Key goals from Americans abroad contributed to wins for club sides all over Europe this past week.
Christian Pulisic continued his red-hot form for club AC Milan, while Ricardo Pepi made the most out of a start for PSV Eindhoven by bagging a brace.
In France, Folarin Balogun made sure Monaco celebrated its 100th anniversary in style with the equalizing goal en route to a victory.
Paxten Aaronson made sure Utrecht recorded a win, coming off the bench to score the game-winner, and while he did not find the net for Norwich City, striker Josh Sargent turned playmaker and made sure his team walked off the pitch with a victory.
FIVE IN A ROW
Christian Pulisic continued his hot start for AC Milan, striking just before halftime in the club’s 3-0 victory over Lecce in Italy’s Serie A on Friday, Sept. 27. He capped Milan’s three goals in a five-minute span with a tally in his fifth successive match for club and country. In the 43rd minute, Tammy Abraham’s shot was stopped by Lecce goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone. The rebound deflected off defender Federico Baschirotto, right into Pulisic’s path as the 26-year-old forward scored from seven yards. The win lifted Milan (3-1-2, 11 points) into a third place, two points behind leader Napoli (4-1-1, 13).
MAKING A STATEMENT
Forward Ricardo Pepi, who has made a reputation as a super sub for PSV Eindhoven and the USMNT, struck twice in his first start for the Dutch Eredivisie club this season, a 2-0 away win at Willem II on Saturday, Sept. 28. His 49th-minute header lifted the visitors into the lead before striking in the 64th minute past goalkeeper Didillon-Hödl. PSV, the Dutch leaders, remained unbeaten at 7-0-0 and 21 points, five points ahead of second-place Utrecht (5-0-1, 16).
A HAPPY ANNIVERSARY GOAL
Folarin Balogun played his role in helping Monaco celebrate its 100th anniversary in the best way possible, connecting for the French Ligue 1 team's equalizing goal in its 2-1 triumph over Montpellier on Sunday, Sept. 29. Balogun struck in the 32nd minute off a feed from Breel Embolo, past keeper Dimitry Bertaud. It was the second-consecutive week that the striker found the net after failing to score in his first three matches. Monaco, which needed a 98th-minute winner from Lamine Camara, wore a black kit to commemorate its original 1924 jersey. The team is tied with Paris Saint-German for first place in points (16) With 5-1-1 records. PSG, however, leads the Ligue 1 thanks to goal differential (+15 to +9).
OFF THE BENCH
Paxten Aaronson demonstrated his effectiveness as a halftime substitute, scoring the game-winner for Utrecht in its 2-1 victory at AZ in the Dutch Eredivisie on Sunday, Sept. 29. After replacing Can Bozdoğan at the interval, the 21-year-old midfielder put away a Souffian El Karouani feed past keeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro to break a 1-1 deadlock in the 55th minute. It was Aaronson's first goal since joining Utrecht on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer.
FROM GOAL-SCORER TO PLAYMAKER
Forward Josh Sargent is better known for scoring goals, but he turned playmaker for Norwich City in its 3-2 win at Derby County in the English Championship on Saturday, Sept. 28. After his shot was blocked, Sargent regained possession of the ball and crossed it to Borja Sainz, who finished for a 1-0 Canaries lead three minutes into first-half injury time. Then, with the visitors clinging to a 2-1 lead in the 87th minute, Sargent helped to give them some breathing room. His cross set up Sainz's third goal of the day past goalie Jacob Zetterstorm. Sargent has scored twice in seven appearances this season for the 10-place Canaries (3-2-2, 11).
