USMNT REWIND: Zardes, Arriola, Roldan and Pefok Find the Back of the Net Twice
Weah, Dest and Richards collect first assists of the season for European Clubs
With U.S. Men's National Team head coach Gregg Berhalter set to announce his roster for the next three matches in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying this week, two players put their best feet forward, literally and figuratively, in their quest to be part of the squad.
Columbus Crew forward Gyasi Zardes and D.C. United winger bagged braces in their Major League Soccer wins over the weekend.
Zardes warmed up for the Crew's confrontation with Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup on Wednesday night by scoring on both sides of halftime for the defending MLS Cup champions' 2-1 home victory over CF Montreal.
In the 44th minute, Derrick Etienne, Jr. swung in a cross from the left to find Zardes, who used a flying volley to redirect past goalkeeper James Pantemis for his 50th regular season goal as a Columbus player. The eventual game-winner came on the other side of halftime, when a Montreal turnover saw Darlington Nagbe feed Zardes into space. With an open look, the USMNT striker uncorked a rocketing effort from just outside the box and into the top left corner in the 62nd minute.
.@gyasinho had himself a pretty good night! 🔗🚀
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) September 26, 2021
Two well-taken goals from the #USMNT striker guided @ColumbusCrew to a 2-1 win vs. @clubdefootmtl on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/4Y6U9iDLuZ
Zardes has three goals in four matches since returning from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the USMNT’s September camp. The veteran forward has seven goals in MLS this season.
Arriola gave D.C. the lead seven minutes into its 4-2 home win over FC Cincinnati on Saturday night. After a give-and-go with Edison Flores off his quick corner kick, Julian Gressel found Arriola at the back post where he finished for the early advantage.
Gressel was also involved in the USMNT winger’s second goal in the 41st minute, with his cross deflecting to an unmarked Arriola on the left. The 26-year-old slotted home his fifth goal of the season from 12 yards out.
.@PaulArriola also with the brace to help @DCUnited to a 4-2 win vs. @FCCincinnati last night.
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) September 26, 2021
Great job, Paulie! 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/cJe2XnQudB
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Not only did Cristian Roldan score in both Seattle Sounders FC's matches the last week, the midfielder also tallied the first goal in each match off crosses from the left.
He put home Jimmy Medranda's feed in the 48th minute in a 3-2 defeat to Leon in the Leagues Cup Final at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Wednesday night. Roldan again tallied in the 31st minute in a 2-1 MLS win at Sporting Kansas City on Sunday night, slotting home Brad Smith's cross.
Great pass.
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) September 26, 2021
Great finish. @bradsmith_94 finds @CristianRoldan for the 1-0 lead! 👏#SoundersMatchday | #SKCvSEA pic.twitter.com/x21WbMAZy1
Roldan has four goals across all competitions this year.
SOME FORWARD THINKING
* Striker Jordan Pefok raised his goal total to nine across all competitions as he tallied in the third minute of Young Boys' 2-1 win over St. Gallen in the Swiss Super League on Saturday. On Wednesday, he also found the net in the 62nd minute in a 6-1 victory past host Lausanne Sport.
ANOTHER GOAL FOR JORDAN PEFOK! HE CAN'T STOP SCORING!
— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) September 25, 2021
(via @zumrundenleder) pic.twitter.com/jL6GjhNDEE
* Forward Daryl Dike scored his fourth goal of the season against his USMNT teammate and goalkeeper Matt Turner in Orlando City SC's 2-1 loss at the New England Revolution on Saturday. Dike knotted the game at 1-1 as he converted a Mauricio Pereyra feed in the 18th minute.
Dike also drew a penalty kick after being fouled by Andrew Farrell in the 73rd minute, but Turner got the last laugh, denying Nani’s spot kick to hold up the 2-1 victory for New England.
We're on a mission 🚀#NERevs | #VamosNERevs pic.twitter.com/rPA4a5dLqL
— x - New England Revolution (@NERevolution) September 26, 2021
We're on a mission 🚀#NERevs | #VamosNERevs pic.twitter.com/rPA4a5dLqL
— x - New England Revolution (@NERevolution) September 26, 2021
PLAYMAKERS
* Tim Weah assisted on Jonathan David's 23rd-minute goal and drew what would stand as the game-winning penalty kick in Lille's 2-1 win at Strasbourg in French Ligue 1 on Saturday. The 21-year-old attacker has appeared in each of Lille’s last three matches after recovering from the injury that kept him out of the September World Cup Qualifiers.
