Pepi Out for the Season

The Striker Will Miss Time Following Surgery, Extended at PSV

Ricardo Pepi has suffered a significant setback in a breakthrough season at PSV Eindhoven, with the forward requiring meniscus surgery following a knee injury sustained in PSV's dramatic 3-2 Champions League victory over Liverpool. The injury, which occurred in the same match where Pepi scored the winning goal, will sideline him for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

The timing is miserable as the 22-year-old had been enjoying his most prolific campaign in European football, notching 18 goals in 29 appearances across all competitions despite primarily serving as a backup to club captain Luuk de Jong. His impressive form had caught the attention of Premier League side West Ham United, who reportedly submitted a $25 million bid in January.

PSV demonstrated their faith in Pepi's potential by rejecting that offer and securing his long-term future with a contract extension through 2030 instead. The Texas native expressed his commitment to the Dutch giants despite the injury setback.

"At the time it happened, I thought the injury wasn't too bad. But the next day I knew something was wrong," Pepi explained. "This is unfortunately the risk of our profession, but I assure you that I will be back as soon as possible."

PSV head coach Peter Bosz confirmed the severity of the injury, stating: "We assume that Ricardo Pepi will be out for the rest of the season." The injury rules Pepi out of the USMNT's upcoming CONCACAF Nations League semifinal against Panama in March.

Despite the setback, Pepi remained optimistic about his future with PSV: "Thanks to the enormous amount of love and opportunities PSV gives me and the special club that PSV is, I had no doubts about extending my contract. We have already experienced many unforgettable moments together, and hopefully, many special milestones will follow."

Johnny Extended at Betis

 Midfielder Signed Through 2030 Despite Tottenham Transfer Clause

Johnny Cardoso has committed his long-term future to Real Betis, signing a contract extension that will keep him at the Spanish club until 2030. The new deal comes after an impressive first year in La Liga, during which the 23-year-old has established himself as a crucial component of Manuel Pellegrini's squad.

Since arriving from Internacional in Brazil during the 2024 winter transfer window, Cardoso has featured in 44 matches for Betis, contributing two goals and three assists while primarily operating as a defensive midfielder. His seamless adaptation to Spanish football has attracted attention from several high-profile clubs, including Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur, with the latter holding a right of first refusal on any potential transfer.

"This [transfer interest] motivates me even more to continue working, evolving and seeking to achieve great goals," Cardoso said. "It has been a very special year, with a lot of learning and development. I have adapted very well here. I think I have gained more experience, I have improved as an athlete both technically and tactically, and I continue to evolve."

Despite the contract extension, reports from Mundo Deportivo indicate that Tottenham's £21 million option to buy Cardoso remains valid for the summer transfer window. This clause was reportedly championed by Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou, who is said to be an admirer of the American midfielder.

Pefok Returns to Stade Reims, Injured in First Match

 Striker Suffered a Knee Injury in First Match Back in France

Jordan Pefok has emotionally returned to Stade de Reims, the club where he began his professional career, only to suffer a serious injury setback in his first appearance back at the French club.

The 28-year-old forward completed a €4.5 million transfer from Union Berlin, signing a contract to keep him at the Stade Auguste-Delaune until 2027. The move marked a homecoming for Pefok, who scored 25 goals in 75 appearances for Reims during his first spell. In the standout 2017-18 season, he led the club's scoring charts during their promotion to Ligue 1.

Reims General Manager Mathieu Lacour expressed his enthusiasm about the reunion: "It is always a pleasure to see the return of a player trained at the Club. Jordy has always been part of our history, and his return is a great opportunity to strengthen our team."

Before his return to France, Pefok had struggled to find form in Germany, failing to score in 18 Bundesliga appearances this season. Despite the challenges, the striker maintained a positive attitude about his time at Union Berlin. "I will never forget my time at Union," Pefok said upon his departure. "I made a lot of new friends, and what we achieved together is still incredible."

However, his fresh start at Reims took a devastating turn when he suffered a serious injury shortly after being introduced as a substitute in a Coupe de France match against Bourgoin-Jallieu. The injury cut short his eagerly anticipated return to French football, adding another challenging chapter to a career that has seen him play across France, Switzerland, and Germany since leaving Reims.

The nine-time capped USMNT forward will now focus on his recovery as he looks to revive his career at his boyhood club.

Conrad's First International Goal

On This Day in 2007, the Center-Back Scored the Opener in a Dos-a-Cero Friendly Victory over Mexico

Opportunity can present itself in the most unexpected ways. Just a year before the 2006 World Cup, Jimmy Conrad was a long shot to make the U.S. national team roster, having made only eight international appearances. Not only did he make the squad, but he also played in Germany and emerged as one of the team's veteran leaders after the tournament.

