Chris Richards faces an uncertain timeline for his return to Crystal Palace action following a foot injury sustained in the Carabao Cup quarterfinal defeat to Arsenal. The U.S. international defender required stitches after being stamped on during the match and was subsequently forced to watch from the stands as Palace lost 1-0 to Tottenham on Sunday.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner provided an update on the 25-year-old's condition ahead of Wednesday's clash with Fulham, but couldn't guarantee his availability. "His foot got stitched, but it's still swollen," Glasner explained. "You have to wear a boot and kick a ball, and with the wound right there, it's very, very painful."
Despite the setback, Richards remained upbeat on social media, telling supporters: "Thanks everybody for the messages, won't be long till I'm back." His absence represents a significant blow for Palace, as he had started all 17 Premier League matches this season before the injury, establishing himself as a crucial component of their defense during a demanding fixture schedule.
Forward Scored on Friday in a Draw, But Struggled for Involvement in Monday's Defeat
Patrick Agyemang's prolific form continued on Boxing Day as the U.S. international striker netted his sixth goal of the season in Derby County's 1-1 draw with Birmingham City. The 25-year-old, who joined the Rams from Charlotte FC in a deal reportedly worth $8 million, has now found the net four times in his last six appearances, cementing his status as a key attacking threat for the Championship side.
Agyemang's header in the 27th minute came from excellent work by Rhian Brewster, whose lofted cross picked out the unmarked forward for a close-range finish. The goal showcased the developing partnership between the two strikers, something Agyemang was keen to highlight after the match. "We communicate on and off the pitch a lot," he explained to Sky Sports, emphasizing their understanding of each other's strengths.
The draw became more impressive given Derby's circumstances, as they played over half the contest with 10 men following Joe Ward's dismissal before halftime. Agyemang praised his teammates' resilience, saying, "It shows the character of the team. We stayed defensively strong and as a family unit."
However, Agyemang's performance dipped in Monday's 2-1 defeat to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. The striker managed just 26 touches—the fewest of any outfield player completing the full 90 minutes. While he showed glimpses of his pace when running at Leicester's defense and forced a save with a deflected effort, his overall impact was limited. He completed only 70% of his passes and failed to complete any of his four dribble attempts, struggling to replicate his earlier influence as Derby fell to defeat despite Brewster's equalizer.
Christian Pulisic made headlines both on and off the pitch this weekend, scoring in AC Milan's commanding 3-0 victory over Hellas Verona while publicly addressing false rumors about his personal life.
The United States Men's National Team captain opened the scoring at San Siro on Sunday, converting Adrien Rabiot's flick-on from close range just before halftime. Positioned at the far post during a corner, Pulisic turned the ball into the roof of the net for his 10th goal of the season across all competitions. Christopher Nkunku added a second-half brace to seal the victory, helping Milan maintain second place in the Serie A standings.
The goal represented a significant milestone for the 27-year-old American, marking his 50th direct goal contribution in Serie A since joining Milan in 2023. With 31 goals and 19 assists across 80 league appearances, Pulisic trails only Inter captain Lautaro Martinez (54) for most goal contributions in Italy's top flight over the past three seasons. The pair also lead Serie A's scoring charts this campaign, with Lautaro netting nine times and Pulisic eight.
Despite his on-field success, Pulisic felt compelled to address baseless speculation linking him romantically to actress Sydney Sweeney. Taking to Instagram Stories, he wrote: "Please stop with the made up stories about my personal life. Need to hold sources accountable, it can affect people's lives." He called the reports "a silly rumor" and emphasized they were "fake news."
Pulisic is actually in a relationship with professional golfer Alexa Melton, who made their romance public on social media in July 2024 with photos from Turks and Caicos. Meanwhile, Sweeney has been linked to music manager Scooter Braun since September. Milan's victory keeps them firmly in the title race, sitting just one point behind city rivals Inter.
Midfielder Provided an Assist in Leeds' Draw With Sunderland
Brenden Aaronson delivered a standout performance in Leeds United's 1-1 Premier League draw with Sunderland, earning man-of-the-match honors, following an all-action display that demonstrated his growing importance to Daniel Farke's system.
After Simon Adingra put Sunderland ahead in the 28th minute with a well-taken finish from Granit Xhaka's clever pass, Leeds emerged from halftime with renewed determination. Just two minutes into the second half, Aaronson proved decisive, finding space and delivering a perfectly weighted assist for Calvert-Lewin, who finished clinically to restore parity in the 47th minute.
The assist marked Aaronson's third in his last seven Premier League appearances—matching his total from his first 46 matches with the club—highlighting a remarkable upturn in his creative output. His influence extended far beyond that single moment, as he led all players with five chances created, including two big opportunities, while completing 31-of-37 passes across his 55 touches.
Aaronson's statistical achievement was particularly noteworthy. He recorded 15 touches inside the opposition penalty area, becoming only the second player this season to combine that many box touches with five chances created in a single match. More impressively, he became the first player since Opta began tracking this data in 2008-09 to accomplish this feat for a newly promoted side.
The performance represents back-to-back impressive outings for Aaronson, who has now earned two man-of-the-match awards this campaign. Speaking to LUTV, he emphasized the importance of momentum, stating: "I think rhythm's a huge thing and momentum's a huge thing in this league."
The draw extended Leeds' unbeaten run to five matches and moved them seven points clear of the relegation zone, with Aaronson's resurgence proving vital to their Premier League survival hopes.
Midfielder Had an Eventful Week, Leading Juventus to a Win Over Pisa
Weston McKennie continues to prove his worth to Juventus despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding his contract situation. The American midfielder played a crucial role in the Bianconeri's 2-0 Serie A victory over Pisa on Saturday, providing the cross that led to the opening goal in the 73rd minute.
Operating from his wingback position in Luciano Spalletti's 3-4-2-1 system, McKennie delivered a dangerous ball into the box that, after a deflection, resulted in a goal for Pierre Kalulu. While the assist didn't officially register in the statistics, the 27-year-old's contribution proved decisive in breaking the deadlock. Kenan Yildiz sealed the victory with a late stoppage-time strike, pushing Juventus up to third place in the league standings.
McKennie's performance extended beyond his attacking involvement. He completed the full 90 minutes and topped the match statistics in several defensive categories, winning eight duels—more than any other player—and completing five tackles. He also contributed four clearances and drew a foul, demonstrating the versatility that has made him indispensable to Spalletti since the manager's arrival in late October.
However, McKennie's impressive form comes amid contractual uncertainty. With his deal expiring in six months and negotiations stalling after Damien Comolli replaced Cristiano Giuntoli as Football Director, speculation about his future intensifies. Reports suggest Juventus may consider selling him in January rather than losing him on a free transfer.
The situation appears to be out of McKennie's hands, as he recently stated: "I hope to stay at Juventus. But I leave it all in my agent's hands." His recent performances—this marks his 23rd appearance across all competitions this season—strengthen his case for remaining in Turin. Juventus face Lecce on January 3rd, seeking a fifth consecutive victory, with McKennie likely to continue his influential role.
Full Back Continues Fine Form in Fulham's Win Over West Ham
Antonee Robinson's return from a three-month injury layoff has sparked a remarkable transformation in Fulham's fortunes. The American left-back has been instrumental in the Cottagers' recent surge, with the team securing three victories in their last four matches since his comeback.
