Luton Town (Nov. 9); 90 minutes in 4-1 win at Queens Park Rangers (Nov. 5)
-- Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; MLS) - No games
-- Yunus Musah (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - 9 minutes as a substitute in 3-3 draw at Cagliari (Nov. 9); 89 minutes in 3-1 win at Real Madrid in UCL (Nov. 5)
-- Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy; MLS) – No games
-- Erik Palmer-Brown (Panathinaikos; Greek Super League) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Lamia (Nov. 10); Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 loss at Djurgården in UEFA Conference League (Nov. 7)
-- Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 3-1 win at Heidenheim (Nov. 10);
-- Jordan Pefok (Union Berlin; Bundesliga) - 17 minutes as a substitute in 0-0 draw vs. Freiburg (Nov. 8)
-- Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 71 minutes, GOAL, ASSIST, in 3-0 win at NAC Breda (Nov. 9); 5 minutes as a substitute in 4-0 win vs. Girona in UCL (Nov. 5)
-- Christian Pulisic (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - 81 minutes in 3-3 draw at Cagliari (Nov. 9); 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 3-1 win at Real Madrid in UCL (Nov. 5)
-- Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Orlando City (3-1 PK losers) in MLS Cup Playoffs (Nov. 1)
-- Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 3-1 loss at Mainz (Nov. 9); Injured, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Sturm Graz in UCL (Nov. 5)
-- Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Sporting Charleroi (Nov. 9)
-- Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 2-0 loss vs. Fulham (Nov. 9)
-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win at Crystal Palace (Nov. 9); 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 2-1 win vs. Brentford (Nov. 4)
-- Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. New York City FC (6-5 PK losers) in MLS Cup Playoffs (Nov. 9)
-- James Sands (New York City FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at FC Cincinnati (6-5 PK winners) in MLS Cup Playoffs (Nov. 9)
-- Josh Sargent (Norwich City; Championship) - Injured, DNP in 2-0 loss vs. Bristol City (Nov. 9); Injured, DNP in 2-0 loss at Sheffield Wednesday (Nov. 5)
-- Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at RB Leipzig (Nov. 9)
-- Gaga Slonina (Barnsley; English League One) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-0 win vs. Rotherham United (Nov. 8)
-- Tanner Tessmann (Lyon; French Ligue 1) – 25 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win vs. Saint-Etienne (Nov.10); 90 minutes in 2-2 draw at Hoffenheim in UEFA Europa League (Nov. 7)
-- Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 83 minutes in 3-0 win at NAC Breda (Nov. 9); 90 minutes, GOAL, TWO ASSISTS, in 4-0 win vs. Girona in UCL (Nov. 5)
-- Timmy Tillman (Los Angeles FC; MLS) – 82 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS Cup Playoffs (Nov. 8)
-- John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; MLS) - No games
-- Auston Trusty (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win at Kilmarnock (Nov. 9); 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. RB Leipzig in UCL (Nov. 5)
-- Matt Turner (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 2-0 loss vs. Fulham (Nov. 9)
-- Brandon Vazquez (Monterrey; Liga MX) - 1 minute as a substitute in 2-1 win vs. Leon (Nov. 10)
-- Tim Weah (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 2-0 win vs. Torino (Nov. 9); 22 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw at Lille in UCL (Nov. 5)
-- Caleb Willey (Strasbourg; French Ligue 1) - 6 minutes as a substitute in 3-1 loss vs. Monaco (Nov. 9)
-- Haji Wright (Coventry City; Championship) - 89 minutes, GOAL, in 2-2 draw at Sunderland (Nov. 9); 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Derby County (Nov. 6)
-- DeAndre Yedlin (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - 84 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. New York City FC (6-5 PK losers) in MLS Cup Playoffs (Nov. 9)
-- Alejandro Zendejas (Club America; Liga MX) - 90 minutes in 4-0 loss at Toluca (Nov. 9); 79 minutes, GOAL, in 2-1 win vs. Pachuca (Nov. 6)