Following Bruce Arena's departure after a disappointing World Cup group-stage exit, interim coach Bob Bradley took charge and began rebuilding. With veterans like Eddie Pope, Kasey Keller, Brian McBride, and Claudio Reyna either retiring or not being called up, Conrad found himself in an unfamiliar position. At 29, he was one of the elder statesmen in camp.

"This is obviously the first camp before the next World Cup cycle, so Bob's going want to see a lot of new guys, lot of young guys and give them their chance," Conrad said before the February 7 friendly against Mexico at the University of Phoenix Stadium. "I don't think you ever relax when you're with the national team because there are so many people gunning for playing time and positioning."

The match itself lived up to the intense rivalry, played before a sellout crowd of 64,462 that heavily favored the visitors. Mexico came out aggressive under new coach Hugo Sánchez, with Cuauhtemoc Blanco leading early attacks. Conrad had to make a crucial clearance in the fourth minute after goalkeeper Tim Howard dropped the ball in front of goal with Mexican forwards lurking.

But it was Conrad who would break the deadlock in the 52nd minute. The Kansas City Wizards defender met Landon Donovan's corner kick with a powerful header that beat goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez inside the left post – his first international goal in his 19th appearance. "I think we showed what we're made of," Conrad said afterward.

Mexico pressed hard for an equalizer, forcing Howard into several saves, including denying Omar Bravo in the 67th minute. The match grew increasingly heated, with Mexican captain Rafael Marquez and American forward Eddie Johnson exchanging shoves in the later stages. But Donovan sealed the victory in the 90th minute, converting a breakaway off Ricardo Clark's pass for his 27th international goal.

The 2-0 victory extended the Americans' impressive run against their biggest rivals. They improved to 8-2-1 against Mexico since 2000 and maintained their unbeaten home record (7-0-1). While Bradley's interim status meant the result wouldn't directly determine his future as head coach, it was another positive step in rebuilding the program after the World Cup disappointment. 

For Conrad, it validated his unlikely journey from national team outsider to scoring match-winner in one of American soccer's biggest rivalries. The defender would play nine more matches for the US over the next cycle, including two matches at the 2007 Copa America. He also captained the side twice in the 2009 Gold Cup. His last game was the 2010 friendly against Honduras, where he was captain for the fifth time.

Americans Stun Germans

On This Day in 1999, the US Records Its First Win Over Germany with Three German-Based Players Netting Goals

The United States Men's National Team hit rock bottom at the 1998 World Cup in France. After qualifying for their third straight World Cup, the Americans finished dead last in the 32-team field, losing all three group stage matches, including a 2-0 defeat to Germany in their opening match. The disappointing performance led to Steve Sampson's resignation as head coach, closing a chapter that had started with such promise but ended in disaster.

Enter Bruce Arena. The Brooklyn-born coach had built an impressive resume, winning five national championships at the University of Virginia and leading D.C. United to the first two Major League Soccer titles, capturing the CONCACAF Champions and Interamerican Cups. Expectations were tempered when he took over the national team in October 1998. His first two matches—against Australia and Bolivia—ended in scoreless draws, extending the team's winless streak to six matches dating back to a 2-0 victory over Kuwait in May.

The February 7 friendly against Germany at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville would be different. Despite losing defenders Eddie Pope and Jeff Agoos to injury (replaced by Matt McKeon and Rich Kotschau), Arena had assembled a squad featuring several players who knew their opponents intimately – Jovan Kirovski (Fortuna Cologne), Tony Sanneh (Hertha Berlin), and Claudio Reyna (VfL Wolfsburg) all played their club football in Germany.

That familiarity showed early. In the 16th minute, Kirovski, who played in Germany's second division, opened the scoring with a perfectly placed 22-yard shot that found the far corner beyond goalkeeper Oliver Kahn's reach. The goal opened the floodgates. Eight minutes later, Sanneh, who had just joined first-division Hertha Berlin after three seasons with D.C. United, broke free and outmaneuvered German midfielder Jens Jeremies before slipping the ball past an onrushing Kahn. The Americans weren't done yet – just two minutes later, a fluid combination of passes from Chris Armas to Eddie Lewis found Reyna alone six yards from goal, and the captain made no mistake, making it 3-0.

"It was a clear 3-0 victory," Reyna said afterward. "It wasn't three lucky goals. It was three well-deserved goals. And we honestly could have had more. We let them know in the first minute that we were here to play and that we weren't going to give them the respect we did in the World Cup."

