Jordan Pefok might not celebrate a Swiss Pro League title with Young Boys later this spring, but that won’t stop him from completing a career-best season in Switzerland.
The U.S. men’s national team striker scored two goals for Young Boys in the first half of its 3-1 victory over Servette on Saturday. Pefok has recently contributed four goals in the last three matches, including a game-winning goal against table-leaders FC Zurich last weekend. Pefok has been one of the major bright spots for Young Boys in what has been a disappointing overall league campaign for the defending champions.
Pefok now has 21 league goals this season and is well on his way to bringing home the Golden Boot for the first time in his European career.
In Austrian Bundesliga action, Brenden Aaronson returned from a one-month spell on the sidelines and scored from the penalty spot in a 5-0 league rout over Austria Vienna. The victory for Red Bull Salzburg clinched it the league title, giving Aaronson his third domestic trophy in Europe.
In Turkey, another American striker is making noise with a scoring streak of his own. Haji Wright helped his side by delivering a game-tying goal in the 56th minute on Sunday. The 24-year-old forward has scored in four straight matches for Antalyaspor, extending his season total to 11 goals. Antalyaspor’s 11-match unbeaten run has been sparked by Wright’s clinical abilities in front of goal, helping the Super Lig side remain in the fight for a top-four finish.
In England, Christian Pulisic played the hero for Chelsea, delivering the winning goal off of the bench in a 1-0 triumph over London rivals West Ham United. Pulisic’s goal tally is now up to five goals in 16 league matches played this season, giving Thomas Tuchel plenty to consider for the upcoming matches in May.
In Germany, Wolfsburg delivered a 5-0 romp over Mainz on Friday with USMNT defender John Brooks excelling in the backline.
In Spain, Yunus Musah came off the bench and played 20 minutes in the Copa del Rey final loss to Real Betis. Musah missed in the 5-4 penalty shootout loss to Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
In Ligue 1 action, Tim Weah played another 90 minutes for Lille in its 1-0 win over Strasbourg. It was the USMNT forward’s second straight start as Lille continues to push for a top-four finish.
In Belgium, the Pro League Championship Playoff is underway. Mark Mckenzie has cemented a spot in Genk’s starting eleven as it claimed a 1-0 victory over Gent. The Belgian club has won every match with a clean sheet since McKenzie’s inclusion in the lineup at the start of April.
Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Americans Abroad action:
England
Premier League
Christian Pulisic came off the bench, scored ONE GOAL, and played 14 minutes in Chelsea’s 1-0 win over West Ham United on Sunday.
Zack Steffen dressed but did not play in Manchester City’s 5-1 win over Watford on Saturday.
Jesse Marsch and Leeds United played Crystal Palace to a 0-0 draw on Monday.
Josh Sargent is OUT (Injury) for Norwich City.
Championship
Tim Ream started and played 90 minutes in Fulham’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth on Saturday.
Antonee Robinson came off the bench and played 45 minutes for Fulham.
Duane Holmes started and played 89 minutes in Huddersfield’s 2-1 win over Barnsley on Friday.
Ethan Horvath dressed but did not play in Nottingham Forest’s 1-0 win over Peterborough on Saturday.
Matthew Olosunde and Preston North End host Blackburn on Monday.
Daryl Dike is OUT FOR SEASON (injury) for West Brom.
League One
Lynden Gooch started, registered ONE ASSIST,and played 90 minutes in Sunderland’s 5-1 win over Cambridge on Saturday.
Marlon Fossey is OUT FOR SEASON (Injury) for Bolton.
Germany
Bundesliga
Tyler Adams started and played 90 minutes in RB Leipzig’s 2-1 loss to Union Berlin on Saturday.
John Brooks started and played 90 minutes in Wolfsburg’s 5-0 win over Mainz on Friday.
Kevin Paredes came off the bench and played nine minutes for Wolfsburg.
Joe Scally came off the bench and played 21 minutes in Borussia Monchengladbach’s 3-3 draw with Freiburg on Saturday.
Ricardo Pepi dressed but did not play in Augsburg’s 2-0 win over Bochum on Sunday.
Justin Che dressed but did not play in Hoffenheim’s 2-2 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
Timmy Chandler dressed but did not play for Eintracht Frankfurt.
