USMNT REWIND: Ricardo Pepi Continues Hot Streak With Goal for FC Dallas
Pepi has five goals and three assists in his last three matches for club and country
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Ricardo Pepi picked up where he left for club and country on Saturday night.
Only three days after his U.S. Men's National Team heroics in Honduras, the 18-year-old striker continued his hot hand for FC Dallas, striking for the equalizer in its 1-1 home draw with the San Jose Earthquakes.
Pepi headed home a Justin Che cross after the latter received a short pass from Jader Obrian near the top of the penalty area in the 50th minute for his 12th goal of the season.
You see this, Gregg?
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) September 12, 2021
17-year-old Justin Che sends in the cross and 18-year-old Ricardo Pepi scores again. pic.twitter.com/yTAxlLMIYe
In his last three games for club and country Pepi has tallied four goals and three assists. He started his amazing streak by scoring twice and setting up another goal in a 5-3 away win over Austin FC on Aug. 29. He was named the Major League Soccer Player of the Week for his efforts.
After sitting out the first two FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Pepi made his USMNT debut a game for the ages playing a part in each USMNT goal in the 4-1 victory at Honduras on Sept 8. He set up Antonee Robinson's 48th-minute equalizer before connecting for the game-winning goal in the 75th minute. Pepi also assisted on Brenden Aaronson's insurance tally in the 86th minute and saw his initial shot saved before Sebastian Lletget slotted home the fourth goal in stoppage time.
WATCH: Pepi Sparks USMNT Comeback in 4-1 WCQ Win at Honduras
And that’s not to forget Pepi’s game-winning penalty kick as the Major League Soccer All-Stars defeated Liga MX in a shootout at the MLS All-Star game in Los Angeles on Aug. 25.
Quite an 18-day run for club, country and league.
FINDING THE NET
Pepi wasn't the only USMNT player who stood out over the weekend. Nashville SC captain and center back Walker Zimmerman, back from FIFA World Cup qualifying, scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over host CF Montreal Saturday night. Hany Mukhtar initiated the scoring sequence with a free kick that Zimmerman headed home into the bottom corner of the net. It was his first goal of the season and fourth of his Nashville career.
THOR THUNDERS IT HOME ⚡️@thewalkerzim | #MTLvNSH pic.twitter.com/Ql1fjvuKjY
— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) September 12, 2021
On the defensive end, Zimmerman stood out. He made five clearances, one was a goal line save, made two interceptions and blocked one shot. Nashville has a 5-1-7 record with Zimmerman in the lineup.
KEEPING IT CLEAN
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan registered his sixth shutout of the MLS season as Atlanta United defeated visiting Orlando City on Saturday. Defender George Bello came off the bench to play the final 31 minutes of the match.
Center back John Brooks played the final 17 minutes to help Wolfsburg close out its 2-0 win vs. host Greuther Fürth and USMNT forward Julian Green in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
TURNING HEADS
Right wingback Joe Scally, 18, voted Borussia Monchengladbach's August player of the month by its fans, continued his solid play for the Bundesliga side in its 3-1 win over Arminia Bielefeld on Sunday.
An alum of the USA’s 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup Squad, Scally has played every minute of ‘Gladbach’s four matches this season.
FULL RUNDOWN:
-- Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. LA Galaxy (Sept. 11)
-- Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig; German Bundesliga) – In 18, DNP in 4-1 loss vs. Bayern Munich (Sept. 11)
-- Brenden Aaronson (Red Bull Salzburg; Austria Bundesliga) - Not in 18, DNP in 3-1 win at WSG Tirol (Sept. 11)
-- Julian Araujo (Los Angeles Galaxy; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Colorado Rapids (Sept. 11)
-- George Bello (Atlanta United; MLS) - 31 minutes as a substitute in 3-0 win vs. Orlando City SC (Sept. 10)
-- Tyler Boyd (Rizesport; Turkish Super Lig) - 69 minutes in 2-0 loss vs. Hatayspor (Sept. 12)
-- John Brooks (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - 17 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 win at Greuther Fürth (Sept. 11)
-- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Empoli (Sept. 11)
-- Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; Brazilian Serie A) – vs. Sport Recife (Monday, 7 p.m.)
