Christian Pulisic’s enjoyable start to AC Milan’s season continued on Saturday in Udine.
Pulisic scored twice while also registering one assist in the Rossoneri’s 3-0 Serie A victory over Udinese. The U.S. men’s national team forward earned SBI Americans Abroad Player of the Week honors after delivering his best performance yet of the new league campaign.
The 26-year-old had a vital say in all three of AC Milan’s goals against Udinese, playing a key role in both halves.
Pulisic finished off a rebound in the box for the Rossoneri’s opening goal, six minutes before halftime. One minute into the second half, Pulisic was hauled down in the Udinese 18-yard box, and although a penalty kick was not called, the loose ball rolled to Youssouf Fofana ahead of his clinical finish.
Pulisic had his final say in the match just before the hour mark as his right-footed strike snuck past Razvan Sava for a 3-0 AC Milan lead. He would watch the final 20+ minutes from the bench, but earned Man of the Match honors after delivering the Rossoneri’s first three goal contribution performance in Serie A play since 2023.
Pulisic now has four goals and one assist in five appearances this season, picking up where he left off last spring. If AC Milan wants to compete for the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia this season, an in-form Pulisic could be what puts them over the top.
Here is a closer look at this week’s top Americans Abroad performances:
Chris Richards
It was another productive week for Chris Richards and Crystal Palace.
Richards logged his first goal of the season in a midweek EFL Cup victory over Millwall before reclaiming his starting spot for Saturday’s Premier League win over West Ham United. The USMNT defender delivered a strong shift at the London Stadium, winning seven duels, completing four tackles, and making 12 clearances.
Crystal Palace remains unbeaten in the new campaign heading into next week’s showdown with Liverpool, who they defeated in the Community Shield in early-August.
Malik Tillman
Malik Tillman celebrated his first goal for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.
Tillman scored Leverkusen’s opening tally in a 1-1 home draw with Borussia Moenchengladbach. The 23-year-old also won four duels, made three interceptions, and completed 92% of his passes in the result.
Tanner Tessmann
Lyon can thank Tanner Tessmann for helping them earn three points on Friday.
Tessmann delivered the winning goal for Paulo Fonseca’s men in a 1-0 home triumph over Angers. The USMNT midfielder delivered a confident finish inside of the box, showing off his shooting skills in fine fashion.
He now has two goals in 40 appearances for Lyon since his move from Venezia last summer.
Lindsey Heaps
U.S. women’s national team captain Lindsey Heaps hit the ground running in Lyon’s league opener on Saturday.
Heaps scored her first goal of the new campaign as Lyon defeated Saint-Etienne 2-0 away from home. The veteran midfielder was joined by summer acquisition Lily Yohannes on her club debut while Korbin Shrader also featured off of the bench.
It’s looking like it could be another productive season for Heaps and Lyon in all competitions.
What did you think of this weekend’s slate of Americans Abroad action? Is there anyone else deserving of a shout on this list?
Share your thoughts below.
Another guy who’s playing well that Poch needs to take a look at and couldn’t earlier this year – because he was hurt – is James Sands, who has started every game this season for St. Pauli, who are presently 5th in the B1. Right now Tyler Adams is our one true destroyer; Sands doesn’t have Adams’ athleticism or range but he still works hard, he’s extremely disciplined, and he’s a better passer, and he’s exactly the sort of 5/6 hybrid who works well in Poch’s system as the deeper of the co-6’s. What Poch wants that guy to do is to play as a double pivot when defending, and then drop in between the CB’s almost like a third CB in possession while the shuttler progresses the ball. Sands suits all that to a “T”.
I’m extremely high on Tessmann long-term, but Tessmann’s got a crowded field ahead of him if he wants to be the shuttler for Poch – and he is NOT a destroyer or a 10. Several very good mids are not going to end up making the World Cup for us and I think we may be shocked who some of them end up being.
I remember, maybe before Poch was hired, A Robinson wasn’t available and Sands was put in at LB and I thought he did very well. I’ve thought for some time he has a lot of potential.
Wait, what? I though Tillman’s goal was called back.
Tillman’s goal was nice, a weird deflection pop up spinner that he adjusts to and hit first time, all in that moment, very nice. he almost had one earlier too on a nice control I traffic outside the 6, spin and hit with the left, but deflected
That was Tillmans second goal this season.