Trio of Americans Score in Rout

Tillman, Ledezma and Pepi all score in the victory

PSV continued their dominant Eredivisie campaign with a crushing 6-1 victory over FC Twente, with Americans Malik Tillman, Ricardo Pepi and Richy Ledezma marking the occasion with a goal each

Despite an early setback when Sem Steijn scored from a controversial free kick, PSV quickly turned the match around. Noa Lang equalized within ten minutes, setting the stage for the Americans to shine. Malik Tillman took center stage in the 34th minute, scoring from a loose ball after a cross. Richard Ledezma added to the rout with a well-placed strike from a difficult angle in the 63rd minute. Ricardo Pepi, who started over Luuk de Jong, played a crucial role in creating opportunities and ultimately scored PSV's final goal with a stylish chip in the 85th minute, completing the Americans' impressive showing.

The team has now won 14 of 15 matches, scoring an incredible 56 goals in the Eredivisie—the highest tally after 15 matches since their own 1987-88 season. PSV's victory extends their lead to seven points over second-place Utrecht, underlining their dominance in the league. The win sets up PSV perfectly for their upcoming Champions League match against Stade Brest, with the team showing no signs of slowing down.

Pulisic Off Injured

Winger Sustained Calf Tear in Defeat to Atalanta

AC Milan’s American winger Christian Pulisic faces an unexpected setback after suffering a minor calf muscle tear during Friday's 2-1 defeat to Atalanta. The injury, which forced him off the field in the 38th minute, threatens to disrupt his terrific season in Italy.

Pulisic, who has been AC Milan's leading scorer this season with eight goals and six assists in just 20 matches, will likely be sidelined until January. The club confirmed on Monday that an MRI revealed a muscle tear in his right calf, ruling him out of several crucial matches.

The timing couldn't be more challenging for Milan, who are currently seventh in Serie A and competing in the Champions League. Pulisic will miss the upcoming Champions League match against Red Star Belgrade, as well as Serie A games against Genoa, Hellas Verona and Roma. His potential return is anticipated for the Jan. 3 Italian Super Cup semifinal in Saudi Arabia.

This injury marks a stark contrast to Pulisic's recent consistency. After struggling with injuries during his time at Chelsea, he has been remarkably durable since moving to Milan. In the 2023-24 season, he played 50 games in all competitions. He had only surpassed 40 matches in a season three times prior.

Fortunately, the injury is not expected to impact Pulisic's availability for the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League semifinal against Panama in March.

Gio vs Scally

Scally Shined While Reyna Came Off the Bench in Draw 

On Saturday, Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach battled to a 1-1 draw, with Americans Joe Scally and Gio Reyna playing contrasting roles in the encounter.

Joe Scally demonstrated a strong defensive performance for Gladbach, recording six clearances, three interceptions and two blocks, one of which was near the goalline on a Serhou Guirassy scissor kick. Scally also completed 21-of-28 of his passes. Jamie Gittens was Scally's main defensive assignment put Dortmund ahead in the 65th minute with a solo goal, continuing his impressive run of scoring in four consecutive matches. Scally allowed the winger to dribble and when Franck Honorat came over to double-team, Gittens cut inside on Honorat and scored off the crossbar. 

Kevin Stoger's penalty six minutes later leveled the score, preventing Dortmund from securing their first away win of the season.

Gio Reyna, in a limited 12-minute appearance, showed glimpses of his potential. He completed 10-of-13 passes, achieved a 100% success rate in ground duels, and created a chance. That chance came after he took a corner two minutes into extra time. After it was partially cleared, the ball came back out to Reyna on the right wing. He curled in an inviting cross for Guirassy to nod home the winner, only for the header to bounce wide.

The result leaves Dortmund fifth in the Bundesliga, 12 points behind leaders Bayern Munich. Gladbach sits 11th, with the match ending dramatically as they were reduced to 10 men after late substitute Tomas Cvancara received two quick bookings. Despite the Americans' efforts, neither Scally nor Reyna could decisively influence the match's outcome. 

Balogun Doubtful for Toulouse Match After Shoulder Setback

Striker, just back from injury, could be out in the match vs US teammate on Saturday

AS Monaco forward Folarin Balogun faces uncertain prospects for Saturday's Ligue 1 match against Toulouse, after potentially re-aggravating a shoulder injury during last Sunday's defeat at Marseille.