His performance against West Ham on Saturday showcased exactly why he's so valued at Craven Cottage. Robinson demonstrated his exceptional two-way abilities throughout the match, making it difficult to determine whether his attacking or defensive contributions were more impressive. His relentless energy earned him comparisons to the cartoon roadrunner, as he tirelessly patrolled the left flank for the full ninety minutes.
The statistics from the London Stadium encounter tell a compelling story. Robinson registered 93 touches—second-most in the match—while maintaining an exceptional 94% pass accuracy. His creative output was particularly noteworthy, as he generated four chances, more than any other player on the pitch. His delivery was precise, completing all three of his long balls and four of seven crosses. Defensively, he contributed four tackles and three interceptions while helping Fulham secure a clean sheet.
His partnership with Emile Smith Rowe proved especially effective, with the duo combining well down the left side. Despite facing West Ham's primary threat, Jarrod Bowen, Robinson held firm defensively while providing constant attacking width. Fulham's 1-0 victory, secured by Raul Jimenez's late header, lifted them into the top half of the Premier League table. His performances have proven that when healthy, he remains one of the league's most complete full-backs, capable of influencing matches at both ends of the pitch.
On This Day in 2008, Dempsey's Last-Gasp Header Completes Comeback Against Chelsea and Extends Fulham's Unbeaten Streak to Nine
The transformation had been gradual but undeniable. After spending the opening months of the 2008-09 season on the periphery—just one start in Fulham's first 11 fixtures—Clint Dempsey had finally worked his way back into Roy Hodgson's plans. The breakthrough came on a cold October afternoon at Fratton Park, where he'd come off the bench to salvage a draw against Portsmouth with his first goal of the campaign. It wasn't glamorous, but it was a foothold.
By late December, that foothold had become something more substantial. Dempsey had displaced Zoltan Gera in the starting XI and repaid Hodgson's faith with his first home goal of the season in a comfortable 3-0 victory over Middlesbrough on December 20. Eight days later, on December 28, with Fulham riding an eight-match unbeaten streak that had lifted them into the top half of the table, the American would face his sternest test yet. Chelsea were coming to Craven Cottage.
The timing could hardly have been more dramatic. Fulham's remarkable run—built on a defensive foundation that had conceded just once in six matches—had transformed perceptions of a club that had escaped relegation on goal difference the previous spring. Now seventh in the table and dreaming of European football, the Cottagers had proven they belonged in conversations beyond mere survival. But Chelsea represented a different magnitude of challenge entirely.
Luiz Felipe Scolari's side sat second in the Premier League, just three points behind Liverpool, and arrived at the cottage with title ambitions still intact. The Portuguese manager faced selection dilemmas—should he pair Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka in attack, or keep his 14-goal top scorer on the bench? His decision to start with Drogba alone, with Anelka initially relegated to the bench, would prove consequential.
For Fulham, the team sheet brought its own concerns. Brede Hangeland, their defensive anchor, was battling the flu after missing the Boxing Day stalemate at Tottenham. Jimmy Bullard's dead leg from that same match left his availability in doubt. The atmosphere crackled with derby-day tension, 25,462 packed into the compact stadium along the Thames, knowing they were watching two clubs heading in opposite directions—one chasing glory, the other chasing history.
What followed was a match that swung violently between control and chaos, a West London derby that would encapsulate everything compelling about Fulham's unlikely season. The opening exchanges were cautious, both sides feeling each other out, until the ninth minute shattered Chelsea's composure. Andrew Johnson drew a foul just outside the area, and Simon Davies stepped up to deliver the free kick. The ball arced dangerously toward the far post. Players hesitated, assignments blurred, and Dempsey found himself in glorious isolation at the back post. With his back to goal and Petr Cech scrambling to cover his near post, Dempsey chested the ball down with perfect control. In one fluid motion, he pivoted and used the outside of his right boot to flick the ball over the line before anyone could react. Craven Cottage erupted, and the underdogs were making the giants sweat.
Chelsea's response was immediate and aggressive. Drogba, granted space in behind Aaron Hughes, turned and fired across goal only to see his effort roll agonizingly wide of Mark Schwarzer's far post. The pressure mounted, but Fulham's defensive resolve—the bedrock of their unbeaten run—held firm. Then injuries intervened, reshaping the match. Florent Malouda limped off with a hamstring problem on the half-hour, forcing Scolari's hand. Anelka entered, and Chelsea's entire dynamic shifted. Within seconds of his introduction, Anelka unleashed a fierce drive that required Schwarzer's full attention. When Alex also succumbed to injury before halftime, Ricardo Carvalho—making his first appearance in two months following knee surgery—entered and immediately elevated Chelsea's quality. Fulham reached the interval clinging to their advantage, knowing the second half would demand every ounce of their newfound resilience.
They held for just four minutes. Joe Cole's chip into the penalty area created havoc. Hughes and Schwarzer collided as they attempted to clear under pressure from Drogba, and the ball broke loose in the worst possible location—directly to Frank Lampard, unmarked and composed. The Chelsea midfielder rolled his finish into the empty net with characteristic efficiency. The tide had turned. Chelsea seized control, their superior technical quality asserting itself. Cole forced Schwarzer into two excellent saves, the second a stunning parry low to his right that kept Fulham level. When the breakthrough came, 72 minutes in, it carried an air of inevitability. Johnson fouled Deco 30 yards from the goal, and Lampard stood over the free kick. Lampard struck it low to the near post, and though the goalkeeper scrambled back, he couldn't recover in time. The dipping effort found the bottom corner, and Chelsea had their lead.
With 18 minutes remaining and the champions-elect in control, Fulham's historic unbeaten run appeared destined to end. Hodgson rolled his final dice, bringing on Erik Nevland for Bobby Zamora and Leon Andreasen for Dickson Etuhu, searching for fresh legs and renewed energy. The home crowd urged them forward, but Chelsea's experience suggested they would manage the closing stages professionally. Then came the 89th minute. Davies positioned himself on the right flank to deliver a corner, the kind of routine set piece that occurs dozens of times every match without consequence. But there was nothing routine about what followed. His delivery curved perfectly toward the back post, and Dempsey—who had been marked diligently all afternoon—timed his run to perfection. Rising above his marker, the American generated tremendous power through his neck and shoulders, directing a bullet header across Cech and into the far corner.
The connection was clean, decisive, unstoppable. Cech barely moved, recognizing immediately that the ball was beyond his reach. For the second time that afternoon, Dempsey had found the net, but this goal carried exponentially more weight than the opener. This wasn't just an equalizer—it was a statement of defiance, a refusal to accept defeat, a physical manifestation of everything Fulham had become under Hodgson. The stadium exploded in pandemonium. Players piled on Dempsey near the corner flag. Hodgson, normally reserved on the touchline, allowed himself a moment of unrestrained emotion. Chelsea's players stood in stunned disbelief, their title hopes suddenly wobbling. Three points had become one in a heartbeat.
"It was a fantastic fighting effort," Hodgson would reflect afterward, his voice tinged with pride. "Over 90 minutes, Chelsea were the better footballing team, but we matched them in so many departments. Credit to our players, they didn't lose their heads, and they managed to score a wonderful late equalizer." Scolari's frustration was palpable. "We had six, seven, eight chances to score and got two. They had two, from free-kicks, and scored twice," he lamented. "We made two dangerous mistakes in our box, and because of that, we've lost two points." The subtext was clear—Chelsea had dominated possession and territory but failed where it mattered most.
