In his second appearance since returning from an injury, Haji Wright stole the headlines with a hat trick for Coventry City.
Christian Pulisic continued to make headlines as his late goal helped AC Milan register a comeback win for the second successive week.
Patrick Agyemang, Brian White and Diego Luna celebrated their inclusion on the Concacaf Nations League roster with goals for their respective teams.
Alejandro Zendejas found the net again for Club América in a big Concacaf Champions League victory midweek.
Luca de la Torre, Walker Zimmerman and Aidan Morris set up goals for their sides, among the highlights by U.S. Men's National Team players last week.
The USMNT will meet Panama in the CNL semifinals at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 20. Mexico and Canada will play in the other semifinal. The final and third-place matches are set for Sunday, March 23.
FINDING THE WRIGHT STUFF
U.S. Men's National Team striker Haji Wright recorded his second career hat trick, powering Coventry City to a 3-0 triumph over Sunderland in the English Championship on Saturday, March 15. The 26-year-old Wright began his three-goal bonanza in the 21st minute as he tallied a brilliant, low left-footed finish. He put away a penalty kick in the 29th minute after he was fouled by Chris Mepham in the box. Wright raced onto a Jamie Allen through ball and scored in the 73rd minute at the CBS Arena.
He has scored 10 goals in 19 league games in a season that was interrupted by an ankle injury that the forward suffered on Nov. 9. Wright missed almost four months before returning to action on March 1.
Wright’s other hat trick came against Antalyaspor (Turkey) in August 2021.
With six matches remaining in the regular season, Coventry City (17-13-8, 59 points) sits in fifth place for the promotion playoffs to the English Premier League. City holds a two-point lead over seventh-place Bristol City (14-9-15, 57). The top two teams will receive automatic promotion, while the next four teams will battle in the playoffs.
THE EQUALIZER
For the second week in a row, Christian Pulisic scored the equalizing goal to help spark AC Milan to another comeback win. And this time, he did it in style. He tied his career-high of 15 goals across all competitions as Milan edged Como at San Siro for a 2-1 home victory on Saturday, March 15. He also tallied 15 goals for the Italian Serie A side in 2023-24. Last week, he connected for a late dramatic brace to lift AC Milan a 3-2 triumph at Lecce.
According to Opta, Pulisic became the first player to score 15 or more goals in each of his first two seasons with AC Milan since Zlatan Ibrahimovic accomplished the feat in 2010-11 and 2011-12. Pulisic has scored nine Serie A goals this season.
After the visitors grabbed a 33rd-minute lead, Pulisic went into action in the 53rd minute. Tijjani Reijnders played him a two-bounce pass on the left side of the field. Pulisic then deposited the ball from five yards via a tight angle, past goalkeeper Jean Butez for a 1-1 tie. Reijnders scored the game-winner in 75th minute, putting home a Tammy Abraham feed.
AC Milan (13-8-8, 47) is in ninth place in Serie A, four points from a spot in England, with nine games left in the season.
OPENING HIS ACCOUNT
Patrick Agyemang scored his first goal of the MLS campaign for Charlotte FC in its 2-0 home triumph over FC Cincinnati on Saturday, March 15. Only three minutes after Liel Abada had given Charlotte the lead, Agyemang buried an insurance goal in the 51st minute. He latched onto a through ball from Pep Biel, bolted into the penalty area and beat goalkeeper Roman Celentano with a 10-yard shot into the lower right corner. Agyemang scored his first USMNT goal in his international debut, in a 3-1 victory over Venezuela on Jan. 18.
CHAMPIONS CUP HERO
Brian White scored in the 78th minute, which proved to be the deciding goal for the Vancouver Whitecaps in its Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 series against Monterrey on Wednesday, March 12. White, who has three goals in the competition, helped Vancouver to a 2-2 draw in Mexico. After replacing Daniel Rios in the 58th minute, he put away Adrian Cubas' feed past keeper Esteban Andrada. The teams played to a 3-3 aggregate draw, but the Whitecaps moved on the strength of the away-goals rule. They will meet Pumas UNAM (home on April 2, away on April 9). White has one goal in four MLS matches over 355 minutes this year.
GAME-WINNER
Diego Luna could not have picked a better time to score his first goal of the MLS season for Real Salt Lake. The 21-year-old midfielder's header from the middle of the penalty area, off Dominik Marczuk's right-wing cross, snapped a 1-1 tie five minutes into first-half stoppage time past goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer. That helped RSL to a 2-1 win at the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, March 15, the Claret and Cobalt's first victory in Houston since August 2018.
