PSV may have already clinched the Eredivisie title but it hasn’t stopped Ricardo Pepi from making up for lost time.
Pepi scored twice on Thursday in PSV’s 6-2 league victory over PEC Zwolle, taking his season tally up to 16 for the campaign. The U.S. men’s national team forward earned SBI Americans Abroad Player of the Week honors as he continued a positive run of form this spring.
Pepi delivered PSV’s opening goal and eventual go-ahead goal, rising high to deliver a powerful pair of headers. The 23-year-old finished off a pair of Esmir Bajraktarevic crosses, showing his clinical abilities in the 18-yard box.
PSV would eventually roll to three points in the second half with Bajraktarevic earning MOTM honors and Pepi logging another important 81 minutes under his belt.
Pepi has three final opportunities to add to his goal total, but most importantly stay healthy with the FIFA World Cup right around the corner. He is one goal away from tying his career-best haul for a single season and will be favored to reach that mark with PSV high on confidence.
Here is a closer look at this week’s top Americans Abroad performances:
Phallon Tullis-Joyce
Manchester United remains in the hunt for a UEFA Champions League berth for next season and Phallon Tullis-Joyce is a major reason for it.
Tullis-Joyce returned to club action on Saturday and registered a five-save clean sheet in the Red Devils’ 0-0 draw with Tottenham. The U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper now has seven league clean sheets in league play, which is tied with Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton for the most in the WSL.
Manchester United has two matches remaining this spring and Tullis-Joyce will be seeking to help Marc Skinner’s side finish the job.
Auston Trusty
Celtic are very much alive in the Scottish Premiership title race with four matches to go.
Auston Trusty logged his latest 90-minute shift in Saturday’s 3-1 home triumph over Falkirk, a result that moved Martin O’Neill’s squad level on points with Hearts. Trusty won eight duels, made 15 clearances, and one interception as Celtic extended its unbeaten run to five matches in all competitions.
Haji Wright
Coventry City officially began its celebrations as EFL Championship winners this past week.
Wright scored his 17th league goal of the season as the Sky Blues rolled past Portsmouth 5-1 on Tuesday. The USMNT forward also played 71 minutes on Sunday as Coventry City defeated Wrexham 3-1 at home, helping Frank Lampard’s squad move up to 92 points on the season.
Wright heads into the Sky Blues’ season-finale on Saturday, needing one goal to tie his career-best haul for a single campaign.
Daryl Dike
The starts and minutes continue to come for American forward Daryl Dike.
Dike helped West Bromwich Albion seal their EFL Championship safety after featuring in a pair of matches over the past week. The 25-year-old scored his second goal of the season in a 3-0 result over Watford on Tuesday before retaining his spot in Saturday’s goal-less draw with Ipswich Town.
With Dike’s contract set to expire at the end of May, he could very play himself into an extension with a strong finale on May 2.
What did you think of this weekend’s slate of Americans Abroad action? Is there anyone else deserving of a shout on this list?
Share your thoughts below.