USMNT REWIND: Cup Wins, Club Moves, and Welcome Returns in this Week’s Recap of Club Action

For the second consecutive game, Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah continued to demonstrate their brilliance while securing their first trophy with AC Milan.

In the Netherlands, Paxton Aaronson put the finishing touches on a fine counterattack goal for Utrecht in a vital win.

In England, Goalkeepers Matt Turner and Ethan Horvath posted clean sheets in cup victories for their respective English clubs, Crystal Palace and Cardiff City. While he did not score, Josh Sargent returned to action for the first time since late October as a substitute for Norwich City.

In Germany, James Sands came off the bench to make his Bundesliga debut for St. Pauli.

And here at home, Jesús Ferreira and Brandon Vazquez joined new teams, the Seattle Sounders and Austin FC respectively, last week.

HE'S SUPER, MAN

Christian Pulisic continued to put his stamp on AC Milan's season in the most spectacular way. He connected for the equalizing goal and set up the game-winner in AC Milan’s 3-2 comeback victory over archrival Inter Milan in the Italian Super Cup final at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Monday, Jan. 6. Pulisic, who – alongside MNT teammate Yunus Musah - secured his first trophy for AC Milan, helped his team rally from a two-goal deficit as he knotted things up at 2-2 with a spectacular goal in the 80th minute past goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

In stoppage time, Pulisic played a pass that split the defense to Rafael Leao, who sent the ball to Tammy Abraham, who tapped it home for the winner. It was the second time that Pulisic tallied a goal at the same venue as he converted penalty kick, in his first game back from injury in almost a month, in Milan’s 2-1 semifinal win over Juventus on Friday, Jan. 3.

Pulisic did not record any points in the Rossoneri's 1-1 home draw with Cagliari on Saturday, Jan. 11 but he still made an impact. Alvaro Morata tapped in Pulisic's shot that rebounded off the right post in the 51st minute for Milan’s lone goal.

Pulisic has scored nine goals and provided six assists in 23 matches for Milan across all competitions.

AC Milan (7-4-7, 28 points) sits in eighth place in Serie A, trailing first-place Napoli (15-3-2, 47) by 20 points.

TAKING THE FIFTH

Paxton Aaronson scored his fifth goal of the season, which turned out to be the winning tally in Utrecht's 2-1 away win over Feyenoord in the Dutch Eredivisie on Sunday, Jan. 12. Sébastien Haller outbattled a Feyenoord payer before sending the ball down the left flank to Yoann Cathlineto, who bolted into the area. Cathlineto crossed the ball to Aaronson, who buried it at the far post past keeper Justin Bijlow to give the visitors a two-goal advantage in the 65th minute.

The goal tied the 21-year-old Aaronson's career high as a professional. He also found the net five times while competing for Philadelphia Union II during the 2022 MLS NEXT pro season.

The win allowed third-place Utrecht (12-3-3, 39) to extend its lead over fourth-place Feyenoord (10-3-5, 35) to four points.

DIFFERENT CUP, SIMILAR RESULT

Matt Turner has played twice for Crystal Palace this season and both appearances have been in cup competitions. He backstopped Palace's 1-0 win over Stockport County in the FA Cup on Sunday, Jan. 12. Turner, who made four saves, had his most memorable stop in the 64th minute, denying Isaac Olaofe after a bad pass by defender Marc Guéhi. Defender Chris Richards helped out with the clean sheet. Turner's only other game this campaign came when he went the entire way in a 2-1 victory against Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup on Oct. 30.

NO RUST AT ALL

In his first action since August, goalkeeper Ethan Horvath stepped up and helped Cardiff City to a 1-0 victory over host Sheffield United in the English FA Cup on Thursday, Jan. 9. Horvath earned Man of the Match honors as he produced seven saves for the Bluebirds. After Cardiff took the lead, Horvath made a pair of saves on Louis Marsh in rapid succession before denying him a third time in the opening half. The keeper last played for Cardiff in a 2-0 defeat to Middlesbrough on Aug. 31.

BUNDESLIGA DEBUT

James Sands, on loan with St. Pauli from New York City FC, made his Bundesliga debut in a 1-0 home defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday, Jan. 12. He replaced Carlo Boukhalfa in the 78th minute. Sands previously played on loan at Rangers of the Scottish Premiership for 41 matches during the 2022-23 campaign. The St. Pauli loan runs through June 30 but can be extended through the 2025-26 season if certain conditions are met. St. Pauli (4-10-2, 14), which is in 14th place out of 18 teams, is one point above the relegation zone.

A NEW HOME FOR A HOMEGROWN

FC Dallas forward Jesús Ferreira, the most decorated Homegrown Player in the club’s history, was traded to the Seattle Sounders FC for winger Léo Chú, $1 million in 2025 General Allocation Money, $500K in 2026 GAM and up to $800K GAM if certain performance metrics are met and a 2025 international roster slot. Ferreira recorded 53 goals and 34 assists in 163 regular season games for FC Dallas.

ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE

Brandon Vazquez will be playing his club soccer in the United States again as he transferred from Monterrey (Liga MX) to Austin FC (MLS) on Monday, Jan. 6. The 26-year-old forward signed a guaranteed contract as a Designated player through 2028, with an option for 2029. He and Monterrey lost to Club America in the Mexican championship final last month, by a 3-2 aggregate. Vasquez, who scored four goals in 21 appearances last season, was a 2022 MLS Best XI and all-star selection with FC Cincinnati.

