USMNT weekend roundup: Puli scores, Pepi hurt

· Yahoo Sports

MILAN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 20: Christian Pulisic of AC Milan celebrates after scoring his team's first goal uring the Serie A match between AC Milan and US Lecce at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/AC Milan via Getty Images) | AC Milan via Getty Images

Here’s a bullet-point rundown of notable happenings for USA players this weekend (Friday through Sunday). Players are divided by position groups (which helps my depth-chart-oriented brain to process this information most usefully). Stats are from FotMob.

Visit tr-sport.click for more information.

Strikers

  • Folarin Balogun (25) got his first Monaco minutes of the season, playing 14 minutes off the bench in the 2-1 win over Lens in Ligue 1 on Friday.
  • Julian Hall (18) played 84 minutes, scored a goal, and missed a big chance in the New York Red Bulls’ 1-0 win over NYCFC in MLS on Friday.
  • Justin Ellis (19) played the full 90 in Orlando City’s 2-4 loss to New England Revolution in MLS on Saturday.
  • Damion Downs (22) played 7 minutes off the bench in St. Louis City’s 3-1 win over Toronto FC in MLS on Saturday. Downs will pop up again later in this section.
  • Josh Sargent (26) played 74 minutes and created a chance in Toronto FC’s 1-3 loss to St. Louis City in MLS on Saturday.
  • Brian White (30) played 80 minutes, scored a goal, and created the joint-most chances (3) in the Vancouver Whitecaps’ 3-0 win over Real Salt Lake in MLS on Saturday.
  • Samuel Adeniran (27) played 22 minutes off the bench in LASK Linz’s 3-3 draw with Hartberg in the Austrian Bundesliga on Sunday.
  • Ricardo Pepi (23) went off injured 10 minutes into PSV’s 2-3 loss to Twente in the Eredivisie on Sunday. Sunday evening, Pepi was replaced on the USMNT roster by Damion Downs – a puzzling selection.

Wingers/attacking mids

  • Jack McGlynn (23) played the full 90, scored a goal, and created 2 chances in Stoke City’s 2-1 win over Sheffield United in the EFL Championship on Saturday.

Another angle of McGlynn’s blast:

  • Gio Reyna (23) played 67 minutes in Strasbourg’s 1-2 loss to Paris FC in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
  • Mathis Albert (17) was not in Dortmund’s squad for their 1-0 win over VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
  • Noa Ojea (17) played 6 minutes off the bench in Anderlecht’s 3-0 win over Zulte Waregem in the Belgian Pro League on Saturday.
  • Niko Tsakiris (21) played the full 90 and created the joint-most chances (4) in the San Jose Earthquakes’ 2-2 draw with LAFC in MLS on Saturday.
  • Cavan Sullivan (16) played 82 minutes, scored a goal, completed the joint-most dribbles (4/6), scored a goal, and created 2 chances in the Philadelphia Union’s 4-3 comeback win over Sporting KC in MLS on Saturday.
  • Diego Luna is out with a knee injury, missing Real Salt Lake’s 0-3 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS on Saturday. Luna is expected back in mid-November.
  • Alex Zendejas (28) played 52 minutes and created a chance in América’s 2-2 draw with Chivas in Liga MX on Saturday.
  • Brenden Aaronson (25) played 22 minutes off the bench in Leeds’ 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday.
  • Zavier Gozo (19) was not in Crystal Palace’s squad for the Leeds game.
  • Malik Tillman (24) was an unused sub for Leverkusen in their 2-0 win over RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
  • Montrell Culbreath is out with a foot injury, missing the Leverkusen-Leipzig game. Culbreath is expected back in late September.
  • Cole Campbell (20) played 87 minutes, completed the most dribbles (8/14), and created 2 chances in Elversberg’s 0-0 draw with Schalke in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
  • Christian Pulisic (28) made his first start of the season, played 69 minutes, had the most touches (5) in the opposition box, scored a goal, and created 2 chances in AC Milan’s 3-0 win over Lecce in Serie A on Sunday.

