USMNT Rewind: Robinson reaches double-digit assists in England, Pulisic named Milan’s January MVP, and more
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There were plenty of heroes among U.S. men's national team players last week, from positions all over the pitch.
In Italy, Christian Pulisic was named AC Milan's Most Valuable Player of January after scoring his fourth goal in three separate competitions, while Tim Weah bagged an assist from the right flank for Juventus.
In England, left back Antonee Robinson reached double digits in assists in a season for Fulham for the first time in his career. Brenden Aaronson tallied his career-high eighth goal this season to start Leeds United to a big victory, while Josh Sargent scored for the second-consecutive match for Norwich City.
Midfielder Gio Reyna set up a goal with a back-heel pass for Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
In the Netherlands, Ricardo Pepi recorded the game-winning goal but was forced out of PSV Eindhoven's UEFA Champions League triumph with an injury.
In France, Mark McKenzie connected for his first goal for Toulouse to give the French side a dramatic late draw.
Closer to home, Alejandro Zendejas registered assists in back-to-back wins for Club América.
Christian Pulisic capped off a terrific month by striking for his fourth goal across three competitions for AC Milan in a 2-1 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, Jan. 29. He was awarded for his superior performances by being named Milan's Most Valuable Player for January. The 26-year-old forward began the month by scoring against Juventus in the Italian Super Cup semifinal, before tallying an equalizer against archrival Inter Milan in the final. He scored a goal in an Italian Serie A win over Parma, and added yet another in the 53rd minute against Dinamo. The Italian side played the final 59 minutes a man down after Yunus Musah was given his marching orders for his second yellow card.
Pulisic, who became the first USMNT player to score four goals in a UCL season, has tallied a dozen goals and provided seven assists in 27 matches across all competitions this campaign. He could not pull off some magic against archrival Inter Milan as the teams played to a 1-1 draw in Serie A at San Siro on Sunday, Feb. 2. A.C. Milan (9-5-8, 35 points) is in eighth place in Serie A.
Left back Antonee Robinson is putting on a master class on how to send dangerous crosses and passes from the left flank into the penalty area this English Premier League season. He recorded his career-high 10th assist for Fulham in its 2-1 win at Newcastle United on Saturday, Feb. 1. Robinson set up Raul Jimenez’s 61st-minute score with a left-wing cross, which was the equalizer. Robinson’s assists put him in second place in the EPL, tied with Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has a league-leading 13 assists.
Josh Sargent scored for the second game in a row, connecting for the lone goal in a 1-0 victory at Watford in the English Championship on Saturday, Feb. 1. Emiliano Marcondes' free kick from the top of the penalty area started the scoring sequence in the 41st minute. After his attempt was blocked, the ball fell to Lucien Mahovo, whose acrobatic effort was deflected to Sargent. The forward then tapped it home past a helpless goalie, Jonathan Bond for his seventh goal of the campaign. The Canaries (11-10-9, 42) sit in eighth place.
Brenden Aaronson lit the fuse for Leeds United in its 7-0 home romp over Cardiff City in the England Championship on Saturday, Feb. 1. The 24-year-old midfielder struck in the sixth minute for the first goal of the match and his career-high eighth goal of the season. Off a counterattack, Aaronson powered Daniel Jones’ feed into the middle of the net past goalkeeper Jak Alnwick from seven yards. Leeds United (18-3-9, 63), which is in position to be promoted to the English Premier League, is in first place, enjoying a two-point advantage over Sheffield United (19-5-6, 61).
Mark McKenzie could not have timed his first goal for Toulouse any better. The defender scored in the 85th minute to lift the French Ligue 1 team to a 1-1 tie with Nice at home on Sunday, Feb. 2. Goalkeeper Marcin Bułka could not handle a long free kick from the right side. An on-rushing McKenzie knocked the ball into an empty net from point-blank range for the equalizer. Toulouse (7-8-5, 26) stands in 10th place.
Ricardo Pepi scored his second goal of the Champions League as PSV Eindhoven registered a 3-2 home victory over Liverpool, but things did not end well for the striker on Wednesday, Jan. 29. First, Pepi scored five minutes into first-half stoppage time past keeper Caoimhín Kelleher. However, the 22-year-old forward was forced from the match with an injury in the 76th minute.
Second-half substitute Gio Reyna did his best to convince the powers that be at Borussia Dortmund that he deserves to play regularly, with a nifty, back-heel assist on the Bundesliga side’s insurance goal of its 3-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday, Jan. 29. Reyna, 22, who came on in the 64th minute, nonchalantly passed the ball to Ramy Bensebaini, who beat keeper Dmytro Riznyk with a chip shot 15 minutes later.
Tim Weah, playing right back, set up Juventus' winning goal in its 4-1 comeback victory over visiting Empoli on Sunday, Feb. 2. Weah fed Kolo Muani, who sent his second goal of the encounter past goalkeeper Davis Vásquez in the 64th minute. Weston McKennie played 85 minutes at center mid for the winners. Juve (9-1-13, 40), which snapped a two-game losing streak, moved into fourth place in Italy's Serie A.
Alejandro Zendejas' excellent start to the Liga MX Torneo Clausura continued as he recorded an assist in both of Club América's victories. He twice set up Victor Davila for goals, in the 43rd minute of a 3-0 win over Atletico San Luis on Tuesday, Jan. 28, and then in the 29th minute in a 4-0 home triumph over Juarez on Saturday, Feb. 1. Last week, Zendejas netted two goals in a 4-1 win at Santos Laguna. First-place Club America (4-0-1, 13) leads has outscored its opposition, 13-2.
-- Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United; English Championship) - 71 minutes, GOAL, in 7-0 win vs. Cardiff City (Feb. 1); 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at Burnley (Jan. 27)
-- Paxten Aaronson (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - 90 minutes in 3-3 draw at PEC Zwolle (Feb. 1)
-- Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth; English Premier League) – 90 minutes in 2-0 loss vs. Liverpool (Feb. 1)
-- Folarin Balogun (Monaco; French Ligue 1) – Injured, DNP in 4-2 win vs. Auxerre (Feb. 1); Injured, DNP in 3-0 loss at Inter Milan in UCL (Jan. 29)
-- Taylor Booth (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - Not in 18, DNP in 3-3 draw at PEC Zwolle (Feb. 1)
-- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italian Serie A) – 62 minutes in 3-2 loss at Udinese (Feb. 1); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Verona (Jan. 27)
-- Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis; Spain La Liga) - 81 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. Athletic Bilbao (Feb. 2)
-- Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 3-1 win at Motherwell (Feb. 2); Not in 18, DNP in 4-2 loss at Aston Villa in UCL (Jan. 29)
-- Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - Injured, DNP in 3-3 draw at NEC (Feb. 1); Injured, DNP in 3-2 win vs. Liverpool in UCL (Jan. 29)
-- Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Cercle Brugge (Feb. 1)
-- Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City; Championship) - In 18, DNP in 7-0 loss at Leeds United (Feb. 1)
-- Richy Ledezma (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 82 minutes in 3-3 draw at NEC (Feb. 1); 24 minutes in 3-2 win vs. Liverpool in UCL (Jan. 29)
-- Kristoffer Lund (Palermo; Italy Serie B) - 87 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Pisa (Jan. 31)
-- Lennard Maloney (Mainz; Bundesliga) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 loss at Werder Bremen (Feb. 1)
-- Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 85 minutes in 4-1 win vs. Empoli (Feb. 2); 90 minutes in 2-0 loss vs. Benfica in UCL (Jan. 29)
-- Mark McKenzie (Toulouse; French Ligue 1) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 1-1 draw vs. Nice (Feb. 2)
-- Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough; Championship) - Vs. Sunderland (Monday, 3 p.m. ET)
-- Yunus Musah (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - 78 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Inter Milan (Feb. 2); 39 minutes, RED CARD, in 2-1 loss at Dinamo Zagreb in UCL (Jan. 29)
-- Erik Palmer-Brown (Panathinaikos; Greek Super League) - 90 minutes in 3-2 win vs. OFI (Feb. 1)
-- Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt (Feb. 2)
-- Jordan Pefok (Union Berlin; Bundesliga) - 18 minutes as a substitute in 0-0 draw vs. RB Leipzig (Feb. 1)
-- Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - Injured, DNP in 3-3 draw at NEC (Feb. 1); 76 minutes, GOAL, in 3-2 win vs. Liverpool in UCL (Jan. 29)
-- Christian Pulisic (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - 86 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Inter Milan (Feb. 2); 90 minutes, GOAL, in 2-1 loss at Dinamo Zagreb in UCL (Jan. 29)
-- Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; Bundesliga) - 3 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win at Heidenheim (Feb. 1); 26 minutes, ASSIST, in 3-2 win vs. Shakhtar Donetsk in UCL (Jan. 29)
-- Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Kortrijk (Feb. 2)
-- Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win at Manchester United (Feb. 2)
-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 2-1 win at Newcastle United (Feb. 1)
-- James Sands (St. Pauli, Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Augsburg (Feb. 1)
-- Josh Sargent (Norwich City; English Championship) - 84 minutes, GOAL, in 1-0 win at Watford (Feb. 1)
-- Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Stuttgart (Feb. 1)
-- Gaga Slonina (Chelsea U-21; English Premier League 2) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-0 win vs. Derby County (Jan. 31); Not in 18, DNP in 2-2 draw at Brentford (Jan. 27)
-- Tanner Tessmann (Lyon; French Ligue 1) – 4 minutes as a substitute in 3-2 loss at Marseille (Feb. 2); 64 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Ludogorets in UEFA Europa League (Jan. 30)
-- Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - Injured, DNP in 3-3 draw at NEC (Feb. 1); Injured, DNP in 3-2 win vs. Liverpool in UCL (Jan. 29)
-- John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel; Bundesliga) - 82 minutes in 4-3 loss at Bayern Munich (Feb. 1)
-- Auston Trusty (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 3-1 win at Motherwell (Feb. 2); 90 minutes in 4-2 loss at Aston Villa in UCL (Jan. 29)
-- Matt Turner (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 2-0 win at Manchester United (Feb. 2)
-- Tim Weah (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes, ASSIST, minutes in 4-1 win vs. Empoli (Feb. 2); 90 minutes in 2-0 loss vs. Benfica in UCL (Jan. 29)
-- Caleb Wiley (Strasbourg; French Ligue 1) - Injured, DNP in 1-0 loss at Rennes (Feb. 2)
-- Haji Wright (Coventry City; Championship) - Injured, DNP in 2-0 win at Swansea City (Feb. 1)
-- Alejandro Zendejas (Club America; Liga MX) - 76 minutes, ASSIST, in 4-0 win vs. Juarez (Feb. 1); 64 minutes, ASSIST, in 3-0 win vs. Atlético San Luis (Jan. 28)