INTO THE QUARTERFINALS
Alejandro Zendejas helped Club América clinch a spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal in a 4-0 triumph over Guadalajara in the Round of 16 on Wednesday, March 12. The 27-year-old midfielder put home a Brian Rodríguez's assist past goalie Jose Rangel for a three-goal advantage in the 65th minute. Club América will meet Cruz Azul in the quarterfinals, at home on April 1, away on April 8.
HELPING OUT
-- Luca de la Torre set up San Diego FC's first goal ever at Snapdragon Stadium, helping the team to a 1-1 draw with the Columbus Crew on Saturday, March 15. Onni Valakari flicked a header off de la Torre's corner kick past goalkeeper Patrick Schulte in the 69th minute. It was de la Torre's first goal contribution with the MLS expansion team.
-- Defender Walker Zimmerman assisted on Sam Surridge's 15th-minute goal, which started Nashville SC to a 3-1 away win at the Philadelphia Union on Sunday, March 16. Zimmerman, who recorded his 10th MLS regular season career assist, also produced a game-high five appearances.
-- Midfielder Aidan Morris assisted on Anfernee Jamal Dijksteel's 58th-minute goal in Middlesbrough's 2-1 home victory over Queens Park Rangers in the English Championship on Tuesday, March 11.
FULL RUNDOWN
-- Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United; English Championship) - 45 minutes in 2-2 draw at Queens Park Rangers (March 15); 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Millwall (March 12)
-- Paxten Aaronson (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. NEC (March 15)
-- Kellyn Acosta (Chicago Fire; MLS) - Injured, DNP in 2-1 win at Toronto FC (March 15)
-- Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth; English Premier League) – 79 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Brentford (March 15)
-- Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC; MLS) - 85 minutes, GOAL, in 2-0 win vs. FC Cincinnati (March 15)
-- Folarin Balogun (Monaco; French Ligue 1) – Injured, DNP in 2-0 win at Angers (March 15)
-- Taylor Booth (Twente; Dutch Eredivisie) - 63 minutes in 6-2 loss vs. Feyenoord (March 16)
-- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italian Serie A) – 3 minutes as a substitute in 0-0 draw vs. Napoli (March 16)
-- Drake Callender (Inter Miami CF; MLS) – In 18, DNP in 2-1 win at Atlanta United (March 16); Injured, DNP in 2-0 win at Cavalier in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 13)
-- Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis; Spain La Liga) - Not in 18, SUSPENDED, in 3-2 loss at Leganes (March 16); Not in 18, DNP in 4-0 win at Vitoria Guimaraes in UEFA Conference League (March 13)
-- Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 3-2 loss vs. Rangers (March 16)
-- Cade Cowell (Guadalajara; Liga MX) – Not in 18, SUSPENDED, in 1-1 draw at Juarez (March 15); 8 minutes as a substitute in 4-0 loss at Club America in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 12)
-- Ben Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF; MLS) – 61 minutes in 2-1 win at Atlanta United (March 16); 73 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 win at Cavalier in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 13)
-- Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC; MLS) – 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 1-1 draw vs. Columbus Crew (March 15)
-- Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 62 minutes in 3-0 win at RKC Waalwijk (March 15); In 18, DNP in 2-2 draw at Arsenal in UCL (March 12)
-- Jesús Ferreira (Seattle Sounders; MLS) - 64 minutes in 1-0 loss at St. Louis CITY (March 15); 66 minutes in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 11)
-- Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Antwerp (March 16)
-- Julian Gressel (Inter Miami CF; MLS) – Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 win at Atlanta United (March 16); Not in 18, DNP in 2-0 win at Cavalier in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 13)
-- Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City; Championship) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Blackburn Rovers (March 15); 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Luton Town (March 11)
-- Sean Johnson (Toronto FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Chicago Fire (March 15)
-- DeJuan Jones (Columbus Crew; MLS) – 89 minutes in 1-1 draw at San Diego SC (March 15); 2 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win vs. Los Angeles FC in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 11)
-- Richy Ledezma (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - Not in 18, DNP in 3-0 win at RKC Waalwijk (March 15); 90 minutes in 2-2 draw at Arsenal in UCL (March 12)
-- Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; MLS) - 79 minutes, GOAL, in 2-1 win at Houston Dynamo (March 15)
-- Kristoffer Lund (Palermo; Italy Serie B) - 1 minute as a substitute in 3-2 loss vs. Cremonese (March 14)
