Pepi Scored and Injured

 Striker Was Key in Win Over Liverpool in the Champions League but Sustained a Knee Injury

In what proved to be a bittersweet Champions League night for Ricardo Pepi, the American striker delivered a crucial performance in PSV's 3-2 victory over Liverpool before suffering a significant knee injury. Pepi netted the winning goal in the historic result, which secured PSV's place in the Champions League Round of 16. However, his evening was cut short in the 76th minute when he had to leave the field due to a knee injury.

While initial fears of an ACL tear have been alleviated, the news remains concerning for club and country. PSV manager Peter Bosz confirmed that Pepi will be sidelined for "a very long time," though he declined to specify the exact nature of the injury. Sources indicate the 22-year-old could miss anywhere from one to three months of action, dealing a significant blow to PSV's campaign and potentially his international duties.

The timing of the injury is miserable, given Pepi's exceptional form this season. The El Paso native has been prolific for PSV, scoring 18 goals in 25 appearances across all competitions. However, many of these contributions have come as a substitute behind regular starter Luuk de Jong. His performances had even attracted interest from the Premier League, with West Ham United reportedly making a $25 million bid that PSV rejected, underlining his importance to the Dutch club.

The injury also raises questions about Pepi's availability for the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League semifinals, where the United States is scheduled to face Panama on March 20. Having scored in both quarterfinal legs against Jamaica, Pepi's potential absence would be a significant loss for the national team, especially considering his impressive international record of 13 goals in 33 appearances. With fellow striker Folarin Balogun also sidelined and Haji Wright just returning from injury, Josh Sargent's recent return to form for Norwich City could prove timely for the USMNT's upcoming fixtures.

Despite the setback, Pepi has maintained a positive outlook. "I'm extremely sad, but I'm a positive person. We will go for the best possible treatment and the best possible recovery, so hopefully, I will come out of it stronger. The club and I will make a decision together to achieve this," he stated, emphasizing his determination to return stronger from this obstacle in what has otherwise been a breakthrough season for the young American striker.

Birnbaum's Late Winner

On This Day in 2016, the Center-Back Heads Home Late Winner in a Friendly Victory over Iceland

The call came suddenly for Steve Birnbaum. After just one national team appearance in January 2015, the D.C. United defender had spent nearly a year away from the U.S. setup before Jurgen Klinsmann found himself short on defenders ahead of the 2016 January camp.

"I got the call Friday morning, and they said, can you be in on Monday," Birnbaum recalled. "I said, 'Yeah. I'm in Irvine. I'll just drive up.'"

The timing was critical. After a difficult 2015 that saw the U.S. fail to reach the Gold Cup final for the first time in 12 years and lose a Confederations Cup playoff to Mexico, Klinsmann entered 2016 facing mounting pressure. With World Cup qualifying, Olympic qualifying against Colombia, and the Copa America ahead, the German coach needed fresh energy in his aging squad.

That short drive to Carson would prove momentous. When Brad Evans departed at halftime with a hamstring injury during the January 31 friendly against Iceland, Birnbaum seized his opportunity. Early in the second half, he rose above two defenders to head Jozy Altidore's cross to Michael Orozco, who nodded home to make it 2-2.

But Birnbaum wasn't finished. In the final minute of regulation, after substitute Jerome Kiesewetter's pace drew a free kick in a dangerous position, Michael Bradley delivered a curling ball toward the far post. Birnbaum met it perfectly, powering home a header for his first international goal to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory.

The win helped kickstart Klinsmann's youth movement, as seven players under 26 featured that day. "Our intention is to transition to the next generation," Klinsmann said after the match. "And give them as much support and as much patience and time as we can."

For the 25-year-old Birnbaum, who considered himself "a middle guy" despite just his second cap, the winner offered hope of a permanent place in the squad. Yet the path forward remained challenging. When World Cup qualifying resumed in March, Klinsmann would have four World Cup veterans and two Premier League center-backs available. His versatility on the wing could prove crucial.

"I wanted to improve and to be in the mix for the national team constantly. I wanted to prove something to them, that I should be here," Birnbaum said. "And hopefully, I'm going to keep doing that."

That determination earned him another chance days later against Canada, as Birnbaum started the match and went the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 win. Birnbaum had made his case, turning an emergency call-up into a moment of magic that would help earn him a spot on the 2016 Copa America Centenario roster and in World Cup qualifying matches later that year before earning his final US caps in the January camp in 2017.

McKennie Captained Juventus for the First Time

 Midfielder Donned the Captain's Armband in the Champions League Defeat

On Wednesday, Weston McKennie reached a significant milestone in his Juventus career. In his 159th appearance for the Italian giants, he wore the captain's armband for the first time. The honor came in Juventus's Champions League group stage finale against Benfica, though the occasion was somewhat dampened by a 2-0 home defeat. McKennie, who has previously captained the U.S. men's national team three times, was deployed at left-back due to the defensive selection crisis.

The captaincy represents a remarkable turnaround for McKennie, who has repeatedly fought his way back from the brink at Juventus. Over the past two seasons, he was seemingly surplus to requirements under both Max Allegri and current manager Thiago Motta. Last year, the club went as far as to give away his locker and parking spot, yet McKennie responded by leading the team in assists and becoming one of their most-used players. This season began similarly, with Motta publicly suggesting McKennie should find a new club, only for the American to earn a contract extension and become an integral part of the squad, making 24 appearances and scoring four goals while displaying his versatility across multiple positions.

Despite the disappointing result against Benfica, Juventus's Champions League journey will continue in the knockout stages, where they face an intriguing matchup against PSV Eindhoven. The tie will be a rematch of their September encounter, which saw McKennie score in a 3-1 Juventus victory. The two-legged series is scheduled for February, with McKennie hoping to lead his team to the quarter-finals while continuing his remarkable renaissance in Turin.

Reyna's Back-Heel Assist

Midfielder Notched his First Assist of the Season in Champions League Victory

Gio Reyna impacted Borussia Dortmund's 3-1 Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, providing a moment of brilliance with his fifth career Champions League assist. Coming off the bench in the 64th minute to replace Julian Brandt, the 22-year-old American midfielder helped secure Dortmund's victory with an ingenious piece of skill in the 79th minute.

The highlight came when Reyna connected with Ramy Bensebaini in a clever give-and-go sequence. Despite being pressured by two Shakhtar defenders, Reyna showed exceptional composure. He used his first touch to create space before delivering a perfectly weighted back-heel pass that found Bensebaini's continued run into the box. The defender finished the move to seal the victory and secure Dortmund's position as the 10th seed in the Champions League's new format.

This performance comes at a conflicting time in Reyna's career at Dortmund. After missing the early part of the season with a groin strain, he has gradually worked his way back into the team's plans, appearing in 12 of their last 13 matches. However, with only three starts this season and 351 minutes of total playing time, questions remain about his role at the club. While transfer rumors linking him to AC Milan have cooled, the appointment of new manager Niko Kovac, who will take charge after Sunday's Bundesliga match against Heidenheim, could represent a fresh opportunity for Reyna to establish himself as a regular starter. The immediate future holds a Champions League playoff matchup against either Sporting CP or Club Brugge, where Reyna hopes to continue making an impact and proving his worth to the new manager.