For Fulham, the draw extended their unbeaten run to nine matches and kept them firmly in the top half of the table. For Dempsey, the brace validated Hodgson's faith and confirmed his resurrection as a genuine Premier League threat. The American who had started the season as an afterthought was now central to Fulham's identity—a scrappy, opportunistic forward who thrived in the chaos of congested penalty areas. The momentum would carry through the spring. Dempsey added his first FA Cup goal in a February victory over Swansea City and then grabbed another brace in April, dismantling Manchester City 3-1 away from home. By season's end, he had matched Andy Johnson as Fulham's joint-top scorer with seven Premier League goals, each one a brick in the foundation of something extraordinary.
Fulham finished seventh—the highest league position in the club's 111-year history—securing qualification for the newly formed UEFA Europa League. They collected 53 points, an 18-point improvement on the previous campaign. They earned recognition beyond the table: the Fair Play Award, the Behavior of the Public Award, and the Barclays Spirit Award for Hodgson, who had transformed relegation battlers into European contenders in just 18 months. Dempsey's goals against Chelsea—one a moment of improvisation, the other of pure determination—encapsulated the entire improbable journey. That December afternoon, with the winter light fading over the Thames and 25,462 voices hoarse from celebrating, Dempsey had delivered more than just two goals. He'd reminded everyone watching that football's most compelling narratives often belong not to the teams with the largest budgets or most decorated histories, but to those who refuse to accept the limitations others place upon them.
On This Day in 2022, a Boxing Day Moment a Decade in the Making
For Tim Ream, the path to Premier League permanence had been anything but straightforward. The St. Louis native had arrived in England a decade earlier, cutting short his honeymoon in January 2012 to sign for Bolton Wanderers. This romantic sacrifice seemed fitting for a player who would spend the next 10 years proving his devotion to English football. He'd experienced the heartbreak of relegation in his first season, fought his way back to become Bolton's Player of the Year two seasons running, then made the move to Fulham in 2015 with hopes of reaching the Premier League.
Those hopes had been realized, then lost, then realized again. Ream had tasted the top flight briefly during Fulham's 2018-19 campaign, but relegation sent them back down. By December 2022, however, everything had aligned. Fulham had returned to the Premier League as Championship winners, and Marco Silva's side was not just surviving—they were thriving. 19 points from their opening 15 matches had them comfortably mid-table, a remarkable achievement for a newly-promoted side.
At 35 years old, Ream had established himself as an indispensable figure at Craven Cottage. In seven full seasons wearing the white shirt, he'd become the embodiment of Fulham's resilience. Just three weeks earlier, he'd started all four matches as the United States reached the World Cup Round of 16 in Qatar, cementing his status as one of America's most consistent defenders. But for all his accomplishments—the Player of the Year awards at Bolton, the promotion triumphs, the international caps—one thing had eluded him: a goal in England's top division.
On December 26, Crystal Palace presented both opportunity and challenge. The Eagles matched Fulham's point total and had won four of their last seven before the World Cup break, though they'd be without suspended center-back Marc Guehi. For Fulham, there were fitness concerns around Aleksandar Mitrović, Antonee Robinson, and Layvin Kurzawa, but Silva's squad had depth. The sold-out away allocation of 2,687 traveling supporters would make the short journey across South London—on buses, as no trains were running on Boxing Day—to Selhurst Park, hoping to see their side maintain their impressive form.
The match unfolded like a Boxing Day gift unwrapping in stages. Fulham controlled possession from the opening whistle, patient and composed, while Palace struggled to create clear chances despite Michael Olise's occasional moments of brilliance. In the 26th minute, Jordan Ayew struck the crossbar, a warning shot that Palace couldn't capitalize on. Five minutes later, Fulham punished that miss. After intercepting a wayward pass from Joachim Andersen, the visitors struck with devastating efficiency. Mitrović, so often the target of crosses, became the provider with an exquisite delivery from the right that Bobby De Cordova-Reid met with a glancing header into the far corner.
The afternoon turned from difficult to desperate for Palace three minutes later when Tyrick Mitchell received a straight red card for a high tackle on Kenny Tete. Patrick Vieira's side now faced over an hour with 10 men against a Fulham team that had been dominating even at full strength. The second half brought further misery when James Tomkins, making his first Premier League start since the previous Boxing Day, raised his elbow to block Mitrović's run and collected a second yellow card. At nine men, Palace's fate seemed sealed.
Yet the insurance goal Fulham needed hadn't arrived. Mitrović had been denied by excellent saves from Vicente Guaita, and Andreas Pereira had struck the post from a tight angle. The breakthrough came in the 71st minute from the most unexpected source. Pereira's deep corner swung toward the far post, where Mitrović, inevitably, rose highest. The Serbian's header came down perfectly into Ream's path, and the American captain didn't hesitate. He spun sharply and lashed a vicious volley that rocketed into the roof of the net, leaving Guaita with no chance.
The Fulham supporters erupted. Seven years since joining the club and finally—his first Premier League goal. The emotion was written across Ream's face as teammates mobbed him. VAR briefly checked whether Mitrović's header had brushed his arm, but referee Andy Madley took one look at the monitor and confirmed the goal. The away end, packed 20 yards to his left, exploded again in celebration.
"We had a plan, and the players stuck to the plan," Silva would say afterward. "Their home record is very strong, but we were the best team on the pitch and showed the maturity we needed." For Ream, the maturity had been earned over years of Championship battles, relegation fights, and the patience required to rebuild a Premier League career at an age when many defenders are winding down. His goal represented not just three points secured—Mitrović would add a third in the 80th minute with a deft header to seal the 3-0 victory—but validation of the long journey.
The timing couldn't have been better. Just hours after the match, Fulham announced that Ream had signed a contract extension keeping him at the club through the summer of 2024. It was the perfect Boxing Day double: his first Premier League goal and confirmation that his Fulham story would continue.
The season would prove to be one of consolidation and success. Fulham finished tenth in the Premier League—a remarkable achievement for a promoted side—while reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals. Mitrović would finish as top scorer with 14 league goals, but it was the collective strength and experience of players like Ream that provided the foundation for Silva's system. The American made 33 league appearances that season, his steady presence at center-back allowing Fulham's attackers the freedom to flourish.
Ream would go on to extend his Fulham career even further, signing another contract in December 2023 that would keep him at Craven Cottage through 2025. In October 2023, he celebrated his 300th appearance for the club in a win over Sheffield United—a milestone that few foreign players in English football ever reach with a single club. When he finally departed in August 2024, he joined Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer on a two-year deal, bringing his nine-year Fulham chapter to a close.
That Boxing Day afternoon at Selhurst Park, with Fulham sitting in the top half of the Premier League table and their captain wheeling away in celebration of a goal a decade in the making, everything felt right. One volley, one moment of pure joy, and one perfect afternoon that captured why Tim Ream had canceled his honeymoon all those years ago to chase an English football dream. It was the kind of goal that makes a career memorable—not for its technical brilliance or tactical importance, but for what it represented: perseverance, loyalty, and the reward that sometimes comes to those patient enough to wait for their moment.
Midfielder Earns First Serie A Start as a Loanee in Win Over Genoa
Yunus Musah finally received a meaningful opportunity in Atalanta colors on Sunday, earning his first Serie A start for the club in their hard-fought 1-0 victory over 10-man Genoa at Marassi. The 23-year-old American midfielder, who turned that age just three weeks ago, partnered effectively with Ederson in the center of the park, completing 90 minutes for the first time since his August move from Milan.
