USMNT REWIND: Ahead of Big Month, Christian Pulisic Continues to Aid Chelsea

Within a span of four days last week, Christian Pulisic and his Chelsea teammates recorded victories in a pair of cup competitions.

 

On Wednesday, Jan. 5 the Blues defeated Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup first-leg semifinal at home, 2-0. Pulisic, played the final 11 minutes for Chelsea, which will visit its foes in the second leg on Wednesday.

 

Chelsea made it back-to-back wins as it rolled to a 5-1 victory over non-league Chesterfield in the third round of the F.A. Cup at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, Jan. 8.

 

Pulisic had a role in two goals.

 

He set up Callum Hudson-Odoi's tally with a short pass in the 18th minute, which gave the hosts a 2-0 advantage.

 

WATCH: Pulisic Helps Chelsea Advance in FA Cup

 

 

A minute after the U.S. Men National Team standout was taken down by Calvin Miller on the right side of the box, Hakim Ziyech's converted a 55th-minute penalty kick for the hosts' final score. Pulisic was subbed out for Harvey Vale in the 59th minute.

 

As it turns out, the 23-year-old Pulisic could participate in as many as five competitions on three continents and in four countries during a 36-day span. 

 

After visiting Tottenham on Wednesday, the Blues travel to Manchester City for a clash between the top two sides in the English Premier League on Saturday, Jan. 15. Chelsea (12-2-7, 43 points) need a win against City's (17-2-2, 53) to cut into its massive lead.

 

Chelsea will close out January with league games at Brighton & Hove Albion on Jan. 18 and at home against Tottenham on Jan. 23.

 

Pulisic is in line to be called into the USMNT for three FIFA World Cup qualifiers - against El Salvador in Columbus, Ohio on Jan. 27, at Canada in Hamilton, Ontario on Jan. 30 and vs. Honduras in St. Paul, Minn. on Feb. 2.

 

Chelsea will then head to the United Arab Emirates for the FIFA Club World Cup. The team is scheduled to play in the Feb. 9 semifinal. The winner will advance to the final on Feb. 12.

 

On Sunday, Chelsea was drawn to meet Plymouth Argyle in a F.A. Cup fourth round home game. Matches are supposed to be played between Feb. 4 - 7. Due to Chelsea's participation in the FIFA Club World Cup, a date for that contest needs to be determined.

 

 

AN EARLY BIRTHDAY GIFT

 

Ricardo Pepi received a birthday present a day early as he made his Bundesliga debut with Augsburg in its 3-1 loss at Hoffenheim on Saturday, Jan. 8. The former FC Dallas striker, who signed with Augsburg last Monday, replaced Andi Zeqiri on the hour.

 

On Sunday, Pepi celebrated his 19th birthday.

 

The match featured a pair of FC Dallas products as Hoffenheim and USMNT defender Chris Richards played the entire 90 minutes.

 

The MLS club has produced several USMNT players who perform in Europe, including Weston McKennie (Juventus), Reggie Cannon (Boavista), Shaq Moore (Tenerife), Bryan Reynolds (Roma) and Christian Cappis (Brøndby).

 

Pepi signed a five-year contract with Augsburg that runs through June 30, 2026, with an option to extend it for another year.

 

Augsburg’s next game is set for Sunday, Jan. 16, when it hosts Eintracht Frankfurt.

 

TWO MORE MOVES

 

Two more of Ricardo Pepi’s USMNT teammates made moves abroad this past week.

 

Also on Monday, forward Daryl Dike secured a near $10 million transfer from Orlando City SC to West Bromwich Albion of the English League Championship, signing through 2026. Dike made waves in England with his loan stint at Barnsley last season, scoring nine goals in 21 appearances and helping the club earn a place in the Premier League Promotion Playoffs.

 

Later in the week, defender/midfielder James Sands finalized an 18-month loan deal from New York City FC to Scottish Premier League leaders Rangers. The 21-year-old secured the move after helping NYCFC lift its first MLS Cup just last month.

 

Both Dike and Sands were part of the USMNT’s Concacaf Gold Cup triumph last summer. 

 

BROOKS FOR 200

 

Defender John Brooks earned his 200^th Bundesliga appearance on Sunday, going 90 minutes in Wolfsburg’s 1-0 defeat at Bochum. The veteran center back became the fourth USMNT player to hit the 200 milestone and 28 years old, he’s the youngest to do so.