Just look at that first touch and finish:

Center mids

  • Adri Mehmeti (17) played 84 minutes and created a chance in the New York Red Bulls’ 1-0 win over NYCFC in MLS on Friday.
  • Sebastian Berhalter (25) played 27 minutes off the bench and created a chance in Middlesbrough’s 2-2 draw with Birmingham City in the EFL Championship on Saturday.
  • Aidan Morris (24) played the full 90 and completed the most passes (49) in the Boro-Birmingham game.
    • Rokas Pukštas (22) was an unused sub for Boro.
  • Tanner Tessmann (24) played 11 minutes off the bench in Lyon’s 4-0 win over Rennes in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
  • Brooklyn Raines (21) played the full 90 in the New England Revolution’s 4-2 win over Orlando City in MLS on Saturday.
  • Beau Leroux (23) played the full 90, provided an assist, and created the joint-most chances (4) in the San Jose Earthquakes’ 2-2 draw with LAFC in MLS on Saturday.
  • Owen Wolff (21) played 20 minutes off the bench and created a chance in Sporting KC’s 3-4 loss to Philadelphia Union in MLS on Saturday.
  • Quinn Sullivan (22) played 45 minutes off the bench and provided an assist in the Philadelphia Union’s 4-3 comeback win over Sporting KC in MLS on Saturday.
  • Paxten Aaronson (23) played 84 minutes, created the most chances (7), provided 2 assists, and created 7 chances in the Colorado Rapids’ 3-3 draw with Seattle Sounders FC in MLS on Saturday.

Pax’s first assist:

Pax’s second:

  • Cristian Roldán (31) played the full 90, had the most touches (77) and scored a goal in the Seattle Sounders’ 3-3 draw with Colorado Rapids in MLS on Saturday.
  • Tyler Adams (27) played 88 minutes and created a chance in Bournemouth’s 0-1 loss to Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.
  • Benja Cremaschi (21) was an unused sub for Parma in their 2-1 win over Genoa in Serie A on Sunday.
  • Johnny Cardoso (25) played the full 90 in Atlético Madrid’s 2-1 win over Real Madrid in La Liga on Sunday.
  • Weston McKennie (28) played 86 minutes and created a chance in Juventus’ 2-0 win over Atalanta in Serie A on Sunday.
  • Santiago Castañeda (21) played the full 90 and scored a goal in Paderborn’s 3-1 win over Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Sunday. Castañeda was rated Man of the Match by FotMob.
  • Yunus Musah (23) played 14 minutes off the bench in AC Milan’s 3-0 win over Lecce in Serie A on Sunday.

Fullbacks

  • Marlon Fossey (28) played 87 minutes in Standard Liège’s 1-2 loss to Gent in Belgium’s First Division A on Friday.
  • Jonathan Gómez (23) played 87 minutes, forced an own goal (video here), and created 2 chances in Osnabrück’s 1-1 draw with Holstein Kiel in the 2. Bundesliga on Saturday.
    • John Tolkin (24) was an unused sub for Holstein Kiel.
  • Luca Bombino (20) played 10 minutes off the bench in Stoke City’s 2-1 win over Sheffield United in the EFL Championship on Saturday.
  • Joe Scally (23) played 76 minutes and created a chance in Mönchengladbach’s 3-4 loss to Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
  • Max Arfsten (25) played 86 minutes, completed the most dribbles (4), scored his first Boro goal, and created a chance in Middlesbrough’s 2-2 draw with Birmingham City in the EFL Championship on Saturday. Arfsten was rated Man of the Match by FotMob.
  • Caleb Wiley (21) was not in Preston North End’s squad for their 2-2 draw with QPR in the EFL Championship on Saturday.
  • Bryan Reynolds (25) played 17 minutes off the bench in Rennes’ 0-4 loss to Lyon in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
  • Peyton Miller (18) played the full 90, scored a brace, conceded a penalty, and created a chance in the New England Revolution’s 4-2 win over Orlando City in MLS on Saturday.

Peyton’s first:

Peyton’s second:

  • Harbor Miller (19) played 59 minutes in the LA Galaxy’s 3-2 win over Minnesota United in MLS on Saturday.
  • Frankie Westfield (20) played the full 90, provided an assist, and had the most touches (80) in the Philadelphia Union’s 4-3 comeback win over Sporting KC in MLS on Saturday.
  • Reed Baker-Whiting (21) played the full 90, provided an assist and created 2 chances in Nashville SC’s 3-0 win over Chicago Fire FC in MLS on Saturday.
  • Tate Johnson (21) played 80 minutes in the Vancouver Whitecaps’ 3-0 win over Real Salt Lake in MLS on Saturday.
  • Landon Emenalo (18) was not in Celtic’s squad for their 0-1 loss to Rangers in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
  • George Bello (24) played the full 90, provided an assist and created a chance in LASK Linz’s 3-3 draw with Hartberg in the Austrian Bundesliga on Sunday.
  • Sergiño Dest (25) played the full 90 in PSV’s 2-3 loss to FC Twente in the Eredivisie on Sunday.
  • Taiga Hata (24) played 75 minutes, committed an error that led to a goal and created a chance in St. Truiden’s 0-2 loss to Westerlo in the Belgian Pro League on Sunday.
  • Antonee Robinson (29) played the full 90 and created 2 chances in Fulham’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.
  • Alex Freeman (22) played the full 90 and created 2 chances in Villarreal’s 3-1 win over Levante in La Liga on Sunday.

