PSV may have already clinched the Eredivisie title but it hasn’t stopped Ricardo Pepi from making up for lost time.
Pepi scored twice on Thursday in PSV’s 6-2 league victory over PEC Zwolle, taking his season tally up to 16 for the campaign. The U.S. men’s national team forward earned SBI Americans Abroad Player of the Week honors as he continued a positive run of form this spring.
Pepi delivered PSV’s opening goal and eventual go-ahead goal, rising high to deliver a powerful pair of headers. The 23-year-old finished off a pair of Esmir Bajraktarevic crosses, showing his clinical abilities in the 18-yard box.
PSV would eventually roll to three points in the second half with Bajraktarevic earning MOTM honors and Pepi logging another important 81 minutes under his belt.
Pepi has three final opportunities to add to his goal total, but most importantly stay healthy with the FIFA World Cup right around the corner. He is one goal away from tying his career-best haul for a single season and will be favored to reach that mark with PSV high on confidence.
Here is a closer look at this week’s top Americans Abroad performances:
Phallon Tullis-Joyce
Manchester United remains in the hunt for a UEFA Champions League berth for next season and Phallon Tullis-Joyce is a major reason for it.
Tullis-Joyce returned to club action on Saturday and registered a five-save clean sheet in the Red Devils’ 0-0 draw with Tottenham. The U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper now has seven league clean sheets in league play, which is tied with Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton for the most in the WSL.
Manchester United has two matches remaining this spring and Tullis-Joyce will be seeking to help Marc Skinner’s side finish the job.
Auston Trusty
Celtic are very much alive in the Scottish Premiership title race with four matches to go.
Auston Trusty logged his latest 90-minute shift in Saturday’s 3-1 home triumph over Falkirk, a result that moved Martin O’Neill’s squad level on points with Hearts. Trusty won eight duels, made 15 clearances, and one interception as Celtic extended its unbeaten run to five matches in all competitions.
Haji Wright
Coventry City officially began its celebrations as EFL Championship winners this past week.
Wright scored his 17th league goal of the season as the Sky Blues rolled past Portsmouth 5-1 on Tuesday. The USMNT forward also played 71 minutes on Sunday as Coventry City defeated Wrexham 3-1 at home, helping Frank Lampard’s squad move up to 92 points on the season.
Wright heads into the Sky Blues’ season-finale on Saturday, needing one goal to tie his career-best haul for a single campaign.
Daryl Dike
The starts and minutes continue to come for American forward Daryl Dike.
Dike helped West Bromwich Albion seal their EFL Championship safety after featuring in a pair of matches over the past week. The 25-year-old scored his second goal of the season in a 3-0 result over Watford on Tuesday before retaining his spot in Saturday’s goal-less draw with Ipswich Town.
With Dike’s contract set to expire at the end of May, he could very play himself into an extension with a strong finale on May 2.
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.
good to see Dike healthy and contributing to WBA with goals, but let’s be honest, its not nearly enough to be in contention for a roster spot for the WC when you consider he’s been oft injured the past 3 seasons. I don’t think we need to take 4 ST when you top 3 are versatile enough to fit into different tactical schemes, so I’d personally like to see that open spot go to another attacking mid, or another 8/6 positional player
3 strikers in form heading into thr WC is something the US has rarely had. Defensively I wont be surprised in Jedi is moved to LCB if we play with 3. With has pace and recovery speed we can move that backline up a bit more. Also he does have the ability to break lines with his dribbling and passing too. Won’t be surprised if that happens. You can put Dest at LWB and let him cook on his right foot coming inside.
The issue with playing Dest on the left is Pulisic also wants to cut in on his right so Dest and Pulisic often just end up in each other’s way when they are on the left together.
Is Dike a replacement for Agyemang?
That’s what I am hoping for MidWestRef🤞Dike emerging is nice and I hope he can push for a roster spot.
2g 1a in over 700 minutes doesn’t scream needs a roster spot at the WC. Haji has 3 headed goals, Pepi has 4 headed goals this season, Weston has 2 headed goals. With 26 roster spots why not take a specialist or two but I’m not sure Dike adds much value in his current level.
JR,
The timing is tight.
At first, I did not think Patrick was likely to make the 26.
That’s because Flo, Pepi and Haji were going really well and seemed/ seem like locks. And it did not seem like Pochettino was likely to take 4 strikers given that Pulisic is likely to be our leading scorer anyway and you still had Weah and, especially, Weston to look to. You may recall that Spalletti said Weston would be a good #9.
And for set pieces you have Richards and Weston for air superiority.
Then Patrick went on that run. Every once in a while you get a player who goes on a magical run like he did. Given that Pochettino already clearly liked what Patrick had to offer and that he was on fire it looked like Patrick was going to force his way onto the roster.
But once he got hurt it never occurred to me that Dike would replace him. They are both big tough guys, good in the air and all that.
But Patrick is more mobile and fits better into the kind of offense that I think Pochettino wants to play. Inother words, I thought Pochettino was only going to take 4 strikers because Patrick was the 4th one.
If you are one of those who insists that there must be a 4th striker, Josh Sargent has 2 goals and 1 assist in 7 appearances (497 minutes) since he moved to TFC and at least Pochettino knows him a bit and Josh DOES have WC experience. And his first goal back was a headed goal if anyone gives a shit.
I’m sure that Pochettino or one of his staff are keeping a close eye on Daryl and George.
I am pretty sure Josh, Daryl and George are already on the 35-55 man preliminary roster that has to be submitted by May 11.
The WC roster has to be announced by May 30.
Pochettino is supposed to announce the final list on May 26, one day before the opening of the Pre-World Cup camp on May 27.
Friendly w/ Senegal May 31
Friendly w/ Germany June 6th
WBA have one ore league game left ( May 2) and that’s it. Daryl and George will have to really impress the shit out of Pochettino then because that is their last chance to impress in live action.
The next USMNT camp will be after the roster is chosen so there will be no mano-a- mano steel cage death match, winner take all duel.
Barring a special audition arranged by Pochettino or injury, Daryl and George are going to have to perform out of this world on May 2nd to impress Pochettino to replace Patrick and Miles with them.