The performance marked a significant breakthrough for Musah, who had managed just 320 minutes across all competitions this season—most of that coming in a September appearance against PSG in the Champions League. Atalanta invested heavily in the New York-born midfielder, paying €5 million for an initial loan with an obligation to buy of €20 million in June.
Manager Raffaele Palladino had praised Musah's training ground attitude and positive mentality in his pre-match press conference, hinting at increased opportunities following an extended acclimatization period. The American delivered with a composed display, completing 53-of-57 passes (93% accuracy), winning six of nine ground duels, and contributing three tackles.
"I'm really happy. I've been waiting for this moment for a while," Musah explained afterward. "I was as happy as if it was my debut."
Isak Hien's 94th-minute header secured the points after Genoa goalkeeper Nicola Leali's third-minute red card. For Musah, patience and persistence finally paid dividends as he looks to establish himself in Palladino's plans.
Midfielder Records His Second Assist in Three League Matches as Juventus Beats Roma
Weston McKennie's tactical evolution under Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti continues to bear fruit, with the versatile American playing a pivotal role in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Roma at Allianz Stadium. The win moved the Bianconeri to within a single point of fourth place, extending their impressive recent form to six wins in their last seven matches across all competitions.
McKennie's contribution came in the 70th minute when his header forced a save from Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar. Though the initial effort was stopped, Svilar spilled the rebound, allowing McKennie to lay it off to Lois Openda to tap home Juventus' second goal. The assist marked McKennie's second of the season, adding to his two goals—all four contributions arriving in just the past four weeks.
Former Inter manager Andrea Stramaccioni praised Spalletti's innovative deployment of the 27-year-old Texan, calling it something unseen in two decades of Italian football. McKennie operates wide as a right wing-back when Juventus are out of possession, tracking opposing attackers. However, once the Bianconeri have the ball, he transforms into a genuine second striker, cutting inside centrally to create numerical advantages in attack. This tactical fluidity has proven decisive, particularly against top-four rivals Bologna and Roma. McKennie's adaptability continues to showcase why he remains indispensable to both club and country.
Forward Scores in Fourth Straight League Match, Assisted by His Compatriot
Ricardo Pepi's resurgence continues to gather momentum as the 22-year-old forward netted his fourth consecutive Eredivisie goal in PSV Eindhoven's 2-1 victory over Utrecht on Sunday. After struggling through injury troubles earlier in 2025, the striker is hitting his stride at precisely the right moment, with the 2026 World Cup looming on the horizon.
Trailing 1-0 at halftime after Mike van der Hoorn's header gave Utrecht the lead, PSV emerged reinvigorated after the break. The turnaround began in the 52nd minute when fellow American Sergino Dest delivered a perfectly weighted pass from the right side of the penalty area. The right-back's ball beat two defenders and found Pepi in the six-yard box, where he calmly slotted home a first-time finish into the bottom corner.
It marked the first time this season the USMNT duo had combined for a goal, with Dest registering his fifth Eredivisie assist of the campaign. Ivan Perišić completed the comeback 14 minutes from time, heading home from a well-worked corner routine to secure PSV's 15th league victory.
The win extended PSV's commanding lead at the top of the table to 12 points before the winter break. For Pepi, now wearing the prestigious No. 9 shirt inherited from departed legend Luuk de Jong, the goal brought his season tally to nine across all competitions—a statement of intent as he builds his case for a starting role under Mauricio Pochettino.
On This Day in 1996, Preki and Hejduk Scored Their Firsts For the US in a Meaningless Draw with Guatemala
The business had already been handled. Five days earlier at Stanford Stadium, Brian McBride and Roy Lassiter had scored the goals that sent the United States into the World Cup's final qualifying round. The pressure had lifted. The path forward was secure. What remained was a formality—a December 21 trip to El Salvador's Cuscatlán Stadium to face an already-eliminated Guatemala side with nothing but pride to play for.
Steve Sampson saw an opportunity where others might have seen an obligation. With seven regulars rested—John Harkes injured, Eric Wynalda recovering from hernia surgery, and others held back for the gauntlet that awaited in 1997—the coach would field what newspapers politely termed "a largely experimental team." The stakes were minimal. The roster was makeshift. Yet what unfolded over 90 minutes in front of 10,000 spectators would reveal something the Americans desperately needed to know: they had depth.
The lineup Sampson sent out bore little resemblance to the team that had secured qualification. Preki Radosavljevic, the 33-year-old Yugoslav-turned-American who had received his citizenship just eight weeks earlier, would make only his fourth national team appearance. Frankie Hejduk, the UCLA product who'd played in the Olympics but had yet to start a senior international match, would anchor the backline. Jason Kreis and Jovan Kirovski, both still finding their footing at this level, would operate in midfield. Only Brad Friedel, Eddie Pope, Jeff Agoos, Claudio Reyna and Brian McBride remained from the Costa Rica victory—and even they were being asked to gel with unfamiliar partners.
The Americans spent the next half-hour controlling possession, playing what Sampson would later describe as "some of the best soccer we've ever played," but they couldn't find the clinical finish to match their fluidity. Guatemala, desperate and organized, absorbed the pressure and countered with purpose. A minute before halftime, Funes turned creator, delivering a pass that Juan Carlos Plata half-volleyed into the net. The Americans went to the break trailing 2-1, which would have been cause for concern in a match that mattered. Here, it was merely inconvenient.
Hejduk erased the deficit four minutes into the second half. The UCLA defender made a diagonal run into space, received Preki's pass, and finished from 14 yards with the confidence of someone who belonged at this level. The goal was his first for the national team. It would not be his last—over the next six years, Hejduk would become a fixture, representing the United States in two Olympics and two World Cups, his lackadaisical "surfer" demeanor masking a fierce competitive streak.
The match settled into a 2-2 stalemate that satisfied no one and disappointed few. Guatemala's elimination was confirmed when news filtered in from Costa Rica, where the Ticos had defeated Trinidad and Tobago 2-1. The Americans had claimed first place in Group 1 with a 4-1-1 record. More importantly, they had validated Sampson's belief that his program possessed something it had historically lacked: reliable alternatives when the first-choice players were unavailable.
"This is real evidence of the type of depth we're developing," Sampson said afterward, his satisfaction evident. "Frankie Hejduk debuted and was outstanding, scoring the tying goal. Jason Kreis at midfield, Jovan Kirovski moved back to midfield and combined well with Kreis and Reyna. Preki played the entire 90 minutes, scored his first goal and had an assist on the second. Martin Vasquez was strong, settling us in the back."
Jeff Agoos, serving as acting captain in Harkes' absence, had emerged as the team's most consistent performer across the six-game semifinal round. "The new guys showed they could play at this level," he observed. "They did it against a quality team. It's nice to know we have players who can come off the bench like this. Major League Soccer has given some players a lot of exposure."
The statement carried weight beyond its modesty. MLS, barely nine months old, was already serving its intended purpose—not just providing American players with professional opportunities, but accelerating their development to a level where they could compete internationally. Preki's journey embodied the league's promise. A decade earlier, he'd arrived from Yugoslavia to play indoor soccer in Tacoma. He'd bounced through Sweden, England, and the Continental Indoor Soccer League before MLS offered him a chance with the Kansas City Wizards in February 1996. Now, at 33—one of the oldest players ever to debut for the national team—he was scoring World Cup qualifying goals.
