ASN’s Brian Sciaretta breaks down an up and down weekend for Individuals overseas that featured an enormous day for Pepi, Tillman, and Ledezma at PSV but in addition an harm to Christian Pulisic. This is the most recent and a few ideas on all of it.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
December 10, 2024
4:05 AM
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THE WEEKEND FOR AMERICANS overseas wasn’t nice outdoors of a banner day for the trio at PSV. Among the many issues that went fallacious have been Christian Pulisic’s accidents and a wave of common performances.
Let’s break it down intimately.
Yanks within the Netherlands
It was a banner day for the three Yanks at PSV Eindhoven, who all performed full 90 shifts and scored in a 6-1 romp over fifth-place FC Twente on Friday. In fact, head coach Petr Bosz rotated his squad due to a Champions League recreation away to Brest on Tuesday, however this was such a convincing efficiency that every one gamers helped their case.
Ricardo Pepi scored the group’s closing aim within the eighty fifth minute, and assisted on Ismael Saibari’s 54th minute aim for a 4-1 lead. This season, his productiveness numbers are excellent. Within the Eredivisie, Pepi now has 10 targets and a pair of assists in simply 611 minutes. He has a aim each 61 minutes and a aim contribution each 51 minutes. Within the Champions League, he has one aim in 64 minutes of labor.
PSV will quickly both should make Pepi their predominant ahead or promote him for an enormous revenue. However then the right way to they ultimately change Luuk de Jong? Pepi has pressured an advanced resolution on PSV that may quickly power the membership to choose between Pepi or de Jong.
Richard Ledezma performed the total recreation at proper again and it was an important second for him within the 63rd minute when he scored a pleasant aim to make it 5-1. It was an entire efficiency from Ledezma who linked on 53/55 passes and had 76 touches. He was 4/4 in lengthy balls, gained 3/3 of his floor duels, and drew two fouls. His solely contact within the Twente field was the aim he scored. He was helped by the very fact Twente gave up on this recreation early, however Ledezma performed a task within the blowout.
Ledezma is in an fascinating scenario. He is enjoying effectively at proper again the place he’s filling in, and serving to with squad rotation. However when Sergino Dest returns, it appears logical his minutes will lower.
The previous NYCFC loanee is within the closing yr of his contract and the difficult factor about his scenario is that as a non-EU citizen, he’s topic to the excessive non-EU minimal wage. It’s asking quite a bit for a membership to satisfy that customary for a participant who has an unclear path in direction of being a starter. PSV is likely one of the few Dutch golf equipment who can afford that wage, but when a younger participant from inside can do what he does at a less expensive fee, it turns into more durable to justify signing Ledezma.
Richy Ledezma ??#PSVTWE pic.twitter.com/E2FCLPcDZo
— PSV (@PSV) December 9, 2024
However Ledezma’s performances are guaranteeing that he’ll land on his toes elsewhere in case PSV elect to let him go.
Malik Tillman continues to be excellent with overmatched opponents. He scored within the twenty fourth minute to place PSV up 2-1 and it got here off a nook. He now has 9 targets and three assists this season between the Eredivisie and the Champions League (1544 minutes).
In the meantime, Sergino Dest was readily available to observe.
Look who’s right here ???? pic.twitter.com/Vxqz6NYJN7
— PSV (@PSV) December 9, 2024
FC Utrecht moved again into second place on Sunday due to a 3-1 win over Almere Metropolis mixed with an Ajax loss to AZ Alkmaar. Within the win, Paxten Aaronson did not have a aim contribution however performed very effectively over 90 minutes towards the league’s final place group.
Aaronson accomplished 34/35 of his passes and had a number of good moments. His one shot within the 52nd minute was saved. He additionally arrange possibilities for Zidane Iqbal within the 18th minute and Yoann Cathline within the thirty sixth minute. Defensively, Aaronson continues to supply quite a bit to Utrecht this season and that could be a huge signal he’s creating effectively. Aaronson was profitable in 4/5 of his tackles. He additionally gained most of his duels.
On one other observe, Taylor Sales space didn’t get off the bench for Utrecht as his standing throughout the membership solely sees him enjoying restricted minutes in latest months.
Within the second tier Eerste Divisie, FC Dordrecht moved into fourth place with a 3-2 win over Telstar. John Hilton, 22, performed 90 minutes at left again whereas Korede Osundina performed 85 minutes at proper wing and scored within the sixtieth minute to present Dordrecht a 2-1 lead. The previous Orange County SC attacker now has 6 targets and 1 help in 1275 minutes this season, and a promotion race appears to be like seemingly for Dordrecht.