ICYMI, big day for Tim Weah and @LOSC_EN on Saturday.
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) September 26, 2021
Timo set up Jonathan David for the first goal, then drew the penalty that stood as the game-winner in Lille's 2-1 win vs. Strasbourg.
(@ESbeINSPORTS) pic.twitter.com/XdLwPoYF8X
* Defender Sergiño Dest bagged his first assist of the La Liga season, setting up Luuk de Jong's goal in the 14th minute of Barcelona's 3-0 victory over Levante on Sunday.
Really nice assist from Sergino Dest playing on the (brace yourself)… left side for Barcelona #USMNT
— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) September 26, 2021
pic.twitter.com/xQfWVljMWC
* In a confrontation of USMNT defenders, Chris Richards and Hoffenheim got the upper hand over John Brooks and Wolfsburg in a 3-1 home result in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Richards also collected his third career Bundesliga assist on Andrej Kramarić's equalizing goal two minutes into first-half stoppage time.
FULL RUNDOWN
-- Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 80 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Toronto FC (Sept. 25)
-- Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig; German Bundesliga) – Injured, DNP in 6-0 win vs. Hertha Berlin (Sept. 25)
-- Brenden Aaronson (Red Bull Salzburg; Austria Bundesliga) - 89 minutes in 2-0 win at Wolfsberger AC (Sept. 25); Not in 18, DNP in 8-0 win vs. Kalsdorf in OFB Cup (Sept. 22)
-- Paul Arriola (D.C. United; MLS) - 45 minutes and TWO GOALS in 4-2 win vs. FC Cincinnati (Sept. 25)
-- George Bello (Atlanta United; MLS) - 69 minutes in 1-0 loss at Philadelphia Union (Sept. 25)
-- Tyler Boyd (Rizespor; Turkish Super Lig) - 63 minutes in 3-0 loss at Istanbul Basaksehir (Sept. 26); 31 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 loss vs. Altay (Sept. 21)
-- John Brooks (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 3-1 loss at Hoffenheim (Sept. 25)
-- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italy Serie A) - Vs. Torino (Monday, 2:45 p.m. ET); 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at AC Milan (Sept. 22)
-- Reggie Cannon (Boavista; Portuguese Primeira) – vs. Estoril (Monday, 4:15 p.m. ET) Not in 18, DNP in 3-1 loss at Benfica (Sept. 20)
-- Christian Cappis (Brondby; Danish Superliga) - 17 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win vs. AaB (Sept. 26); 90 minutes and TWO GOALS and ASSIST in 8-1 win at Allerod in DBU Pokalen Cup (Sept. 23)
-- Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; Brazilian Serie A) – In 18, DNP in 2-0 win vs. Bahia (Sept. 26)
-- Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Dundee United (Sept. 26); 90 minutes in 3-0 win vs. Raith Rovers in League Cup (Sept. 23)
-- Konrad de la Fuente (Marseille; French Ligue 1) - 45 minutes as a substitute in 3-2 loss vs. Lens (Sept. 26); 31 minutes as a substitute in 0-0 draw at Angers (Sept. 22)
-- Luca de la Torre (Heracles; Dutch Eredivisie); 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. RKC Waalwijk (Sept. 26); 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Cambuur (Sept. 23)
-- Sergiño Dest (Barcelona; Spain La Liga) - 89 minutes and ASSIST in 3-0 win vs. Levante (Sept. 26); 80 minutes in 0-0 draw at Cadiz (Sept. 23)
-- Daryl Dike (Orlando City SC; MLS) - 90 minutes and GOAL in 2-1 loss vs. New England Revolution (Sept. 25)
-- Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; MLS) – 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Vancouver Whitecaps (Sept. 25)
-- Nicholas Gioacchini (Montpellier; French Ligue 1) – 2 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 loss win at PSG Sept. 25); 8 minutes as a substitute in 3-3 draw vs. Bordeaux (Sept. 22)
-- Julian Green (Greuther Fürth; German Bundesliga) – 86 minutes in 3-1 loss vs. Bayern Munich (Sept. 24)
-- Brad Guzan (Atlanta United) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Philadelphia Union (Sept. 25)
-- Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; MLS) – 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Vancouver Whitecaps (Sept. 25)
-- Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest; Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Millwall (Sept. 25)
-- Matthew Hoppe (Mallorca; Spanish Primera) - In 18, DNP in 3-2 loss vs. Osasuna (Sept. 26); 59 minutes and an ASSIST in 6-1 loss at Real Madrid (Sept. 22)