The draw gave the Americans a brief respite before the real work began. They would reassemble at Chula Vista on January 8 for the U.S. Cup, a four-nation tournament featuring Mexico, Peru, and Denmark, with three matches in San Diego and Pasadena. After that, a two-game tour of China. Then, in late February and early March, the hexagonal final round would commence—a double-round-robin featuring the United States, Costa Rica, Mexico, Canada, Jamaica and El Salvador, with the top three advancing to France '98.
On paper, the U.S. and Mexico looked strongest. Jamaica remained the only participant never to reach a World Cup. Canada had defeated El Salvador twice and figured to finish ahead of the Salvadorans, but might struggle against Costa Rica. The Americans would open on March 2 at Jamaica, beginning a marathon that would stretch through November with home-and-home series against all five opponents.
But on a December night in El Salvador, with qualification secure and experimentation yielding validation, the future felt manageable rather than daunting. The program that had scraped into the 1990 World Cup through Paul Caligiuri's miracle shot and been granted entry as 1994 hosts was now expected to qualify on merit. The depth that Alexi Lalas had praised after the Costa Rica victory—the ability to replace world-class players with world-class alternatives—had been tested against Guatemala and proven genuine.
Two goals from players making their first starts. A 2-2 draw that meant nothing in the standings but everything for confidence. The Americans had eight weeks to prepare for Jamaica, for Mexico, for the hexagonal grind that would determine whether they belonged in France. The anticlimax in El Salvador had told them what they needed to know: when it mattered, they would be ready.
Reyna and Scally Both Started in the Bundesliga loss to Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund extended their remarkable home dominance over Borussia Mönchengladbach with a 2-0 victory on Friday, but the match held special significance for two American internationals on the visiting side.
Gio Reyna made his first return to the Westfalenstadion since departing Dortmund for Gladbach last summer, earning just his third straight league start. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder played 65 minutes in an attacking role but struggled to make an impact against his former club. He managed one shot that didn't find the target and completed 26-of-33 passes, though his defensive contributions included two interceptions and a clearance.
"Obviously, giving up a goal early is always hard to overcome at a stadium like Dortmund, but I thought for 50 to 60 minutes of the game, we were there, we had chances, we were in good areas," Reyna said. "So, a little bit more ruthless in front of goal and I think we could walk away with a point."
Joe Scally featured the full 90 minutes at right wing-back for the visitors, though he also found little joy in attack. The 22-year-old completed just 17-of 25-passes. His dribbling attempts were unsuccessful, and his crossing accuracy left much to be desired. Gladbach managed only one shot on target throughout the entire match, reflecting how thoroughly Dortmund controlled proceedings. Julian Brandt's early strike and Maximilian Beier's stoppage-time goal secured Dortmund's 12th consecutive home victory against Gladbach, leaving both Americans to endure a frustrating evening.
Aaronson Will Face Richards as Leeds Hosts Crystal Palace Saturday
Leeds United welcome Crystal Palace to Elland Road on Saturday night, with American internationals featuring prominently for both sides in a crucial Premier League clash.
Brenden Aaronson could earn a rare start for the Whites after seeing his playing time diminish under Daniel Farke's new 3-5-2 system. The 25-year-old midfielder has started just nine of Leeds' 15 league matches this season, accumulating 837 minutes while contributing one goal and two assists. In his most recent start against Aston Villa, Aaronson demonstrated his value with an 86% pass completion rate and 8 defensive actions, though his finishing remains a concern. Farke may deploy him just behind striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has scored in four consecutive Premier League games to fuel Leeds' survival bid.
For Palace, Chris Richards is guaranteed to start at center-back after manager Oliver Glasner confirmed his lineup in advance. The defender has been a fixture for the Eagles this season, starting all 16 league matches and logging 1,433 minutes. Richards will anchor a back three alongside Marc Guehi and Maxence Lacroix as Palace look to maintain their push for European qualification while sitting fifth in the table.
Both Americans face pivotal moments: Aaronson seeks to prove his worth in Leeds' relegation fight. At the same time, Richards aims to help Palace extend their strong campaign despite coming off a disappointing loss to Manchester City.
Tyler Adams faces a challenging road ahead after suffering a torn MCL in Bournemouth's dramatic 4-4 draw with Manchester United. The midfielder lasted just five minutes before being forced off, and manager Andoni Iraola confirmed the severity, estimating a two-to-three-month recovery period—a significant setback for both club and country.
For Bournemouth, losing Adams represents a tactical dilemma. Iraola acknowledged he's "a very unique player, very specific player in what he does," with alternatives like Alex Scott and Lewis Cook offering different qualities than the defensive shield Adams provides. His absence is particularly painful given his strong form this season, featuring 15 league appearances and memorable contributions, including that spectacular long-range goal against Sunderland last month.
The injury's timing creates uncertainty for the United States national team as well. Adams may miss crucial March friendlies against Belgium and Portugal—the final camp before World Cup squad selection. Though the timeline suggests he should recover before the home tournament begins, his persistent injury troubles raise concerns. Adams has struggled to maintain consistent fitness, appearing in only 10 of Mauricio Pochettino's 22 matches as manager.
Still, there's cautious optimism. Unlike a more severe ACL injury, this MCL tear shouldn't derail Adams' World Cup dreams entirely, giving him potential months to regain match sharpness before the summer showcase.
On This Day in 2023, Dest's Clinical Finish Caps PSV's Perfect League Campaign Before the Winter Break
The return to his homeland had been unconventional, but by December 2023, it was proving to be exactly what Sergino Dest needed. After a disappointing loan spell at AC Milan the previous season, the Netherlands-born American had found himself surplus to requirements at Barcelona. When PSV Eindhoven came calling in late August with a loan offer that included an option to buy, it represented a chance at redemption—a return to the Eredivisie where he had first made his name with Ajax.
The move reunited Dest with former Barcelona teammate Luuk de Jong at a club with serious ambitions. PSV weren't just competing for domestic honors; they were navigating the Champions League group stages alongside Arsenal, Sevilla and Lens. For Dest, it was an opportunity to rebuild his confidence and prove he could still operate at the highest level.
By mid-December, PSV had transformed into an unstoppable force under Peter Bosz. 15 consecutive Eredivisie victories had them cruising toward the winter break with a commanding 10-point lead at the top of the table. They had drawn 1-1 with Arsenal in midweek—a Champions League encounter that confirmed their place in the knockout rounds—and now faced one final domestic hurdle before the holidays.
AZ Alkmaar awaited at the AFAS Stadion, a venue that historically posed problems for visiting sides. Despite sitting third in the table, AZ arrived in disarray. Their disappointing elimination from the Europa Conference League just days earlier—a 2-0 defeat in Poland to Legia Warsaw—had ended their European campaign at the group stage. Pascal Jansen's side had managed just three wins in their last 10 matches across all competitions, and the pressure was mounting.
Bosz made his intentions clear with his team selection on December 17, reverting to the lineup that had dismantled Heerenveen the previous weekend. Dest returned at left back, De Jong led the line, and fellow American Malik Tillman occupied a position in attack. The message was simple: maintain perfection.