FULL RUNDOWN
-- Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 3-0 win vs. Coventry City (Sept. 28)
-- Paxten Aaronson (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - 45 minutes as a substitute, GOAL, in 2-1 win at AZ (Sept. 29)
-- Kellyn Acosta (Chicago Fire; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Toronto FC (Sept. 28)
-- Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth; English Premier League) – Vs. Southampton (Monday, 3 p.m. ET)
-- Folarin Balogun (Monaco; French Ligue 1) – 90 minutes, GOAL, in 2-1 win vs. Montpellier (Sept. 28)
-- Taylor Booth (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - 6 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win at AZ (Sept. 29)
-- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italian Serie A) – 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Roma (Sept. 29)
-- Drake Callender (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Charlotte FC (Sept. 28)
-- Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis; Spain La Liga) - 11 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win vs. Espanyol (Sept. 29); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Las Palmas (Sept. 26); Injured, DNP in 2-1 loss vs. Mallorca (Sept. 23)
-- Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - Injured, DNP in 6-0 win at St. Johnstone (Sept. 28)
-- Cade Cowell (Guadalajara; Liga MX) - Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Monterrey (Sept. 28)
-- Ben Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - 1 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw vs. Charlotte FC (Sept. 28)
-- Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - Injured, DNP in 2-0 win at Willem II (Sept. 28)
-- Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo, Spain La Liga) - Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Girona (Sept. 29)
-- Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-1 loss vs. Orlando City SC (Sept. 28)
-- Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege; Belgian Pro League) - 86 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Westerlo (Sept. 28)
-- Julian Gressel (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - 60 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Charlotte FC (Sept. 28)
-- Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City; Championship) - In 18, DNP in 4-1 loss at Hull City (Sept. 28)
-- Sean Johnson (Toronto FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Chicago Fire (Sept. 28); 90 minutes, SHUTOUT, in 0-0 draw (4-2 PK loss) at Vancouver Whitecaps in Canadian Championship (Sept. 25)
-- DeJuan Jones (Columbus Crew; MLS) – 12 minutes as a substitute in 2-2 draw at D.C. United (Sept. 28); 3 minutes as a substitute, SHOOTOUT GOAL, in 1-1 draw (5-4 PK loss) vs. Club America in Campeones Cup (Sept. 26)
-- Richy Ledezma (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - Injured, DNP in 2-0 win at Willem (Sept. 28)
-- Kristoffer Lund (Palmero; Italy Serie B) - At Suditrol (Monday, 1:30 p.m. ET); 84 minutes in 5-0 loss at Napoli in Coppa Italia (Sept. 26)
-- Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim; Bundesliga) - 1 minute as a substitute in 2-0 win at Mainz (Sept. 28)
-- Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 62 minutes in 3-0 win at Genoa (Sept. 29)
-- Mark McKenzie (Toulouse; French Ligue 1) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Lyons (Sept. 29)
-- Djordje Mihailovic (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-0 loss at Minnesota United (Sept. 28)
-- Shaq Moore (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at New England Revolution (Sept. 28)
-- Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough; Championship) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Stoke City (Sept. 28)
-- Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Houston Dynamo (Sept. 28)
-- Yunus Musah (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - 27 minutes as a substitute in 3-0 win vs. Leece (Sept. 27)
-- Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy; MLS) – No games
-- Erik Palmer-Brown (Panathinaikos; Greek Super League) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-0 loss at AEK Athens (Sept. 29)
-- Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 2-2 draw vs. Stuttgart (Sept. 28)
-- Jordan Pefok (Union Berlin; Bundesliga) - 79 minutes in 1-0 loss at Mönchengladbach (Sept. 28)
-- Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 90 minutes, TWO GOALS, in 2-0 win at Willem II (Sept. 28)
-- Christian Pulisic (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - 63 minutes, GOAL, in 3-0 win vs. Leece (Sept. 27)
-- Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Inter Miami CF (Sept. 28)
-- Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 4-2 win vs. Bochum (Sept. 27)
-- Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Standard Liege (Sept. 28)
-- Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - Injured, DNP in 2-1 loss at Everton (Sept. 28)
-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest (Sept. 28)
-- Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Los Angeles FC (Sept. 28)
-- James Sands (New York City FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 5-1 win at New York Red Bulls (Sept. 28)
-- Josh Sargent (Norwich City; Championship) - 90 minutes, TWO ASSISTS, in 3-2 win at Derby County (Sept. 29)
-- Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Union Berlin (Sept. 28)
-- Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-2 draw at D.C. United (Sept. 28); 90 minutes as a substitute 1-1 draw (5-4 PK loss) vs. Club America in Campeones Cup (Sept. 26)
-- Gaga Slonina (Barnsley; English League One) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Stockport County (Sept. 28)
-- Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-0 loss at Minnesota United (Sept. 28)
-- Tanner Tessmann (Lyon; French Ligue 1) – 67 minutes in 2-1 win at Toulouse (Sept. 29)
-- Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 45 minutes in 2-0 win at Willem II (Sept. 28)
-- Timmy Tillman (Los Angeles FC; MLS) – 25 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win at FC Cincinnati (Sept. 28)
-- John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; MLS) - 90 minutes in 5-1 loss vs. New York City FC (Sept. 28)
-- Auston Trusty (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 6-0 win at St. Johnstone (Sept. 28)
-- Matt Turner (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 loss at Everton (Sept. 28)
-- Brandon Vazquez (Monterrey; Liga MX) – 65 minutes in 1-1 draw at Guadalajara (Sept. 28)
-- Tim Weah (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - Injured, DNP in 3-0 win at Genoa (Sept. 29)
-- Caleb Wiley (Strasbourg; French Ligue 1) - Injured, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Marseille (Sept. 29)
-- Haji Wright (Coventry City; Championship) - 29 minutes as a substitute in 3-0 loss at Leeds United (Sept. 28)
-- DeAndre Yedlin (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - 74 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Los Angeles FC (Sept. 28)
-- Alejandro Zendejas (Club America; Liga MX) - 23 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 loss vs. Pumas UNAM (Sept. 29); 61 minutes in 1-1 draw (5-4 PK win) at Columbus Crew in Campeones Cup (Sept. 23)
-- Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at New England Revolution (Sept. 28)