The victory marked the United States' first win over Germany in four attempts, and the three-goal margin represented the Germans' worst first-half deficit since facing Brazil in Washington in 1993. Arena's tactical approach proved masterful – he had noticed Germany's last nine goals had come from crossing situations, so he tasked Sanneh and Lewis with shutting down the flanks. "It's very rare that U.S. players own the flanks in games of this type," Arena noted, "especially against the likes of the German team."

After the final whistle, Arena gathered his players in the locker room and shouted, "Today, the best team won!" It was more than just their first victory over Germany – it was a statement of intent from a program looking to rebuild after the World Cup disaster. While Arena remained measured in his public comments, calling it "a good result" while emphasizing he was "not going to make a big deal out of it," the significance wasn't lost on anyone.

However, Arena was quick to temper expectations. With World Cup 2002 qualifying set to begin in late 2000, he knew this friendly victory—however impressive—was just one step in a longer journey. "It was a good win," Arena said, "but people must not forget that this was only a friendly international match in February of 1999." The rebuilding project was underway, but the actual tests still lay ahead.

Unbeaten at the Miami Cup

On This Day in 1986, a Goalless Draw with Canada Led to Another Draw After Missing the World Cup

The inaugural Miami Cup, part of the 1986 Miami Winter Games, marked a fresh start for the United States national team. The six-team tournament attracted three World Cup-bound sides: Uruguay, who had previously won soccer's biggest prize; Paraguay, who qualified through a playoff victory over Chile; and Canada, who earned their first-ever World Cup berth. Colombia and Jamaica rounded out the field. Brazilian legend Pele kicked off the festivities, arriving in a white stretch limousine wearing a black satin jacket to promote the tournament. "It doesn't matter who wins," Pele said. "What's important is that the teams put on a nice show for the people and score some goals."

For new U.S. coach Lothar Osiander, the tournament represented his first challenge after being hired just days before to revamp a floundering program. The German-born Osiander, who still worked as a waiter at Graziano's in San Francisco because he couldn't afford not to, completely overhauled the squad. Gone were NASL veterans like goalkeeper Arnie Mausser, replaced by college players with an average age of 21. For this tournament, though, the USA and Canada teams were without their MISL (Major Indoor Soccer League) players, who were not released, and the American squad comprised college players.

"We're fighting the high schools, the colleges, the Major Indoor Soccer League and the semipro outdoor leagues — to get players and mostly to keep them," Osiander explained of the challenges facing U.S. Soccer.

On February 5, the young Americans showed their potential in a scoreless draw with World Cup-bound Canada before an announced crowd of 5,182 at the Orange Bowl. Despite having only four days of practice together, the U.S. grew stronger as the match progressed. Clemson midfielder Eric Eichmann, who used to train with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, impressed in his international debut patrolling the middle of the field. 

"There are some guys in this room whose names I didn't know four days ago," Eichmann said after the match. "When the final whistle blew, I felt something was about to happen. We had started to create some chances."

Former Strikers legend Teofilo Cubillas waited outside the U.S. locker room to congratulate his protégé Eichmann. "Eric is a nice guy," Cubillas said. "He is a good player and can get even better. He only needs more competition at this level." 

Even Canadian coach Tony Waiters praised the Americans' performance, saying, "I was very impressed with their young players. They're not too far behind if they're behind at all."

Two days later, the Americans followed up the Canada result with another impressive showing, drawing Uruguay 1-1. Bruce Murray gave the U.S. an early lead in the eighth minute, and they held that advantage until Carlos Aguilera equalized in the 75th minute. The goal sent Uruguay's fans into celebration, causing the majority American crowd to respond with chants of "USA!" Though Uruguay advanced to the final on goal difference, Osiander's makeshift squad proved they could compete with established soccer nations.

"You can't build a team in three days; it takes three years," Eichmann reflected. "I cross my fingers that we can keep this team together because we proved we can play with the best. The talent is here." 

Uruguay's coach, Omar Borras, agreed, "They have a good future, this American team." 

The tournament marked an encouraging start to Osiander's rebuilding project, which aimed at the 1988 Olympics and 1990 World Cup. However, he remained realistic about the long road ahead: "I would not want to play Germany or Brazil right now, but for a start, you can call this a good week for us."

After the tournament, the players scattered back to their colleges, and Osiander returned to waiting tables. Due to the federation's limited budget, the U.S. wouldn't play again for months. "Thirty years ago, I came to the United States from West Germany. I was young, and everybody said, 'In 10 years, we will be a world power,'" Osiander said. "Now I'm old, and they still say, 'In 10 years, we will be a world power.' But we are not even close. By 1994, if the youth players continue to grow and we can have enough money to properly run a national team, maybe by then we can talk about it."