Additionally within the second tier, Zach Sales space performed the ultimate 34 minutes for leaders Excelsior in a 1-1 draw away towards fifth place FC Emmen on Sunday.
Yanks in Italy
Accidents are by no means good, however that is in all probability the very best time to undergo one for a Serie A participant. He will get a midseason break and there aren’t any USMNT video games for an additional three months. In different phrases, it might be worse – even when it takes him into the primary half of January.
Yunus Musah additionally began and performed 89 minutes. It wasn’t a great efficiency. Once more, he struggled together with his closing ball and within the seventy fifth minute he missed an in depth shot vast. However total, he didn’t create a lot towards certainly one of Italy’s greatest tactically disciplined sides. He’s a tricky participant to determine and ultimately to stay in AC Milan’s beginning XI, he might want to do extra
With the loss, Milan fell to seventh place.
Tim Weah began and performed 80 minutes for Juventus in a 2-2 house draw with Bologna on Saturday. It was a disappointing outcome for Juventus as they wanted an harm time equalizing aim to earn the purpose and stay in sixth place. Weah performed left wing on this recreation and was comparatively quiet, though he did have his moments. His greatest got here simply earlier than the half when he was a part of the buildup to a harmful likelihood. However total, he continues to be a starter attributable to his potential to play effectively on each side of the ball. On this recreation, he additionally made a number of good defensive reads.
Weston McKennie continues to overlook time attributable to a muscular harm.
In a battle between newly promoted Serie A groups, Venezia and Como performed to a 2-2 draw on Sunday in Venice. Gianluca Busio began and performed 84 minutes for Venezia however didn’t get on the ball almost as usually as he sometimes does. The previous Sporting Kansas Metropolis homegrown midfielder was restricted to simply 30 touches and eight/16 passing with one ball into the ultimate third. Regardless of the purpose, Venezia are nonetheless in final place with simply 9 factors from 15 video games.
Kristoffer Lund was once more an unused sub for Palermo has his standing with the membership continues to say no. He watched as his group misplaced 1-0 away to Carrarese. With the loss, Palermo fell to eighth place in Serie B.
Bari moved into sixth place of Serie B after a 1-0 win over Cesena FC on Saturday. Andrija Novakovich assisted on the video games solely aim within the thirty third minute when he held the ball below strain, moved to the top line, and crossed it to Mehdi Dorval for a header on the again put up, which he transformed.
Bari moved into fifth place of Serie B, after leapfrogging their opponents. Novakovich is enjoying effectively and certain has an enormous alternative within the type of a promotional race within the months forward.
Yanks within the Bundesliga
Joe Scally, 21, had a tricky task beginning at proper again for Borussia Monchengladbach towards Borussia Dortmund. It matched Scally up towards BVB left winger Jamie Gittens. In the long run, M’Gladbach walked away with a 1-1 draw and whereas Gittens scored, it was not on Scally. Scally had just a few shaky defensive moments however was typically stable – as he has been because the finish of final season. Within the 53rd minute, he hit a pleasant via ball to arrange Tim Kleindienst for a shot that was blocked.
Gio Reyna performed the final 13 minutes for BVB and was total respectable in his restricted shift. He had a cross in stoppage time that arrange a header for Serhou Guirassy.
With the outcome, Borussia Monchengladbach finish the weekend in eleventh place and Dortmund is in sixth place.
Jordan Pefok, 28, got here near scoring his first aim of the season for Union Berlin on Friday. The Washington, DC-born heart ahead got here into the sport within the seventieth minute with Union Berlin trailing Stuttgart 3-2. Within the 84th minute, he was arrange for an important likelihood however shanked a shot from throughout the field vast. Other than that, he solely had seven touches and one accomplished go in his 20 minutes. The powerful season for Pefok continues and Union Berlin fell to eleventh place with the loss.
Kevin Paredes will hopefully be again in January, in the meantime the 2024 U.S. Olympic group winger noticed his Wolfsburg group defeat Mainz to climb into fifth place.