Coach Adi Hütter confirmed Thursday that Balogun, who recently returned from a two-month injury absence, could not complete Thursday morning's training session. The 23-year-old American international took a significant hit from Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi during the weekend match, raising concerns about his availability.

"He couldn't finish the training session yesterday because it was painful," Hütter told reporters. "He has had treatment and worked indoors today. We'll see if he is able to play on Saturday."  Get Football News France

The injury setback comes at a critical juncture for Monaco, seeking to reclaim their position as Paris Saint-Germain's closest league challenger after the recent defeat to Marseille. Balogun has contributed to that effort, scoring three goals in seven league matches this season.

Of particular concern is Balogun's upcoming match against Arsenal in the Champions League, a return to his former club. The striker joined the English club at eight years old and was under their control until he was sold to Monaco at the beginning of last season. The potential for another extended absence looms large.

"It is always hard with a player when you feel you are back on track and then injury stops your run," Hütter acknowledged. "For sure, he is frustrated about this." Get Football News France

Balogun's national team colleague Mark McKenzie will line up for Toulouse. The center-back has been a constant presence in the side, starting every match in the league since mid-August. In those 11 matches, Toulouse has earned five clean sheets.

Monaco currently sits third in the table with 26 points, seven behind the leaders PSG. Toulouse is 10th with 18 points — 10 points clear of the bottom.

Adams Excellent

Midfielder Key in Win over Tottenham 

In the Premier League, Tyler Adams delivered a commanding midfield performance that was instrumental in Bournemouth's crucial 1-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur.

"It was a huge performance from us," Adams said. "We knew that the game was going to demand a lot. Tottenham is obviously a high-quality team with so many good players, but the way that they play, demands a lot of running and we had to suffer at times, but we came out on top so it was huge." NBC Sports

Adams was a constant thorn in Tottenham's side, continually disrupting play in midfield. The American won 11 duels, including a perfect 100% success rate in aerial challenges, and made a significant defensive impact with five tackles won, three interceptions and two clearances.

Playing 90 minutes for the second time since returning from injury, Adams had a chance to score midway through the second half. He worked hard to press Spurs building out of the back and intercepted a pass from Fraser Forester to Dejan Kulusevski. The ball popped free to the middle of the box where Adams fired a shot right at the charging Forester. It bounced off Adams and fell to Evanilson, who put it in the empty net from an offside position.

His personal journey this season has been one of gradual rebuilding, with Adams noting he's been "staying patient" and building confidence under his manager's guidance. This performance against Tottenham represents another significant step in his resurgence.

"Obviously want to continue to build the confidence. But we just have a great team, a great manager as well. He's eased me back into it so that's obviously given me confidence in my body again. Just building off that — staying steady and staying patient," Adams said. NBC Sports

Bournemouth's tactical discipline, epitomized by Adams' midfield mastery, proved decisive in securing a vital three points at home, next up for the Cherries will be a trip to Ipswich Town on Sunday.

Jedi Assist; Solid Again

Fullback Captained Again in Fulham Victory

Fulham captain Antonee Robinson played a pivotal role in his team's commanding 3-1 win against Brighton at Craven Cottage, delivering another solid performance wearing the armband for the second time in consecutive matches.

The American left-back completed 26-of-34 passes and created two chances, while contributing to the team's strong defensive showing with five clearances (including three headed), two interceptions, a tackle and a blocked shot.

Most notably, Robinson provided the crucial assist for Alex Iwobi's match-sealing goal in the 79th minute, when he worked hard down the line to set up the forward with a back pass to spin past a defender and score Fulham's third goal.

Manager Marco Silva praised his team's performance, highlighting the significance of the victory. "It was a big three points for us in a tough game," Silva said. "We started in the best way possible with the early goal but Brighton made it really difficult for us in the first half." Reuters

The match saw Fulham take an early lead through Iwobi, who capitalized on a Brighton goalkeeper error. Brighton equalized through Carlos Baleba, but Fulham restored their lead via an Andreas Pereira corner that deflected in off Matt O'Riley before Iwobi completed his brace.