BACK IN THE LINEUP

Josh Sargent, who had not played for Norwich City (English Championship) for more than two-and-a-half months due to a groin injury, made his first appearance since Oct. 27 in the Canaries' 4-0 defeat in the FA Cup to Brighton & Hove Albion (English Premier League) on Saturday, Jan. 11. Sargent, who has scored four goals in 12 matches, came on for Ante Crnac in the 79th minute.

LONG-TIME COMING

Erik Palmer-Brown played in his first game for Panathinaikos in 15 months in its 2-1 victory over Atromitos in the Greek Cup on Wednesday, Jan. 8. The 27-year-old defender, who last played for the team in a 4-1 win over Asteras Tripolis on Sept. 28, 2023, replaced Tin Jedvaj in the 72nd minute. On Sunday, Jan. 12, Palmer-Brown suited up, but did not see any action in a 2-2 draw with Panserraikos in a league match.

FULL RUNDOWN

-- Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United; English Championship) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Harrogate Town in FA Cup (Jan. 11)

-- Paxten Aaronson (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - 89 minutes, GOAL, in 2-1 win vs. Feyenoord (Jan. 12)

-- Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth; English Premier League) – 89 minutes in 5-1 win vs. West Bromwich Albion in F.A. Cup (Jan. 11)

-- Folarin Balogun (Monaco; French Ligue 1) – Injured, DNP in 2-2 draw at Nantes (Jan. 10)

-- Taylor Booth (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 win vs. Feyenoord (Jan. 12)

-- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italian Serie A) – 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Inter Milan (Jan. 12)

-- Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis; Spain La Liga) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Real Valladolid (Jan. 11)

-- Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 4-1 win at Ross County (Jan. 11)

-- Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - Injured, DNP in 2-2 draw vs. AZ (Jan. 11)

-- Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo, Spain La Liga) - In 18, DNP in 2-1 loss at Rayo Vallecano (Jan. 10)

-- Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 1-0 wub vs, Kortrijk (Jan. 10)

-- Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City; Championship) - 90 minutes, SHUTOUT, in 1-0 win at Sheffield United in FA Cup (Jan. 9)

-- Richy Ledezma (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 90 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. AZ (Jan. 11)

-- Kristoffer Lund (Palermo; Italy Serie B) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Modena (Jan. 12)

-- Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim; Bundesliga) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-0 win vs. Union Berlin (Jan. 11)

-- Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Torino (Jan. 11)

-- Mark McKenzie (Toulouse; French Ligue 1) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Strasbourg (Jan. 12)

-- Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough; Championship) - Injured, DNP in 0-0 draw vs. Blackburn Rovers in FA Cup (Jan. 11)

-- Yunus Musah (AC Milan; Italy Serie A) - 62 minutes in 1-1 draw vs, Cagliari (Jan. 11); 77 minutes in Italian Super Cup (Jan. 6)

-- Erik Palmer-Brown (Panathinaikos; Greek Super League) - In 18, DNP in 2-2 draw at Panserraikos (Jan. 12); 18 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win vs. Atromitos in Greek Cup (Jan. 8)

-- Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 1-0 win at Hoffenheim (Jan. 11)

-- Jordan Pefok (Union Berlin; Bundesliga) - 60 minutes in 2-0 loss at Heidenheim (Jan. 11)

-- Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 10 minutes as a substitute in 2-2 draw vs. AZ (Jan. 11)

-- Christian Pulisic (AC Milan; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Cagliari (Jan. 11); 90 minutes, GOAL, in Italian Super Cup (Jan. 6)

-- Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; Bundesliga) - 12 minutes as a substitute in 3-2 loss vs. Bayer Leverkusen (Jan. 10)

-- Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Sint-Truiden (Jan. 11)

-- Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Stockport County in FA Cup (Jan. 12)

-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) - Not in 18, DNP in 4-1 win vs. Watford in FA Cup (Jan. 9)

-- James Sands (St. Pauli, Bundesliga) - 12 minutes as a substitute in a 1-0 loss vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (Jan. 12)

-- Josh Sargent (Norwich City; English Championship) - 11 minutes as a substitute in 4-0 loss vs. Brighton & Hove Albion in FA Cup (Jan. 11)

-- Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 82 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Bayern Munich (Jan. 11)

-- Gaga Slonina (Chelsea; English Premier League) - Not in 18, DNP in 5-0 win vs. Morecambe in FA Cup (Jan. 11)

-- Tanner Tessmann (Lyon; French Ligue 1) – 67 minutes in 2-1 loss at Brest (Jan. 11)

-- Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 67 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. AZ (Jan. 11)

-- Auston Trusty (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 4-1 win at Ross County (Jan. 11)

-- Matt Turner (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - 90 minutes, SHUTOUT, in 1-0 win vs. Stockport County in FA Cup (Jan. 12)

-- Tim Weah (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 17 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw at Torino (Jan. 11)

-- Caleb Wiley (Strasbourg; French Ligue 1) - Injured, DNP in 2-1 win at Toulouse (Jan. 12)

-- Haji Wright (Coventry City; Championship) - Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw (4-3 PK winners vs. Sheffield Wednesday in FA Cup (Jan. 11)