Reyna's First Professional Goal

On This Day in 2020, the Teenager Opened His Account with a Stunning Finish

Just 19 days after his 17th birthday, Giovanni Reyna made his Bundesliga debut for Borussia Dortmund as a 72nd-minute substitute in a 5-3 win over Augsburg on January 18, 2020. The son of a former U.S. national team captain and former USWNT midfielder became the youngest American to appear in the Bundesliga, breaking Christian Pulisic's record.

Growing up, Reyna was a multi-sport athlete who played AAU basketball until age 14, but his soccer talent was undeniable. Like Pulisic before him, Reyna joined Dortmund before turning 18 thanks to a European passport - in his case, Portuguese citizenship through his mother's family.

On February 4th, Reyna scored his first professional goal stunningly during Dortmund's DFB-Pokal Round of 16 match against Werder Bremen. After entering as a 66th-minute substitute for Dan-Axel Zagadou with Dortmund trailing 3-1, Reyna made an immediate impact. Shortly after Erling Haaland pulled one back, Reyna collected the ball and embarked on a mesmerizing dribble past several Bremen defenders before curling a right-footed shot into the upper corner. The goal made him the youngest scorer in German Cup history, though Bremen would hold on for a 3-2 victory.

"He's much more of an athlete than I was, much more of a goal scorer. He's very technical and has a good feel for the game," Claudio said of his son.

Dortmund manager Lucien Favre was also impressed, saying, "In training, you can see that he has something special. If you can't see that, you're blind." His teammate Haaland nicknamed him the "American Dream" because "he has a huge future in front of him."

Reyna's rapid rise continued two weeks later when he became the third-youngest player to appear in a Champions League knockout match against Paris Saint-Germain. He made the most of his opportunity, assisting Haaland's winner nine minutes after coming on as a substitute.

"It's crazy at times to think all my friends are in high school back home, and I'm in Germany playing professional Fussball right now in the Bundesliga," Reyna told BVB's TV channel. His promising form earned him his first planned Bundesliga start in the Revierderby against Schalke in May, but he suffered a calf injury in warmups.

Despite being eligible for England (birthplace), Portugal (through his mother's family), and Argentina (through his father), Reyna committed his international future to the United States in early 2020. "I'm aware of the rumors, but it's quite clear for me. I only want to play for the United States. That's my home country," he said.

U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter praised Reyna's development, particularly noting, "When he gets the ball in the pocket, his awareness to turn and efficiency is excellent. He doesn't waste any touches to turn. His ball security under pressure is phenomenal." Though the pandemic would delay his senior debut, Reyna was set to join a promising young core of Americans playing for Europe's top clubs.

Weah's Instant Impact for Celtic

On This Day in 2019, the Teenager Came off the Bench, Assisted the Winner and Scored the Insurance Goal in a Celtic Victory

Timothy Weah joined Celtic on loan in January 2019 from Paris Saint-Germain, where the 18-year-old had only made two Ligue 1 appearances that season. Before joining Celtic, Weah signed a one-year extension with PSG through 2021, showing the French champions still saw a future for the American international. Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers brought in Weah to cover Leigh Griffiths, who was on personal leave, saying, "Timothy's a young talent who is a full international player. He has a long career ahead of him but he has those natural attributes in terms of his pace and technique. He's hungry, too." The Guardian

The son of former World Player of the Year George Weah made an immediate impact at Celtic, scoring in his first two appearances. His first Scottish Premiership goal came as a substitute against St. Mirren, getting behind the defense to score in the 86th minute of a 4-0 victory. This became a pattern for Weah - entering late in matches and making an impact off the bench.

On February 3rd, Weah played a crucial role in Celtic's 2-0 victory over St. Johnstone at McDiarmid Park. The match was a tight affair between the two sides with the most clean sheets in the Scottish Premiership. St. Johnstone goalkeeper Zander Clark made numerous impressive saves to deny Celtic, including stops against Oliver Burke, Jozo Simunovic, Odsonne Edouard and Scott Sinclair. But in the 78th minute, Weah, who entered the match a few minutes earlier, provided the breakthrough when his cross found James Forrest at the back post. The American then sealed the victory on the counter-attack, turning in Callum McGregor's cross after a flowing move to secure Celtic's fifth-straight win and move them six points clear at the top of the table.

