Pepi Scored; Dest Injured

Striker Scores Again While the Defender Suffers Injury in PSV Victory

It was a day of contrasting emotions for United States internationals at PSV Eindhoven on Saturday, as Ricardo Pepi's late winner was overshadowed by a serious-looking injury to Sergino Dest in a 2-1 Eredivisie victory over AZ Alkmaar.

PSV had fallen behind to Billy van Duijl's 13th-minute opener before a Troy Parrott own goal levelled things before half-time. It was left to Pepi to secure the points, the striker volleying home from Ivan Perisic's headed pass to net with just four minutes remaining.

The goal was Pepi's 10th in the Eredivisie this season and his third of 2026, coming just weeks after he returned from a broken arm suffered in January. "I am very happy that I was able to play 90 minutes and also scored," the 22-year-old said after the match. "It feels good to be back and to contribute to this important victory at home."

The celebrations were tempered, however, by the sight of Dest limping off in the 57th minute after grabbing his left hamstring in obvious distress, requiring the assistance of two members of medical staff to leave the field. PSV head coach Peter Bosz offered a bleak assessment, noting that when a player goes down clutching their hamstring after a full sprint, "We'll have to wait and see, but honestly, I think we'll be without him for a while."

Dest later posted on Instagram that he would be "out for a little while," though he insisted it would not spell an end to his season. The injury nonetheless casts serious doubt over his participation in upcoming USMNT friendlies against Belgium and Portugal, and raises concerns ahead of the summer's World Cup.