Lennard Maloney performed all 90 minutes for Heidenheim is a tricky 4-2 loss away to leaders Bayern Munich on Saturday. He performed his regular defensive midfield function to interrupt up performs and sit in entrance of the backline to assist defend from Bayern’s highly effective assault. He performed comparatively effectively given his tasks. He was not a part of the assault, or he didn’t assist in possession, however he made some huge tackles, and he prevented Bayern from going up the center at instances. Sadly, Heidenheim misplaced for the fifth straight time and is now within the backside three. There are rumors that Maloney could be on the transfer in January given that he’s within the final yr of his contract and he isn’t keen to signal a brand new deal (per native media).
United States U-20 central defender Noahkai Banks was on the bench for the third straight time on Saturday for Thirteenth-place Augsburg in a 2-2 away draw with Eintracht Frankfurt, however remains to be awaiting his first group debut after going as an unused substitute once more. Timmy Chandler was not within the squad for 2nd place Eintracht.
Yanks within the 2.Bundesliga
It was a uncommon subpar recreation from Paderborn on Friday because the membership entered Friday atop the two.Bundesliga desk however suffered a 4-2 loss at house to Schalke. After Paderborn equalized the sport at 2-2 within the 52nd minute, Schalke took management down the stretch.
Santiago Castaneda, 20, has began each recreation of the season for Paderborn and it’s a nice story for the younger defensive midfielder from Tampa. On this recreation, he performed 89 minutes however didn’t stand out all that a lot as he solely had 49 touches. Defensively, his place was extra tactical as he tried to forestall Schalke’s assault up the center of the sphere. Total, it was only a recreation to overlook from Castanea and everybody else on Paderborn. It’s been an important season for him, however this simply wasn’t his day – however he was removed from alone on Paderborn.
Johan Gomez, 23, began for Eintracht Braunschweig however was changed on the half together with his group down 3-0 to fifth place Fortuna Dusseldorf. Whereas he was ineffective, issues didn’t get any higher within the second half and Eintracht misplaced 5-0. They now sit only one level away from the underside three in what appears to be like like a relegation battle forward in 2025.
Damion Downs, 20, was subbed into the sport for FC Koln away towards final place Jahn Regensburg within the thirty fourth minute to exchange an injured Tim Lemperie. It wasn’t an important recreation for Downs who missed the goal on two headers, the primary within the 51st minute and the second within the 52nd minute. Other than that, he missed duels and can in all probability be total annoyed with the sport, regardless of that Koln ended up profitable 1-0 to maneuver into sixth place.
Greuther Furth defeated Hertha BSC 2-1 on Saturday to climb away from the underside three and into Thirteenth place. Julian Inexperienced began and performed 90 minutes within the win and the 2014 USMNT veteran had an important two-way outing within the win even when he didn’t have a aim contribution. The Tampa-born midfielder created a great deal of possibilities in his 62 touches. In complete, he had 11 balls performed into the ultimate third and several other effectively positioned nook kickers
Latest U.S Olympic group defender Max Dietz additionally assisted on the profitable aim for Furth within the fifty fifth minute however was despatched off together with his second yellow within the 77th. Furth was capable of see out the win whereas down a person.
John Brooks nonetheless has not performed a minute this season for Hertha attributable to harm.
Yanks within the Premier League
Antonee Robinson as soon as once more wore the captains armband for Fulham in a 1-1 draw at house in a London Derby towards third place Arsenal. Fulham have been saved by VAR which disallowed a Bukayo Saka aim within the 88th minute. Robinson performed effectively though was given a yellow card late which gave Arsenal a free kick deep within the attacking half. Robinson was busy defending on this recreation as Arsenal had 66% possession and outshot the Cottagers 12-2. In the long run, Robinson was an enormous contributo r as to why Fulham’s protection didn’t break regardless of the strain.
Fulham now sits tenth within the Premier League with the outcome.
Tyler Adams was not a part of the squad for Bournemouth on Sunday in a 2-1 win over Ipswich. The membership continues to watch his minutes as he comes again from his long run harm.
Bournemouth impressively moved into eighth place with the win.
Iraola on Tyler Adams: “Tyler has played two 90s this week already.
“He completed the opposite day with cramps all over the place. With only a very, very quick turnaround, it did not make any sense to take any danger with him.
“I trust also the players we have on the bench.”#afcb
— Alexander Smith (@AlexSmithEcho) December 8, 2024
American-born supervisor Fabian Hurzeler noticed his Brighton group blow one more two aim lead and should accept a 2-2 draw away to Leicester Metropolis to fall to seventh place.
