Ricardo Pepi’s first start for PSV in over two months ended in jubilation.
Pepi scored once and assisted once as PSV defeated FC Volendam 3-0 in Eredivisie play on Sunday. The U.S. men’s national team forward earned SBI Americans Abroad Player of the Week honors as Peter Bosz’s men continued their winning run in all competitions.
After teeing up Joey Veerman for PSV’s opening goal in the sixth minute, Pepi dialed his own number later in the half to double the hosts advantage.
Pepi rose high in the 24th minute, delivering an overhead kick into the bottom-left corner for a 2-0 PSV lead. It marked Pepi’s third goal of the season in league play.
Guus Til added a third and final goal in the second half for PSV, capping off another dominant performance for the reigning champions.
Pepi, who played the full 90 minutes in the match, walked away with his sixth goal of the season in all competitions. The 22-year-old will now aim to retain his starting spot when PSV visits SC Heerenveen on December 6.
Here is a closer look at this week’s top Americans Abroad performances:
Tyler Adams
AFC Bournemouth couldn’t hang on for all three points on Saturday but Tyler Adams did deliver one of the Goals of the Season so far.
Adams’ long-range chip of Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs was the longest-distanced goal in the Premier League this season. However, the Cherries saw an early 2-0 lead evaporate in an eventual 3-2 loss at the Stadium of Light.
The USMNT midfielder played 71 minutes in the match.
Patrick Agyemang
Patrick Agyemang added to his growing goal-contribution list in EFL Championship play on Saturday.
Agyemang scored his third league goal of the campaign despite Derby County’s 2-1 road loss to Middlesbrough. The former Charlotte FC man delivered a confident finish after just two minutes, giving the visiting Rams an early advantage.
However, Middlesbrough came roaring back in the second half to claim all three points.
Alex Zendejas
Alex Zendejas’ sixth Apertura goal of the year proved to be his last of the season.
Zendejas helped Club America claim a 2-1 second leg victory over Monterrey on Saturday, but the visitors advanced in the league playoffs thanks to a 3-2 aggregate scoreline.
The 27-year-old Zendejas had missed time over the past two months due to injury, but finished the season on a high note. He will now receive a short break before the Clausura campaign begins in early-January.
Mark McKenzie
Toulouse left the Orange Velodrome with one point, thanks to Mark McKenzie’s late heroics against Marseille.
McKenzie set up Toulouse’s equalizing goal in a 2-2 draw with Marseille on Saturday, logging 90 minutes in the process. The USMNT defender also won two duels, made five clearances and made three blocks as the visitors jumped up to ninth-place with the road result.
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.
No Pepi no party.
Still think Berhalter screwed the pooch by not bringing him for 2022. But Greg thought the team needed 4 RB’s. Lol.
Nothing quite like scoring with a bike kick to emphasize you’re back on the pitch and feeling confident about stuff.
One of the things that almost impressed me more than the bike was how unselfish Pepi was being. In the past it was shoot on sight regardless of whether there was really a shot there or not…lately he’s been picking up his head and if it’s not there, he’ll go to the open teammate because it’s clearly sunk in an assist is just as good as a goal and better collectively for the team. I very much liked seeing that he OPENED with an assist on PSV’s first goal before he biked it on their second. That’s putting your stamp on the game, for sure. Our strikers certainly do seem to be heating up at the right time, from the US point of view.
I prefer extremely selfish goal scorers like Clint. He’s paid to score not assist. I don’t care if he takes four shoot on sight attempts that all fail miserably as long as he scores on the fifth attempt.
That unconcious, single-minded dedication to scoring no matter what, is part of their leaderhip qualities.. It speaks to focus. If everyone is as focused on doing their job as Clint was, the team is better off. And my experience is that if you want something done right, then do it yourself.
I want my striker to think score, first , last and always.
As it is with goal keepers, the only thing that matters with a striker is results.