What followed was a masterclass in attacking football that left AZ shell-shocked. PSV didn't just win—they obliterated their hosts from the opening whistle. The onslaught began in the sixth minute when Tillman drew a clumsy challenge in the box, earning a penalty that De Jong converted with his trademark composure. Five minutes later, Ismael Saibari doubled the advantage with a composed finish, and the floodgates had opened. AZ's defense was in shambles, unable to cope with PSV's relentless pressing and fluid movement. The third goal, arriving in the 16th minute, showcased everything that made PSV so dangerous.
Tillman, operating in that dangerous space between midfield and attack, received possession near the center circle. Shielding his marker with his body, the American turned and spotted Dest making an aggressive run from his left-back position. The through ball was perfectly weighted, splitting AZ's backline and releasing Dest into acres of space. The execution was clinical. Dest took one touch to control the ball as he entered the penalty area, then another to set himself before drilling a low shot across goalkeeper Hobie Verhulst and into the bottom-right corner. It was a striker's finish from a defender, the kind of goal that epitomized PSV's attacking philosophy under Bosz.
"I haven't experienced this football before at PSV," De Jong would say afterward, marveling at the quality his team was producing. For Dest, the goal represented his first for the club since arriving four months earlier—a breakthrough moment in what had been a solid but not spectacular loan spell. Pascal Jansen responded with a triple substitution before halftime, desperately trying to stem the tide, but PSV's dominance was absolute. AZ managed zero shots in the first half, completely overrun by their visitors' intensity. De Jong added a fourth goal just before the hour mark with a towering header, and PSV cruised through the remainder of the match, restricting their hosts to a single shot across the entire 90 minutes.
The final whistle confirmed a 4-0 demolition and, more significantly, a 16th consecutive Eredivisie victory. PSV had completed the calendar year unbeaten in the league, accumulating 103 goals in the process—a staggering average of more than six per game. Bosz's side went into the winter break with that 10-point cushion intact, looking every bit the champions-in-waiting. For Dest, the performance validated his decision to return to the Netherlands. Playing in a dominant team that encouraged fullbacks to attack had unleashed a confidence that had been missing during his struggles in Italy. The combination with Tillman added another dimension—two Americans thriving in tandem, contributing to a potential title-winning campaign.
The season would ultimately deliver that championship, though Dest's role would be cut short by a cruel ACL injury in April that ended his campaign prematurely. Yet his contributions during those crucial months had been vital, and PSV's appreciation was evident. When his Barcelona contract wound down in the summer, the Dutch club made the move permanent on a free transfer, handing Dest a contract through 2028. "PSV believes in me, and I am greatly appreciated here," Dest would reflect on making the transfer permanent. "I got to know the club, and it is incredibly warm, like I have never experienced anywhere before."
That December afternoon in Alkmaar, with snowflakes beginning to fall and PSV sitting atop Dutch football, Dest had found what had eluded him for two frustrating seasons—a place where he belonged. One goal, one assist from a fellow American, and one perfect league campaign before the winter break. It was the kind of performance that reminded everyone why Barcelona had paid €20 million for him in the first place, and why PSV was willing to bet on his future.
Patrick Agyemang delivered a commanding performance, scoring twice to lead Derby County to a convincing 3-0 victory over struggling Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Monday. The United States striker's goals, combined with Liam Thompson's first Championship strike, ended Derby's three-game winless streak and lifted them to 12th in the table, just four points shy of the playoff positions.
Agyemang opened the scoring in the 32nd minute after pouncing on another Wednesday defensive error. Receiving Bobby Clark's pass inside the box, he cleverly maneuvered past Dominic Iorfa before firing a precise low shot into the far corner. Thompson doubled the lead early in the second half with a well-taken finish from Craig Forsyth's free kick before Agyemang sealed the victory in the 62nd minute, slamming home from close range following Rhian Brewster's cross.
The £7.3 million signing from Charlotte FC has now netted five goals for Derby. However, manager John Eustace revealed Agyemang was "disappointed" not to complete his hat-trick after being denied by goalkeeper Pierce Charles' excellent late save. Eustace praised the striker's finishing while noting that his performances continue to improve.
For Wednesday, the defeat extended their winless run to 14 matches, leaving them rooted to the bottom, 29 points from safety after 18 points were deducted for financial troubles.
Midfielder Subbed After Five Minutes in Wild Draw With Manchester United
Tyler Adams sustained a concerning knee injury just five minutes into Bournemouth's dramatic 4-4 draw with Manchester United on Monday. The U.S. midfielder went down in pain after blocking a shot from Matheus Cunha, with their simultaneous contact causing him to immediately signal for medical attention.
Manager Andoni Iraola described the injury as "the worst news from the game," suspecting medial collateral ligament damage. While Adams managed to walk off the field independently, he showed a noticeable limp and shook his head after briefly attempting to jog, clearly unable to continue.
The timing could hardly be worse for both club and country. Adams had been instrumental for Bournemouth this season, starting all but one Premier League match and even winning November's goal of the month award for a spectacular 47-yard strike. His absence leaves a significant void in their midfield.
For the USMNT, concerns mount ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which begins June 12 against Paraguay. Adams, who captained the team at the 2022 World Cup, has battled injuries throughout his career, missing over a year of Premier League action in 2023-24. The severity of this latest setback remains unclear pending medical scans, with MCL injuries potentially sidelining players anywhere from one week to several months, depending on severity.
Balogun's Disallowed Goal Leads to Greenwood's Winner as Marseille Beat Monaco
Mason Greenwood's late strike secured Marseille a vital 1-0 home victory against Monaco. Still, the match will be remembered for American striker Folarin Balogun's frustrating evening that saw him denied by an offside decision.
Balogun endured a particularly cruel moment in the 80th minute when he thought he had given Monaco the lead. Racing onto Maghnes Akliouche's through ball, the 24-year-old striker calmly lifted his shot over Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, only to see VAR overturn the goal for offside. Just over a minute later, Greenwood punished Monaco at the opposite end with the match-winner.
Despite the disappointing result, Balogun demonstrated his quality throughout the 90 minutes. He completed the most dribbles in the match with four successful take-ons, won the most duels with seven, and was fouled more than any other player. His attacking threat was evident with 10 touches in the opposition box with three shots, including one on target. However, three offsides undermined his efforts, including one that nullified Lamine Camara's goal early in the second half.
On the opposite side, American winger Tim Weah put in a solid shift for Marseille in their crucial victory. The 25-year-old played the full 90 minutes on the left wing, recording two shots with one on target and creating three chances for teammates. Weah completed 34-of-41 passes and registered five touches in Monaco's penalty area, contributing to Marseille's attacking pressure throughout the contest.
The win was essential for Roberto De Zerbi's side, who returned to Champions League qualification spots after failing to win their previous two league matches. Marseille's home form remained exceptional, as they continued their impressive goalscoring record at Orange Velodrome. For the Americans involved, it was a tale of contrasting fortunes in a tightly contested Ligue 1 battle.
Mark McKenzie delivered another composed defensive performance as Toulouse secured an impressive 3-0 victory over Paris FC on the road, helping his side maintain their solid campaign in Ligue 1, where Toulouse moved up to eighth in the table. The 26-year-old American center-back has been a pillar of consistency for Toulouse throughout the 2025-26 season, starting 14 of 15 matches and accumulating 1,268 minutes.
Against Paris FC, McKenzie partnered with Charlie Cresswell and Rasmus Nicolaisen in a defensive trio that frustrated the hosts despite surrendering 65% of possession. The United States international completed 90 minutes without committing a single foul, maintaining his discipline while winning all three of his ground duels. His passing accuracy stood at an impressive 93%, completing 39-of-42 passes as Toulouse absorbed pressure and struck with clinical efficiency.