-- Sean Johnson (New York City FC; MLS) - 90 minutes 1-0 loss vs. New York Red Bulls (Sept. 25); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at New York Red Bulls (Sept. 22)
-- Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Austin FC (Sept. 26)
-- Matt Miazga (Alaves; Spanish Primera) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Atletico Madrid (Sept. 25); 4 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 loss at Espanyol (Sept. 22)
-- Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italian Serie A) – 8 minutes as a substitute in 3-2 win vs. Sampdoria (Sept. 26); 90 minutes in 3-2 win at Spezia (Sept. 22)
-- Mark McKenzie (Genk; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 3-0 win vs. RFC Seraing (Sept. 26); In 18, DNP in 4-2 loss at Royal Antwerp (Sept. 22)
-- Shaq Moore (Tenerife; Spain Sequenda Division) - In 18, DNP in 3-1 loss at Almeria (Sept. 24)
-- Yunus Musah (Valencia; Spain La Liga) - 83 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Athletic Bilbao (Sept. 25); 45 minutes as a substitute in 3-1 loss at Sevilla (Sept. 22)
-- Owen Otasowie (Club Brugge; Belgian Pro League) - Not in 18, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. OH Leuven (Sept. 24)
-- Erik Palmer-Brown (Troyes; French Ligue 1) - Not in 18, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Angers (Sept. 26); Not in 18, DNP in 3-1 loss at Lyon (Sept. 22)
-- Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Vancouver Whitecaps (Sept. 25)
-- Jordan Pefok (Young Boys; Swiss Super League) - 69 minutes and GOAL in 2-1 win vs. St. Gallen (Sept. 25); 63 minutes and GOAL in 6-1 win at Lausanne Sport (Sept. 22)
-- Christian Pulisic (Chelsea; English Premier League - Injured, DNP in 1-0 loss at Manchester City (Sept. 25); Injured, DNP in 4-3 win penalties after 1-1 draw vs. Aston Villa in League Cup (Sept. 22)
-- Tim Ream (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Bristol City (Sept. 25); No in 18, DNP in 6-5 loss after 1-1 draw vs. Leeds United in League Cup (Sept. 21)
-- Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; German Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 1-0 loss at Borussia Mönchengladbach (Sept. 25)
-- Bryan Reynolds (AS Roma, Italy Serie A) - Not in 18, DNP in 3-2 loss at Lazio (Sept. 26); In 18, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Udinese (Sept. 23)
-- Chris Richards (Hoffenheim; German Bundesliga) - 90 minutes and ASSIST in 3-1 win vs. Wolfsburg (Sept. 25)
-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Bristol City (Sept. 25); Not in 18, DNP in 6-5 loss after 1-1 draw vs. Leeds United in League Cup (Sept. 21)
-- Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Philadelphia Union (Sept. 25)
-- Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; MLS) - 90 minutes and GOAL in 2-1 win at Sporting KC (Sept. 26); 90 minutes and GOAL in 3-2 loss vs. Leon in Las Vegas in Leagues Cup (Sept. 22)
-- James Sands (New York City FC; MLS) - 90 minutes 1-0 loss vs. New York Red Bulls (Sept. 25); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at New York Red Bulls (Sept. 22)
-- Josh Sargent (Norwich City; English Premier League) – 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Everton (Sept. 25)
-- Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach (Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win at Borussia Dortmund (Sept. 25)
-- Zack Steffen (Manchester City; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Chelsea (Sept. 25); 90 minutes in 6-1 win vs. Wycombe Wanderers in League Cup (Sept. 21)
-- Tanner Tessmann (Venezia; Italy Serie A) - vs. Torino (Monday, 2:45 p.m.); 9 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 loss at A.C. Milan (Sept. 22)
-- Matt Turner (New England Revolution; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Orlando City SC (Sept. 25); 90 minutes in 3-2 win at Chicago Fire (Sept. 22)
-- Tim Weah (Lille; French Ligue 1) - 90 minutes and ASSIST in 2-1 win at Strasbourg (Sept. 25); 60 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Reims (Sept. 22)
-- DeAndre Yedlin (Galatasaray; Turkish Super Lig) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Goztepe (Sept. 26); 90 minutes in 3-0 loss at Kayserispor (Sept. 22)
-- Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Los Angeles FC (Sept. 25)
-- Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew; MLS) - 70 minutes and TWO GOALS in 2-1 win vs. CF Montreal (Sept. 25)
-- Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at Chicago Fire (Sept. 26)