Julian Green started and played 90 minutes in Greuther Furth’s 4-1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
Tim Tillman started and played 83 minutes for Greuther Furth.
Pellegrino Matarazzo‘s Stuttgart lost 2-0 to Hertha BSC on Sunday.
George Bello started and played 90 minutes in Arminia Bielefeld’s 3-1 loss to Koln on Saturday.
Gio Reyna is OUT FOR SEASON (injury) for Dortmund.
Chris Richards is OUT FOR SEASON (injury) for Hoffenheim.
2. Bundesliga
Ryan Malone started and played 90 minutes in Hansa Rostock’s 2-2 draw with Erzgebirge Aue on Sunday.
Nico Carrera did not dress in Holstein Kiel’s 1-1 draw with FC Heidenheim on Saturday.
Bryang Kayo did not dress in Nuremberg’s 4-2 loss to Sandhausen on Sunday.
3. Liga
Terrence Boyd started and played 90 minutes in Kaiserslautern’s 2-1 loss to Wehen Wiesbaden on Friday.
Johan Gomez came off the bench and played 31 minutes in FSV Zwickau’s 3-0 loss to Magdeburg on Sunday.
Italy
Serie A
Gianluca Busio started and played 61 minutes in Venezia’s 3-1 loss to Atalanta on Saturday.
Tanner Tessmann dressed but did not play for Venezia.
Weston McKennie is OUT (Injury) for Juventus.
Serie B
Andrija Novakovich started, played 82 minutes and registered an assist in Frosinone’s 4-1 win vs. Monza on Monday.
Anthony Fontana dressed but did not play in Ascoli’s 0-0 draw with Cittadella on Monday.
Spain
Copa del Rey
Yunus Musah came off the bench and played 20 minutes in Valencia’s 1-1 loss in penalties to Real Betis on Saturday. Musah missed in a 5-4 penalty shootout loss.
La Liga
Sergiño Dest started and played 45 minutes in Barcelona’s 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
Segunda Liga
Jonathan Gomez started and played 90 minutes in Real Sociedad B’s 2-1 win over SD Amorebieta on Saturday.
Shaq Moore came off the bench and played 1 minute in Tenerife’s 0-0 draw with SD Huesca on Friday.
Samuel Shashoua did not dress for Tenerife.
France
Ligue 1
Tim Weah started and played 90 minutes in Lille’s 1-0 win over Strasbourg on Sunday.
Erik Palmer-Brown started and played 90 minutes in Troyes’ 1-0 loss to Nice on Sunday.
Nicholas Gioacchini came off the bench and played five minutes in Montpellier’s 5-2 loss to Lyon on Saturday.
Konrad De La Fuente is OUT FOR SEASON (injury) for Marseille.
Netherlands
Eredivisie
Luca de la Torre started and played 90 minutes in Heracles’ 1-0 win over FC Groningen on Sunday.
Cole Bassett came off the bench and played six minutes in Feyenoord’s 2-1 win over FC Utrecht on Sunday.
Richie Ledezma came off the bench and played one minute in PSV’s 2-1 win over Cambuur on Saturday.
Eerste Divisie
Richie Ledezma, started, played 62 minutes and scored a goal in Jong PSV’s 2-2 draw with Maastritch on Monday.
Dante Sealy did not dress for Jong PSV.
Portugal
Liga Portugal
Reggie Cannon started and played 90 minutes in Boavista’s 3-0 loss to Sporting Lisbon on Monday.
Alex Mendez started and played 69 minutes in Vizela’s 2-1 win over Arouca on Friday.
Belgium
Pro League Championship Playoff
Mark McKenzie started and played 90 minutes in Genk’s 1-0 win over Gent on Sunday.
Sam Vines started and played 90 minutes in Royal Antwerp’s 1-0 loss to Club Brugge on Sunday.
Owen Otasowie is OUT (selection) for Club Brugge.
Scotland
Premiership Second Phase
Cameron Carter-Vickers started and played 90 minutes in Celtic’s 2-0 win over Ross County on Sunday.
James Sands came off the bench and played 22 minutes in Rangers’ 3-1 win over Motherwell on Saturday.