McKenzie's defensive partnership ensured Paris FC created minimal danger despite their territorial advantage, limiting the hosts to just two shots on target throughout the encounter. His ability to organize the backline and maintain concentration proved crucial as Toulouse managed the game professionally in the closing stages.
This season, McKenzie has been remarkably reliable. He has registered one assist while collecting three yellow cards, demonstrating his ability to defend aggressively without crossing the line. His recent form includes a strong showing against Uruguay in November, where the USMNT triumphed 5-1. Toulouse's defensive solidity, anchored by McKenzie's steady presence, continues to provide the foundation for their attacking players to flourish, even if their penalty conversion remains problematic—they've missed three of seven awarded this season.
Striker Scores Again While Dest Sets Up the Winner PSV's Seven-Goal Thriller
PSV Eindhoven survived a pulsating seven-goal thriller at Philips Stadion, defeating Heracles Almelo 4-3 in a match that showcased both their attacking brilliance and defensive vulnerabilities. The victory extended their lead at the top of the Eredivisie table to nine points, with American duo Ricardo Pepi and Sergino Dest playing pivotal roles in securing the crucial three points.
The match was dominated by spot-kicks in the opening half, with three penalties awarded before the break. Pepi opened the scoring by converting PSV's first penalty after being fouled by Damon Mirani, demonstrating composure from twelve yards. The 22-year-old striker, who scored his fourth goal in four matches in all competitions, finished the match with five total shots, despite managing just 26 touches—the fewest of any outfield player who completed the full 90 minutes.
PSV appeared comfortable at 2-0 following Ismaïl Saibari's successful penalty conversion, but Heracles responded through Jizz Hornkamp's spot-kick to make it 2-1 at halftime. The visitors, managed by former PSV player Ernest Faber and languishing in 16th position, refused to surrender quietly. Luka Kulenovic and Hornkamp struck again after the interval, completing an improbable comeback to level the contest at 3-3.
However, PSV's determination proved decisive in the closing stages. Dest, who completed 90 minutes and maintained an impressive 91% pass accuracy, delivered the crucial assist for Guus Til's winner. The 25-year-old right-back registered 85 touches throughout the match while contributing defensively with three tackles and two interceptions.
Til's late strike secured his 10th goal of the season, maintaining PSV's commanding position in the title race. While Peter Bosz's side demonstrated their attacking potency, conceding three goals highlighted defensive concerns that must be addressed. For Heracles, the defeat leaves them dangerously close to the relegation zone, one point above the drop despite their spirited performance.
Defender Plays the Full 90 Minutes in Fulham's Win Over Burnley
Antonee Robinson marked a significant milestone in his recovery journey by completing his first full 90 minutes of the Premier League campaign, helping Fulham secure a crucial 3-2 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday.
The United States international has endured a challenging period since undergoing knee surgery in May following Fulham's season finale. The injury, which originated from a dead leg sustained during a USMNT friendly last fall, ultimately split his tendon and caused severe discomfort throughout the latter portion of the previous campaign. Robinson courageously played through the pain for Fulham but was forced to miss both the Nations League Finals in March and the Gold Cup after finally going under the knife.
His road back to full fitness has been gradual, with Robinson making only four appearances this season before Saturday's match—three substitute appearances in league play and one League Cup start. His most recent outing before the Burnley fixture was against Aston Villa in late September, leaving him sidelined for over two months.
The 28-year-old left-back has been candid about his struggles, admitting he still doesn't feel completely back to his pre-injury form. Robinson acknowledged being "still not feeling 100 percent on it or how it felt a year ago before the injury first happened, but I'm getting there slowly." The mental toll of watching from afar has been equally difficult, particularly as the national team endured disappointing results without him.
Robinson's successful return couldn't come at a better time, with the 2026 World Cup rapidly approaching. The defender, who started all four matches when the United States reached the round of 16 in Qatar, will have four friendlies to prove himself worthy of reclaiming his starting position under head coach Mauricio Pochettino before the tournament kicks off on home soil next summer.
Now, on a cool December afternoon at Stanford Stadium, the Americans would get their chance at revenge. The stakes were simple: win and advance to the six-team final round. Lose and face Guatemala in El Salvador with elimination looming. Steve Sampson had spent the week making calculations that extended beyond tactics. His best striker, Eric Wynalda—the team's all-time leading scorer with 27 goals—was suspended after collecting his second yellow card. Four other regulars were unavailable: Kasey Keller stayed in England for club duty, Tab Ramos and Thomas Dooley were injured, and Jeff Agoos was also serving a suspension.
The solution was either inspired or desperate. Sampson would start Brian McBride and Roy Lassiter as his twin forwards, neither of whom had ever started an international match. McBride, the headband-wearing Columbus Crew striker, had scored once for the national team but primarily came off the bench. Lassiter, recalled from Italy's second division, had joined the squad just five days earlier. What Lassiter did possess was familiarity with the opponent. He'd spent three seasons playing in Costa Rica's first division, finishing third in the league in scoring. He knew every player on the Costa Rican roster. His wife was Costa Rican. His son was Costa Rican. The irony wasn't lost on anyone—least of all Lassiter himself, whose career had taken a remarkable arc over the previous 14 months.
In October 1995, Lassiter had served 30 days in jail for burglary charges stemming from incidents in 1992. He'd admitted to limited involvement, helping carry items from friends' homes during a period of disappointment and frustration after a broken ankle derailed his 1994 World Cup dreams. The legal problems had followed him to Costa Rica, where he'd fled to play professionally rather than face prosecution. It was his performance in a friendly against Benfica that had inadvertently revived the dormant case—a detective in Raleigh read about his goal and remembered the outstanding warrants.
Now he stood on the Stanford turf, a born-again Christian who spoke openly about faith as his lifeline, leading Major League Soccer in goals with 27 for Tampa Bay, and ready to help send the country whose league had given him a second chance into the World Cup's final round. Some redemption stories write themselves.
The crowd that assembled on December 14 numbered 40,527—not the 80,000-90,000 Sampson dreamed of, but a welcome relief from Saprissa's hostility. The Americans got their goal 17 minutes in, courtesy of Costa Rican generosity and McBride's efficiency. Earnie Stewart sent a dangerous cross from the right. Oscar Ramirez, attempting to clear, made a mess of it—two defenders converging, neither committing, the ball bouncing to McBride eight yards from goal. His shot gave goalkeeper Hermidio Barrantos no chance.
The Americans carried their 1-0 lead into halftime, but not without surviving chaos. In the 34th minute, Friedel charged from his goal to claim a loose ball, reaching it just inside the penalty area. His momentum carried him over the line, and as he stumbled forward, he tried to shovel the ball to a teammate with his hands clearly outside the box. Mexican referee Francisco Borja didn't hesitate. Red card. Automatic ejection.
Except John Harkes, the team captain, approached the linesman. At first, he spoke in English; the official stared past him. Then Harkes switched to Spanish—the little he remembered from high school: "You're a smart man. Tell him what you saw." Borja conferred with the linesman, then did something almost unprecedented—he changed his call. The red card disappeared, replaced by a yellow. Friedel would stay. The Costa Ricans, understandably furious, wasted their ensuing free kick, shooting wide from just outside the penalty area.