Yanks within the Championship
Aidan Morris continues to be out for Middlesbrough with the harm he picked up in November with the U.S. nationwide group. The previous Columbus Crew midfielder watched his Boro teammates draw Burnley 1-1 away to fall into fifth place.
Lynden Gooch was an unused sub for 14th place Stoke Metropolis as they misplaced on the street to his former membership, 4th place Sunderland
Brenden Aaronson had a great outing on Saturday for Leeds United in a 2-0 win over Derby County. The New Jersey native performed 68 minutes and was chargeable for a few of the greatest Leeds possibilities. Within the first half, he almost drew a penalty with a shot that hit a Derby defender’s arm, however the ref didn’t award a penalty.
On the primary aim within the thirty ninth minute, Aaronson was performed into the field. His laborious shot was saved out of bounds however the ensuing nook resulted in a aim. Within the second aim simply earlier than halftime, Aaronson was performed on the proper wing and his cross was deflected by a Derby defender. Max Wober was there to hammer house the ball after the deflection for a 2-0 lead.
Aaronson additionally drew three fouls within the recreation and the win despatched Leeds briefly atop the desk.
Duane Holmes was a 76th minute sub in Preston North Finish’s 1-1 away draw with Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. The American attacking mid entered the sport a minute after Wednesday equalizer however he was unable to show the tide and had solely 8 touches, with nothing amounting to something harmful. PNE sits 18th after the outcome.
Haji Wright remains to be out with an ankle harm and missed his 14th-place Coventry group notch a 1-0 away win over Millwall in London.
The identical was true for Josh Sargent who continues to overlook time from surgical procedure for Norwich – who misplaced 3-0 away to QPR on Saturday. Norwich now sit tenth within the Championship.
Yanks in Ligue 1
Tanner Tessmann performed the ultimate 8 minutes for Lyon in a cushty 3-0 win over Angers on the street. Tessmann had a quiet and temporary outing however was on the sphere for the group’s closing aim. Lyon moved into fifth place with the win. Regardless of the uneven enjoying time, Tessmann stays in a optimistic scenario on a proficient Lyon group that additionally should stability European play (reminiscent of this week’s Europa League recreation towards Eintracht Frankfurt).
American winger Emmanuel Sabbi missed Le Havre’s 2-1 loss to Good on Saturday and Le Havre remained within the backside three of Ligue 1 in consequence. The harm to Sabbi was not particularly identified however it’s mentioned to not be severe.
Toulouse fell on the street to third place Monaco 2-0 on Saturday with Mark McKenzie going the gap for a Toulouse group that entered the sport with three cleansheet wins of their final 4 video games. On this recreation, Monaco was merely higher and had the additional advantage of enjoying at house. McKenzie performed effectively and was not at fault for both of the Monaco targets and he additionally made some robust protection performs. He gained a excessive proportion of duels.
Toulouse stays in midtable of Ligue 1, which is an effective place after a poor begin to the season.
Folarin Balogun reinjured his shoulder and is out just a few extra weeks.
Caleb Wiley, 19, can be out with a shoulder harm – which he injured two weeks in the past in his first recreation again from knee tendonitis. The previous Atlanta United left again missed Strasbourg’s 0-0 draw with Reims to stay in 14th place.
Yanks in La Liga
Luca de la Torre made his first La Liga look of the season when he got here into Celta Vigo’s 2-1 win over Mallorca within the 87th minute on Friday to maneuver into tenth place. Whereas de la Torre did little of observe, he now has two video games this season below his belt after showing midweek in a 7-0 blowout win within the Copa del Ray.
For de la Torre, it’s can be fascinating to guage his scenario within the weeks and months forward. There have been conflicting experiences about how a lot he’s wished by the membership. If he isn’t wished, enjoying him in video games in December helps to maintain up his worth. We’ll see. It’s been such a tricky season that we’ll find out about how a lot the membership charges him before later.
Johnny Cardoso remains to be out with a thigh harm and the USMNT midfielder missed Saturday’s Actual Betis recreation as they performed to a 2-2 draw with Barcelona. Betis stays in eleventh place with the purpose.
Yanks in Belgium
In Belgium’s prime flight, Marlon Fossey, 26, went the gap for Seventh-place Customary Liege in a 1-1 draw with Oud-Heverlee Leuven on Saturday. It was a quiet day for the American proper wingback however he ought to have had an help within the thirty eighth minute when his nice cross discovered Andi Zeqiri for an open header that hit the proper put up as an alternative.