Joe Efford started and played 72 minutes for Motherwell.
Christian Ramirez came off the bench and played 20 minutes in Aberdeen’s 2-1 loss to Livingston on Saturday.
Sebastian Soto came off the bench and played four minutes for Livingston.
Chris Mueller came off the bench and played 20 minutes in Hibernian’s 1-0 win over St. Mirren on Saturday.
Ian Harkes is OUT FOR SEASON (injury) for Dundee United.
Austria
Bundesliga Championship Group
Brenden Aaronson started, scored ONE GOAL, and played 64 minutes in Red Bull Salzburg’s 5-0 win over Austria Wien.
Thomas Roberts did not dress in SK Austria Klagenfurt’s 3-2 loss to Wolfsberger on Sunday.
2. Liga
Ulysses Llanez started and played 59 minutes in St. Poelten’s 1-0 loss to Grazer AK on Sunday.
Switzerland
Super League
Jordan Pefok started, scored TWO GOALS, and played 83 minutes in Young Boys’ 3-1 win over Servette on Saturday.
Denmark
Superliagen
Christian Cappis started and played 45 minutes in Brondby’s 3-1 loss to Midtjylland on Monday.
Emmanuel Sabbi came off the bench and played 45 minutes in Odense’s 2-1 win over AGF Aarhus on Sunday.
Jonathan Amon is OUT FOR SEASON (Injury) for Nordsjaelland.
Hungary
Nb I
Henry Wingo did not dress in Ferencvaros’ 2-1 win over Ujpest on Sunday.
Turkey
Super Lig
Haji Wright started, scored ONE GOAL, and played 89 minutes in Antalyaspor’s 1-1 draw with Kayserispor on Sunday.
Tyler Boyd started and played 45 minutes in Rizespor’s 6-0 loss to Fenerbahce on Friday.
Norway
Eliteserien
Kobe Hernandez-Foster did not dress in HamKam’s 2-2 draw with Kristiansund on Sunday.
Sam Rogers is OUT (injury) for Rosenborg.
Sweden
Allsvenskan
Joe Gyau started and played 71 minutes in Degerfors 2-0 loss to IFK Varnamo on Monday.
Romain Gall did not dress in Malmo’s 1-0 win over IFK Goteborg on Monday.
Forest Lasso did not dress in Sundsvall’s 3-1 loss to Elfsborg on Monday.
Joe Corona is OUT (Suspension) for Sundsvall.
Jeffrey Gal dressed but did not play for Degerfors.
Argentina
Copa De La Liga Profesional
Alan Sonora started and played 89 minutes in Independiente’s 3-0 loss to Rosario Central on Saturday.
Joel Sonora came off the bench and played 36 minutes in Velez Sarsfield’s 1-1 draw with Barracas Central on Saturday.
Brazil
Gaucho
Johnny Cardoso dressed but did not play in Internacional’s 1-0 win over Fluminense on Saturday.
Mexico
Liga MX
Sebastian Saucedo started and played 63 minutes in Pumas’ 3-1 loss to Chivas on Saturday.
American lads doing very well. The main problem we have is that we have enough injured players that we could put together a pretty good team, just from that group. The US is certainly building a lot of depth though.
I’d like to get another look at Wright. Dude had some impressive physical attributes and you’d see flashes but he just seemed really heavy with his touches and unintuitive in his movement and feel for the game back when I last saw him, he was just a mile off where, say, Dike was in his movement and understanding and soccer IQ. But if that light’s come on for him he could be interesting because physically he’s WAAAAAAAY better than Dike or Hoppe (or even Pepi, who is big and pretty fast, or Pefok, who is certainly magnificent in the air) and certainly more explosive and athletic than any of them. And that shot from distance the dude has…woof. He gets a look even from 25+, it doesn’t matter, it’s coming and it’s coming FAST.
Maybe he can help us, maybe not. But he’s as good an athlete at the center-forward position as I’ve EVER seen for the USA, and I’d love to give him every chance.
Haji Wright is on fire!!
One under Berhalter will put that fire out.
Not sure if you’re joking, but I think there’s something to that. It doesn’t really matter who plays the CF for us if we continue not providing any service. We need to provide > 1 or 2 chances to get a look.