USMNT Players to 200 Bundesliga Appearances
Player	Bundesliga Appearances	Date	Age
Steve Cherundolo	302	Aug. 8, 2009	30 years, 172 days
Timmy Chandler	237	Dec. 18, 2019	29 years, 265 days
Fabian Johnson	208	March 15, 2019	29 years, 95 days
John Brooks	200	Jan. 9, 2022	28 years, 346 days

 

  

GETTING CLOSER

 

Attacker Gio Reyna, who hasn't played since suffering a hamstring injury during a scoreless draw with El Salvador in a FIFA World Cup Qualifier on Sept. 3, has returned to training with Borussia Dortmund.

 

His team overcame a two-goal second-half deficit to register a 3-2 away win against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. Reyna has made three league appearances for Dortmund this season.

 

 

FULL RUNDOWN

 

 

-- Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig; German Bundesliga) – 90 minutes in 4-1 win vs. Mainz (Jan. 8)

 

-- Tyler Boyd (Rizespor; Turkish Super Lig) - 62 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. Besiktas (Jan. 9)

 

-- John Brooks (Wolfsburg; Germany Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Bochum (Jan. 9)

 

-- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italy Serie A) - 79 minutes in 3-0 loss vs. A.C. Milan (Jan. 9); Suspended at Salernitana (Jan. 6)

 

-- Reggie Cannon (Boavista; Portuguese Primeira) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Tondela (Jan. 8)

 

-- Konrad de la Fuente (Marseille; French Ligue 1) - 15 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win at Bordeaux (Jan. 7)

 

-- Daryl Dike (West Bromwich Albion; English Championship) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 loss vs. Brighton in FA Cup (Jan. 8)

 

-- Sergiño Dest (Barcelona; Spain La Liga) - In 18, DNP in 1-1 draw at Granada (Jan. 8); Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 win at Linares Deportivo in Copa del Rey (Jan. 5)

 

-- Nicholas Gioacchini (Montpellier; French Ligue 1) - vs. Troyes, ppd. (Jan. 9)

 

-- Julian Green (Greuther Fürth; German Bundesliga) - 1 minute as a substitute in 0-0 draw vs. Stuttgart (Jan. 8)

 

-- Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest; English Championship) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Arsenal in FA Cup (Jan. 9)

 

-- Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes in 4-3 win at Roma (Jan. 9); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Napoli (Jan. 6)

 

-- Matt Miazga (Alaves; Spanish Primera) -- 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Athletic Bilbao (Jan. 9)

 

-- Shaq Moore (Tenerife; Spain Segunda Division) - 13 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw at Amorebieta (Jan. 7)

 

-- Yunus Musah (Valencia; Spain La Liga) - 66 minutes in 4-1 loss at Real Madrid (Jan. 8); 71 minutes in 2-1 win at FC Cartagena in Copa del Rey (Jan. 5)

 

-- Erik Palmer-Brown (Troyes; French Ligue 1) - at Montpellier, ppd. (Jan. 9)

 

-- Ricardo Pepi (Augsburg; Bundesliga) - 30 minutes as a substitute in 3-1 loss at Hoffenheim (Jan. 8)

 

-- Christian Pulisic (Chelsea; English Premier League) - 59 minutes and an ASSIST in 5-1 win vs. Chesterfield in F.A. Cup (Jan. 8); 11 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 win vs. Tottenham Hotspur in League Cup (Jan. 5)

 

-- Tim Ream (Fulham; English Championship) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 win at Bristol City in FdA Cup (Jan. 8)

 

-- Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; Bundesliga) - Not in 18, DNP in 3-2 win at Eintracht Frankfurt (Jan. 8)

 

-- Bryan Reynolds (Roma; Italy Serie A) - In 18, DNP in 4-3 loss vs. Juventus (Jan. 9); In 18, DNP in 3-1 loss at AC Milan (Jan. 6)

 

-- Chris Richards (Hoffenheim; German Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Augsburg (Jan. 8)

 

-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Championship) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 win at Bristol City in F.A. Cup (Jan. 8)

 

-- Josh Sargent (Norwich City; English Premier League) - 84 minutes in 1-0 win at Charlton Athletic in F.A. Cup (Jan. 9)

 

-- Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 3-2 win at Bayern Munich (Jan. 7)

 

-- Zack Steffen (Manchester City; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 4-1 win at Swindon Town in F.A. Cup (Jan. 7)

 

-- Tanner Tessmann (Venezia; Italy Serie A) - Not in 18, DNP in 3-0 loss vs. A.C. Milan (Jan. 9); Suspended game at Salernitana (Jan. 6)

  

-- DeAndre Yedlin (Galatasaray; Turkish Super Lig) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 loss vs. Giresunspor (Jan. 8)