Each Bryan Reynolds and Griffin Yow performed all 90 minutes for Westerlo in a 1-0 loss away to FCV Dender on Sunday in a matchup between midtable groups. Reynolds had a great recreation enjoying proper again and was aggressive within the assault. Along with his 95 touches, he performed 21 balls into the attacking third, drew two fouls, and gained a substantial variety of his duels. In the meantime, Yow obtained right into a quantity for harmful positions however was unable to get clear appears to be like for any of his 4 photographs. He introduced numerous power into the assault for Westerlo, however Dender’s protection was capable of hold on. Westerlo fell to ninth with the outcome.
?? 45´ RUST.We gaan met een achterstand de rust in. #DENWES 1??-0?? pic.twitter.com/i9CEKXcDfG
— KVC Westerlo (@KVCWesterlo) December 8, 2024
Staying in Belgium, former Yale ahead Kahveh Zahiroleslam isn’t anticipated again earlier than February because of the harm he sustained in November and he was missed by St. Truiden in a 2-0 loss to Gent on Saturday. St Truiden sits Thirteenth within the 16-team Belgian First Division.
Yanks Elsewhere
Possible attributable to relaxation with the Champions League approaching, Cameron Carter-Vickers was saved on the bench for leaders Celtic in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Hibernian. Auston Trusty, nonetheless, began and performed all 90 minutes in central protection for Celtic. The previous Philadelphia Union homegrown had two excellent possibilities to attain off corners on this recreation – an in depth shot within the thirtieth minute and off a header within the 78th minute. He additionally accomplished 108 passes and gained numerous duels as Hibs was fully overmatched.
Staying in Scotland, Dante Polvara was not a part of the squad for 2nd place Aberdeen in a disappointing 1-1 draw with St. Johnstone at house on Saturday.
In Slovakia’s Tremendous Liga, Iowa-born ahead Eduvie Ikoba performed the 2nd half for sixth place Zemplin Michalovce in a 0-0 draw with tenth place Komarno.
Additionally in Slovakia, Zyen Jones performed the entire match as a left wing again for fifth place FC Kosice in a 1-1 house draw with final place Skalice.
Rokas Pukstas, 20, didn’t have a great outing Hajduk Break up in a 1-0 away loss to HNK Gorcia. The powerful loss dropped them into second place in Croatia HNL. The younger American attacking midfielder didn’t create a lot and misplaced numerous duels earlier than ultimately being subbed out within the 77th minute.
Within the Austrian Bundesliga, George Bello, 22, was good individually for LASK, however was unable to forestall his membership from struggling a 2–1 loss to Wolfsberger on Saturday. It was the third straight defeat for LASK, and the loss despatched them into the underside half of the standings. Bello had 113 touches, win 8/10 of his floor duels, 4/6 of his aerials, 3/5 of his tackles, was 3/3 in dribbles, has 12 passes into the ultimate third, and arrange Florian Flecker’s shot within the twenty eighth minute. The previous Atlanta United left again performed effectively, regardless of the outcome.
Staying in Austria prime tier, Quincy Butler performed the ultimate half-hour for WSG Tirol in a 3-0 loss at house to Strum Graz. He was aggressive when he got here in, finishing 4/7 of his dribble makes an attempt, drawing two fouls, and profitable 6/11 floor duels all in restricted minutes. Finally, he was not capable of assist create a aim towards the Bundesliga leaders.
Within the Swiss Tremendous League, Konrad de la Fuente earned a uncommon begin for Lausanne in a 3-0 win over FC Zurich on Sunday. De la Fuente, 23, was subbed out within the 62nd minute. He had solely 19 touches, was 1/3 in passing, and had three photographs however nothing heading in the right direction.
In Slovenia’s Superliga, Steven Juncaj performed the ultimate 22 minutes for Seventh place NS Mura in a 3-1 loss at house to 3rd place Koper.
Within the Greek Tremendous League, Erik Palmer-Brown was not a part of the squad for 4th place Panathinaikos in a 1-0 away win over Asteras. The identical was true for left again Jonathan Gomez who didn’t make the bench for third place PAOK in a 4-1 win over Panserraikos.
In Argentina, Matko Miljevic, 23, performed the primary 56 minutes within the midfield for Newell’s Previous Boys in a 1-0 loss at house to Boca Juniors. It’s been a depressing season for Newell’s Previous Boys which sits twenty sixth within the 28-team league.