It's an incredible feeling to come into a hard game and score," Weah said. "But the assist was more important for me. It's my first of the season and to get it at such an important time was amazing. To see the joy on Jamesie's face was incredible and the celebration with the fans topped it off. The referee told me that he would have given me a yellow card (for his goal celebration), but the fans didn't fall over and told me to be careful the next time. I bet Jamesie is wondering why I didn't get booked. It's weird. But I have to say that the goal and celebration would have been worth a booking, 100 percent."

Weah remained the spark off the bench for the eventual Scottish Champions. In April, he scored another goal in the league against St. Mirrens, which turned out to be his second-to-last match in Scotland. Weah's time at Celtic would come to a premature end in May. Weah was selected for the U.S. U-20 World Cup squad that would begin play on May 24 - the day before Celtic's Scottish Cup final against Hearts. Weah accepted the chance to represent his country, and Celtic terminated his loan two weeks early, stating that Weah "refused to return to Glasgow" for the season's final match. 

"The gaffer told me it is in the best interest of the team that I collect my things and go home," Weah said. He had scored four goals in 16 appearances but saw his playing time decrease after Neil Lennon replaced Rodgers as manager in February.

Weah bid an emotional farewell to Celtic supporters on Instagram, writing "It was a true honour playing for this club and also having the opportunity to interact with legends who paved the way for us. To you, the fans, I will never forget you for all the love, support and kindness you have shown me. I don't know as yet what the future holds but I wish to one day come back to this great club to be with you all. I will forever miss you chanting my name and hearing the beautiful song you have created for me."

Celtic would go on to win the Scottish Cup without Weah, but that is okay. The young American had a stellar tournament, notching two goals and two assists in a run to the quarterfinals. Weah assisted in that famous 3-2 win over France in the Round of 16.

Sargent Scores Again

Forward Scores His Third in Two Matches in Norwich Victory

Josh Sargent scored the decisive goal in Norwich City's 1-0 victory over 10-man Watford, keeping the Canaries' Championship play-off hopes alive. The match turned dramatically after Vakoun Bayo's red card in the 34th minute, setting the stage for Sargent's match-winning moment.

Early in the game, Sargent nearly opened the scoring with a point-blank shot well-saved by Jonathan Bond. His persistence paid off just before halftime when he tapped home from close range following a deflected free-kick by Emiliano Marcondes. This goal was Sargent's seventh of an injury-interrupted season and his third in two matches, signaling his return to form after being sidelined in November and December.

The goal came at a crucial time for Norwich, following Bayo's dismissal for shoving Marcondes in the throat during a corner. Norwich capitalized on their numerical advantage, with head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup noting, "We were good, and we were dominant."

Watford manager Tom Cleverley was frustrated by the result and criticized the referee and Norwich's tactics: "Unfortunately, the referee has been played. I thought Norwich were good at the dark arts." Despite his complaints, Watford struggled to create meaningful chances after going a man down.

Sargent's goal is particularly significant as he is currently the only fit "first-team" forward for the U.S. Men's National Team ahead of March's CONCACAF Nations League semifinal matches. During the 2023-24 season, he has already scored 16 goals and provided two assists for Norwich.

The victory moves Norwich a point above Watford in the Championship standings, maintaining their play-off aspirations and highlighting Sargent's growing importance to the team.

Aaronson Scores in Rout

Midfielder Scored the Opener in Big Leeds Win

Brenden Aaronson broke his goal-scoring drought with a crucial opening strike in Leeds United's resounding 7-0 demolition of Cardiff City at Elland Road Saturday. The 24-year-old American international netted in the sixth minute, setting the tone for Leeds' most comprehensive win of the season.

Supplied by Dan James, Aaronson calmly steadied himself before firing a low right-foot shot past goalkeeper Jak Alnwick. The goal was particularly significant for Aaronson, who had gone five Championship games without directly contributing to a goal.

"Sometimes I have to be more patient between the lines," Aaronson told BBC Radio Leeds. "It's been a bit frustrating recently, I've had a lot of the sixes following me around." His goal marked a return to form after a solid December where he had been involved in four goals in five games.

The victory extended Leeds' unbeaten home run to 14 games, putting them five points ahead of third place. Aaronson's goal was just the beginning of a dominant performance, with Manor Solomon, Dan James, Willy Gnonto, Mateo Joseph, and Joel Piroe scoring.

Beyond his goal, Aaronson quickly praised teammate Mateo Joseph, who ended an 18-game goalless streak. "He's a young kid, and it's tough," Aaronson said. "But he's so hungry and wants to keep working. He's got a huge future ahead of him."

This performance is crucial for Aaronson, who has been a constant in Leeds' lineup with 28 consecutive Championship starts. With the club potentially looking to bring in a new striker, Aaronson's ability to contribute goals and assists remains critical to Leeds' promotion hopes.