-- Lennard Maloney (Mainz; Bundesliga) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-2 draw vs. Freiburg (March 15)
-- Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes in 3-0 loss at Fiorentina (March 16)
-- Mark McKenzie (Toulouse; French Ligue 1) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Strasbourg (March 16)
-- Djordje Mihailovic (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at San Jose Earthquakes (March 15)
-- Shaq Moore (FC Dallas; MLS) - 89 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (March 15)
-- Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough; Championship) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at Luton Town (March 15); 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 2-1 win vs. Queens Park Rangers (March 11)
-- Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; MLS) - Injured, DNP in 1-0 loss at St. Louis CITY (March 15); 66 minutes in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 11)
-- Yunus Musah (AC Milan; Italy Serie A) - 52 minutes in 2-1 win vs. (March 15)
-- Jalen Neal (CF Montreal; MLS) – Injured, DNP in 0-0 draw at D.C. United (March 15)
-- Erik Palmer-Brown (Panathinaikos; Greek Super League) - Injured, DNP in 3-1 loss at Fiorentina in UEFA Conference League (March 13)
-- Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 1-0 loss at Augsburg (March 15)
-- Jordan Pefok (Reims; France Ligue 1) - Injured, DNP in 0-0 draw at Brest (March 16)
-- Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - Injured, DNP in 3-0 win at RKC Waalwijk (March 15); Injured, DNP in 2-2 draw at Arsenal in UCL (March 12)
-- Christian Pulisic (AC Milan; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 2-1 win vs. (March 15)
-- Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. FC Cincinnati (March 15)
-- Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; Bundesliga) - In 18, DNP in 2-0 loss at RB Leipzig (March 15)
-- Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Beerschot (March 16)
-- Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - No games
-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Tottenham Hotspur (March 16)
-- Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - 60 minutes in 2-0 loss at Charlotte FC (March 15); 90 minutes in 3-1 loss at Tigres UANL (March 11)
-- James Sands (St. Pauli; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Hoffenheim (March 14)
-- Josh Sargent (Norwich City; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Bristol City (March 15); 17 minutes as a substitute in 3-2 loss vs. Sheffield Wednesday (March 11)
-- Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win at Werder Bremen (March 15)
-- Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at San Diego SC (March 15); 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Los Angeles FC in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 11)
-- Gaga Slonina (Chelsea U-21; English Premier League 2) - Not in 18, DNP in 3-1 win at Norwich City U-21 (March 14)
-- Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at San Jose Earthquakes (March 15)
-- Tanner Tessmann (Lyon; French Ligue 1) – 45 minutes as a substitute in 4-2 win vs. Le Havre (March 16); 54 minutes in 4-0 win vs. FCSB in UEFA Europa League (March 13)
-- Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - Injured, DNP in 3-0 win at RKC Waalwijk (March 15); Injured, DNP in 2-2 draw at Arsenal in UCL (March 12)
-- Timmy Tillman (Los Angeles FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Austin FC (March 15)
-- John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel; Bundesliga) - 9 minutes in 3-1 loss at Heidenheim (March 16)
-- Auston Trusty (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - No in 18, DNP in 3-2 loss vs. Rangers (March 16)
-- Matt Turner (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - No games
-- Tim Weah (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 74 minutes in 3-0 loss at Fiorentina (March 16)
-- Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps; MLS) - 89 minutes in 1-1 draw at FC Dallas (March 15); 32 minutes as a substitute, GOAL, in 2-2 draw at Monterrey in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 12)
-- Caleb Wiley (Watford; English Championship) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 loss at Oxford United (March 15); 7 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win vs. Swansea City (March 12)
-- Haji Wright (Coventry City; Championship) - 89 minutes, THREE GOALS, in 3-0 win vs. Sunderland (March 15); 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Derby County (March 11)
-- DeAndre Yedlin (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Charlotte FC (March 15); 87 minutes in 3-1 loss at Tigres UANL (March 11)
-- Alejandro Zendejas (Club America; Liga MX) - 79 minutes in 3-1 win at Atlas (March 15); 90 minutes, GOAL, in 4-0 win vs. Guadalajara in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 12)
-- Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 3-1 win at Philadelphia Union (March 16)