We have clips of Freeman’s performance against Málaga on Thursday (90 minutes, joint-most dribbles completed (3/3), created 1 chance).

  • Tim Weah (26) played 77 minutes and was sent off with a red card in the 77th minute in Marseille’s 1-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

Center-backs

  • James Sands (26) played the full 90, committed an error that led to a goal, had the most touches (103), and created a chance in NYCFC’s 0-1 loss to Red Bull New York in MLS on Friday.

Sands’ giveaway for the Julian Hall goal:

  • I am not personally hate-watching Noahkai Banks (19) who recently chose Germany over the USA, but if you are, there are apparently enough others out there that I saw multiple accounts post this clip of him being beaten for a goal in Augsburg’s 2-3 loss to Werder Bremen on Saturday.
  • Mark McKenzie (27) played the full 90 and had the most defensive contributions (11) in Toulouse’s 3-2 win over Le Havre in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
  • Jalen Neal (23) played the full 90 and completed the most passes (69) in CF Montréal’s 0-2 loss to Columbus Crew in MLS on Saturday.
  • Tim Ream (38) played the full 90 in Charlotte FC’s 2-1 win over DC United in MLS on Saturday.
  • Ethan Kohler (21) played the full 90 and had the most defensive contributions (11) in the New England Revolution’s 4-2 win over Orlando City in MLS on Saturday.
  • Miles Robinson (29) played the full 90 and created 2 chances in FC Cincinnati’s 2-2 draw with Houston Dynamo FC in MLS on Saturday.
  • Neil Pierre (18) played the full 90 and forced an own goal in the Philadelphia Union’s 4-3 comeback win over Sporting KC in MLS on Saturday.
  • Cameron Carter-Vickers (28) played the full 90, had the most defensive contributions (14), had the most touches (89), and made a goal-line clearance in Celtic’s 0-1 loss to Rangers in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
    • Auston Trusty (28) also played the full 90 for Celtic.

CCV’s block:

  • George Campbell (25) played the full 90 and had the most touches (93) in West Brom’s 0-1 loss to Wolves in the EFL Championship on Sunday.
  • Chris Richards (26) played the full 90 in Crystal Palace’s 0-0 draw with Leeds in the Premier League on Sunday.
  • Elijah Scott (20) was an unused sub in Lecce’s 0-3 loss to AC Milan in Serie A on Sunday. Scott was seen with Christian Pulisic after the game.

Goalkeepers

  • Diego Kochen (20) played the full 90 and made 2 saves in Lyngby’s 0-4 loss to Silkeborg in the Danish Superliga on Friday.
  • Matt Freese (28) played the full 90 and made 0 saves in NYCFC’s 0-1 loss to the Red Bulls in MLS on Friday.
  • Ethan Horvath (31) played the full 90 and made 4 saves in the New York Red Bulls’ 1-0 win over NYCFC in MLS on Friday. Horvath was rated Man of the Match by FotMob.
  • Julian Eyestone (20) played the full 90 and made 3 saves in Rotherham’s 1-0 win over Northampton in League Two on Saturday – Eyestone’s first clean sheet with Rotherham.
  • Patrick Schulte (25) played the full 90 and made 2 saves in the Columbus Crew’s 2-0 win over CF Montréal in MLS on Saturday.
  • Matt Turner (32) played the full 90 and made 3 saves in the New England Revolution’s 4-2 win over Orlando City in MLS on Saturday.
  • Roman Celentano (26) played the full 90 and made 0 saves in FC Cincinnati’s 2-2 draw with Houston Dynamo FC in MLS on Saturday.
  • Drake Callender (28) played the full 90 and made 2 saves in Minnesota United’s 2-3 loss to LA Galaxy in MLS on Saturday.
  • Brian Schwake (25) played the full 90 and made 1 save in Nashville SC’s 3-0 win over the Chicago Fire in MLS on Saturday.
  • Chris Brady (22) played the full 90 and made 3 saves in the Chicago Fire’s 0-3 loss to Nashville SC in MLS on Saturday.
  • Zack Steffen is out with a shoulder injury, missing the Colorado Rapids’ 3-3 draw with the Seattle Sounders in MLS on Saturday. Steffen is expected back late September 2026.
  • Polish-American Szymon Lyczko (20) made his first league start for Zagłębie Lubin in Poland’s top flight.

Goalkeeper stats:

What were your takeaways? Hit the comments to discuss.

Read full story at source