Adding intrigue to Robinson's performance, recent transfer speculations linking him with a potential £40m move to Liverpool. Robinson previously spoke glowingly about Anfield's atmosphere, calling it the "best experience" despite losing a 4-3 match there last season.

"They were just willing the ball into the goal in that game," Robinson recalled, highlighting the passionate Liverpool supporters. WhoScored.com

With performances like these, Robinson continues to attract attention from top-tier clubs while maintaining his crucial role at Fulham.

Johnny Returned to Training this Week

Midfielder Training Slowly, Likely Out vs Barcelona

American midfielder Johnny Cardoso has successfully rejoined Real Betis' training squad this week, offering a glimmer of hope amid the club's recent struggles and injury challenges.

Cardoso, who has been recovering from a hip injury, completed his return to group training, potentially positioning himself for a comeback match in the near future. While his immediate participation in Saturday's match against Barcelona appears unlikely, the club remains optimistic about his potential return, with a possible appearance against Petrocub in Moldova in the Europa League on the horizon.

The midfielder's return comes at a critical time for Real Betis, which has been battling a significant injury list and seeking to reverse its recent poor form. The club fell to 10th in the table after back-to-back league matches to Valencia and Real Sociedad with a defeat to Mlada Boleslav in the Europa League sandwiched in between. Coach Manuel Pellegrini had earlier emphasized the urgent need to turn the team's fortunes around, making Cardoso's recovery a welcome development.

de la Torre's First Minutes

Midfielder Recorded an Assist in Season Debut

Luca de la Torre has finally emerged from a two-month injury nightmare, making his first appearance of the season in Celta Vigo's midweek Copa del Rey match against Salamanca, marking a potential turning point in his turbulent campaign.

The American midfielder, who was declared transferable last summer, provided an assist in his 27-minute cameo in the 7-0 rout. De la Torre made the matchday squad ahead of today's La Liga match against Mallorca. He has been battling persistent physical issues since the season's start and his brief appearance in the cup match represented his first competitive minutes after recovering from a right ankle injury.

De la Torre's situation reflects the broader challenges facing Celta Vigo's squad management. The club, under Director of Football Marco Garcés, is preparing to offload several players, including de la Torre, in the January transfer window. Before the match in the cup, de la Torre was the only squad member yet to appear for the first team this season.

Coach Claudio Giráldez has shown limited interest in integrating de la Torre into his plans, a situation that could further complicate the player's future at the club. The return comes at a critical juncture for de la Torre, who must quickly demonstrate his fitness and value to the team. With the January transfer window approaching and the club actively seeking to move players, his performances in the coming weeks could determine whether he remains part of Celta Vigo's long-term plans.

Haji Update

Coventry City manager Frank Lampard shared an update on striker Haji Wright's ankle injury, describing it as not "terrible" while acknowledging recovery might require considerable time.

Wright was carried off during the 2-2 draw at Sunderland last month, missing the international window and three domestic matches, including Lampard's debut at the helm against Cardiff City.

"I have seen the injury when it happened, watched it back so it's a difficult one to give a timeline for but it's not a terrible injury and we will just have to make sure he's right," Lampard explained. Coventry Live

Pulisic Keeps Producing

Winger Shows His Quality in Milan's Dominant Win

Christian Pulisic continues to prove his importance to AC Milan, even during a Serie A goal drought. The American star delivered an assist during Saturday's 3-0 victory over Empoli.

Pulisic's standout statistic remains truly impressive: he is currently the only Serie A player since the start of the 2023/24 season to record at least 20 goals and 15 assists in all competitions, according to Opta. Despite not finding the net in his last six Serie A matches, he demonstrated why he remains Milan's top scorer with a ‘brilliant’ assist to Tijjani Reijnders right before halftime. A cross from the right wing was challenged by Pulisic and Mattia Viti. The ball bounced off his back and fell to Reijnders, who volleyed it home.

Throughout the foggy contest, Pulisic was a constant threat all evening, creating the most chances in the match with four. Alongside Pulisic, fellow USMNT player Yunus Musah made his mark, starting on the right wing and contributing four tackles. Alvaro Morata opened the scoring early, and Reijnders sealed the victory with another in the second half. The calendar roles on with Coppa Italia on Tuesday.