The second half became an exercise in American control punctuated by one moment of clinical finishing. In the 60th minute, McBride threw the ball in from the touchline. Eddie Pope, the young defender who'd become a fixture in the backline, headed it toward goal. Lalas, operating at sweeper in place of the injured Dooley, lunged forward with a sliding attempt that Barrantos blocked but couldn't hold. The ball popped up invitingly, and there was Lassiter, the man who knew these Costa Rican players better than anyone, hooking a volley into the net from eight yards.
When the final whistle sounded, the nightmare scenarios evaporated. No desperate trip to Guatemala. No must-win situation in El Salvador. No elimination two years after hosting the World Cup. The United States, with a 4-0-1 (WDL) record, sat alone atop Group 1 and had punched its ticket to the final round of CONCACAF qualifying. Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, and El Salvador had already secured their spots in the six-team finals. Costa Rica would join them by virtue of finishing second in the group, two points ahead of Guatemala. Beginning in February, those six nations would play a double-round-robin schedule, with the top three advancing to France '98.
For Sampson, the victory validated tactical boldness born from necessity. McBride and Lassiter, thrown together with only three days of practice, had combined with an effectiveness that suggested something more than luck. "Our styles match well," McBride explained, "because we're pretty much exact opposites. I like the ball at my feet, and he likes it in space." Lassiter's assessment was simpler: "It was a short period playing together, but good players can adjust to each other."
The program's trajectory had shifted in ways both subtle and profound. In 1990, qualifying for the World Cup had been a miracle achieved through one impossible shot in Trinidad. In 1994, they'd been granted entry as hosts, spared the qualification grind entirely. Now, in 1996, they were expected to qualify—and they were delivering. Business as usual, Lalas called it, though the path had been anything but routine. Next up would be the hexagonal final round, where Mexico's superiority and Jamaica's emergence as a power would test whether the Americans were genuine contenders or merely regional survivors. The matches would begin in February, giving Sampson time to heal his wounded, integrate his depth, and prepare for the most challenging phase of CONCACAF qualifying.
On This Day in 2023, the American Forward Delivered When the Rossoneri Needed Him Most
Christian Pulisic stood in Milan's training ground that July afternoon in 2023, wearing the number 11 shirt—Zlatan Ibrahimović's old number—and felt the weight of expectation settle on his shoulders. The €22 million transfer from Chelsea represented a fresh start, a chance to escape the margins of Stamford Bridge where his playing time had dwindled as the club stockpiled attackers. He'd rejected Lyon, believing Milan was the right move for his career. But fresh starts mean nothing without results.
The early returns exceeded even optimistic projections. On his Serie A debut against Bologna in August, Pulisic scored, becoming the first American to find the net in three of Europe's top five leagues. He scored again against Torino days later and was named Milan's Player of the Month. He scored a last-minute winner against Genoa in October and another goal in December against Frosinone, this one assisted by goalkeeper Mike Maignan's long kick. Five league goals before winter arrived. The adaptation to Italian football, which derails so many imports, seemed effortless.
The mathematics were brutal. Milan needed a win and a Paris Saint-Germain loss in Germany to advance from Group F. Anything less meant the Europa League or, worse, elimination entirely. Newcastle, despite sitting bottom of the group, controlled their own destiny—a victory would see them through to the knockout stages. Both teams arrived wounded, Newcastle having lost consecutive matches to Everton and Tottenham, Milan still reeling from their own recent defeat. Both squads were decimated by injuries. The stage was set for desperation.
The first half belonged entirely to Newcastle. The Magpies fed off the energy of St. James' Park, pressing Milan deep into their own territory. Miguel Almirón would have scored if not for a brilliant defensive intervention by Fikayo Tomori, Pulisic's former Chelsea teammate now wearing Rossoneri red and black. In the 33rd minute, 17-year-old Lewis Miley teed up Joelinton, who unleashed a rasping drive that flew past Maignan. 1-0 Newcastle. Milan couldn't manage a single shot on goal in the opening 45 minutes. Pulisic, supposedly Milan's best signing of the summer, was invisible. The prospect of a fourth-place finish in the Champions League group—the humiliation of it—loomed larger with each passing minute.
Whatever Stefano Pioli said at halftime transformed his team. Milan emerged rejuvenated, pressing higher, creating chances. Rafael Leão began terrorizing Newcastle's defense down the left flank. In the 59th minute, Leão broke through, slipping past his marker and firing a low cross toward the six-yard box. Tomori, arriving late, mistimed his finish, and the ball ricocheted awkwardly to Olivier Giroud. The French striker, 37 years old and showing none of his age, read the chaos instantly. Instead of forcing a shot, he cushioned the ball sideways to the most dangerous space in the penalty area—where Christian Pulisic stood completely unmarked.
Pulisic didn't hesitate. Milan's first shot of the match arrowed into the net to tie the score at 1-1. The American wheeled away in celebration as the traveling Milan supporters roared. History made in that instant—Pulisic became the first U.S. player to score Champions League goals for three different clubs, adding Milan to his collection alongside Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea. But the goal meant more than personal milestones. It meant survival. It meant European football after Christmas.
The match descended into frantic, end-to-end chaos. Bruno Guimarães tested Maignan with a shot tipped onto the crossbar. Leão, played clean through, struck the post. News filtered through that PSG had equalized in Germany—if the scores held, Milan would still be eliminated despite winning. The pressure became suffocating. Pioli made his move in the 73rd minute, surprisingly withdrawing Pulisic for striker Luka Jović. Given Pulisic's form—two goals and an assist in December—it seemed questionable. But managers earn their reputations in moments like these.
In the 84th minute, Milan broke forward on the counter. Jović and fellow substitute Noah Okafor combined brilliantly, threading passes through Newcastle's exhausted defense. The ball reached Samuel Chukwueze, another Pioli substitute hunting for a miracle. From just inside the box, Chukwueze curled a sublime finish past Martin Dubravka. St. James' Park fell silent. Milan led 2-1. The final whistle triggered mixed emotions. Milan had won, securing European football through the winter. But PSG's draw meant the French club advanced on head-to-head tiebreaker despite both teams finishing on eight points. The consolation prize: Europa League knockout rounds. Not the Champions League Milan craved, but infinitely better than nothing.
For Pulisic, the goal represented validation. He'd delivered in Milan's most critical match of the group stage, scoring when the pressure was greatest against opponents he knew well from his Premier League years. His sixth goal across all competitions solidified his status as Milan's best summer signing. The momentum carried through the remainder of December. On December 30, Pulisic scored against Sassuolo at San Siro, breaking the record for most Serie A goals by an American in a single season—six goals with half the campaign remaining. Days later, he was named Serie A Player of the Month for December with two goals and two assists in league play, becoming the award's first-ever North American recipient.
The Newcastle goal didn't provide the fairytale Champions League run Milan hoped for. It didn't propel them into the knockout rounds against Europe's elite. But it kept them in European competition when elimination loomed. It proved Pulisic could deliver on the biggest stages after years of watching from Chelsea's bench. And it showed Milan that their American import, wearing Ibrahimović's number 11, understood what it meant to play for seven-time European champions.
Sometimes redemption arrives not as the perfect ending you imagined, but as the lifeline that allows you to keep fighting. On a cold December night in Newcastle, Pulisic grabbed that lifeline and reminded everyone—himself included—why Milan had brought him to Italy in the first place.