-- Reggie Cannon (Boavista; Portuguese Primeira) – Not in 18, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Portimonense (Sept. 12)
-- Konrad de la Fuente (Marseille; French Ligue 1) - 11 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 win at Monaco (Sept. 11)
-- Luca de la Torre (Heracles; Dutch Eerste Divisie); Match at Feyenoord postponed until Dec. 1 (Sept. 12)
-- Daryl Dike (Orlando City SC; MLS) - 74 minutes in 3-0 loss at Atlanta United (Sept. 10)
-- Nicholas Gioacchini (Montpellier; French Ligue 1) – 32 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 win vs. Saint-Etienne (Sept. 11)
-- Julian Green (Greuther Fürth; German Bundesliga) – 60 minutes in 2-0 loss vs. Wolfsburg (Sept. 10)
-- Brad Guzan (Atlanta United) - 90 minutes and SHUTOUT in 3-0 win vs. Orlando City SC (Sept. 10)
-- Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; MLS) – 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Sept. 11)
-- Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest; Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 2-1 loss vs. Cardiff City (Sept. 12)
-- Matthew Hoppe (Mallorca; Spanish Primera) - In 18, DNP in 2-0 loss at Athletic Bilbao (Sept. 11)
-- Sean Johnson (New York City FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at New England Revolution (Sept. 11)
-- Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Colorado Rapids (Sept. 11)
-- Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italian Serie A) – 72 minutes in 2-1 loss at Napoli (Sept. 11)
-- Shaq Moore (Tenerife; Spain Sequenda Division) - In 18, DNP in 2-0 win vs. Ponferradina (Sept. 12)
-- Yunus Musah (Valencia; Spain La Liga) - 3 minutes as a substitute in 4-1 win at Osasuna (Sept. 12)
-- Owen Otasowie (Club Brugge; Belgian Pro League) - Not 18, DNP in 3-0 win vs. KV Oostende (Sept. 10)
-- Erik Palmer-Brown (Troyes; French Ligue 1) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-0 win at Metz (Sept. 12)
-- Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas; MLS) - 90 minutes and a GOAL IN 1-1 draw vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Sept. 11)
-- Jordan Pefok (Young Boys; Swiss Super League) - 76 minutes in 4-0 win vs. FC Zurich (Sept. 11)
-- Tim Ream (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Blackpool (Sept. 11)
-- Bryan Reynolds (AS Roma, Italy Serie A) - 1 minute as a substitute in 2-1 win vs. Sassuolo (Sept. 12)
-- Chris Richards (Hoffenheim; German Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 2-0 loss vs. Mainz (Sept. 11)
-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Blackpool (Sept. 11)
-- Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; MLS) - Not in 18, DNP in 3-0 win vs. Orlando City SC (Sept. 10)
-- Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; MLS) - 27 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win vs. Minnesota United (Sept. 11)
-- James Sands (New York City FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at New England Revolution (Sept. 11)
-- Josh Sargent (Norwich City; English Premier League) – Injured, DNP in 1-0 loss at Arsenal (Sept. 11)
-- Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach (Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Arminia Bielefeld (Sept. 12)
-- Tanner Tessmann (Venezia; Italy Serie A) - In 18, DNP in 2-1 win at Empoli (Sept. 11)
-- Matt Turner (New England Revolution; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. New York City FC (Sept. 11)
-- DeAndre Yedlin (Galatasaray; Turkish Super Lig) - 90 minutes in 2-2 draw at Trabzonspor (Sept. 12)
-- Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at FC Dallas (Sept. 11)
-- Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew; MLS) - 45 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 loss at Inter Miami CF (Sept. 11)
-- Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes and a GOAL in 2-0 win at CF Montreal (Sept. 11)