USMNT weekend roundup: Puli scores, Pepi hurt

MILAN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 20: Christian Pulisic of AC Milan celebrates after scoring his team's first goal uring the Serie A match between AC Milan and US Lecce at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/AC Milan via Getty Images) | AC Milan via Getty

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Here’s a bullet-point rundown of notable happenings for USA players this weekend (Friday through Sunday). Players are divided by position groups (which helps my depth-chart-oriented brain to process this information most usefully). Stats are from FotMob.

Strikers

Folarin Balogun (25) got his first Monaco minutes of the season, playing 14 minutes off the bench in the 2-1 win over Lens in Ligue 1 on Friday.
Julian Hall (18) played 84 minutes, scored a goal, and missed a big chance in the New York Red Bulls’ 1-0 win over NYCFC in MLS on Friday.

Justin Ellis (19) played the full 90 in Orlando City’s 2-4 loss to New England Revolution in MLS on Saturday.

Damion Downs (22) played 7 minutes off the bench in St. Louis City’s 3-1 win over Toronto FC in MLS on Saturday. Downs will pop up again later in this section.
Josh Sargent (26) played 74 minutes and created a chance in Toronto FC’s 1-3 loss to St. Louis City in MLS on Saturday.
Brian White (30) played 80 minutes, scored a goal, and created the joint-most chances (3) in the Vancouver Whitecaps’ 3-0 win over Real Salt Lake in MLS on Saturday.

Samuel Adeniran (27) played 22 minutes off the bench in LASK Linz’s 3-3 draw with Hartberg in the Austrian Bundesliga on Sunday.
Ricardo Pepi (23) went off injured 10 minutes into PSV’s 2-3 loss to Twente in the Eredivisie on Sunday. Sunday evening, Pepi was replaced on the USMNT roster by Damion Downs – a puzzling selection.

Wingers/attacking mids

Jack McGlynn (23) played the full 90, scored a goal, and created 2 chances in Stoke City’s 2-1 win over Sheffield United in the EFL Championship on Saturday.

Another angle of McGlynn’s blast:

Gio Reyna (23) played 67 minutes in Strasbourg’s 1-2 loss to Paris FC in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
Mathis Albert (17) was not in Dortmund’s squad for their 1-0 win over VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Noa Ojea (17) played 6 minutes off the bench in Anderlecht’s 3-0 win over Zulte Waregem in the Belgian Pro League on Saturday.
Niko Tsakiris (21) played the full 90 and created the joint-most chances (4) in the San Jose Earthquakes’ 2-2 draw with LAFC in MLS on Saturday.
Cavan Sullivan (16) played 82 minutes, scored a goal, completed the joint-most dribbles (4/6), scored a goal, and created 2 chances in the Philadelphia Union’s 4-3 comeback win over Sporting KC in MLS on Saturday.

Diego Luna is out with a knee injury, missing Real Salt Lake’s 0-3 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS on Saturday. Luna is expected back in mid-November.
Alex Zendejas (28) played 52 minutes and created a chance in América’s 2-2 draw with Chivas in Liga MX on Saturday.
Brenden Aaronson (25) played 22 minutes off the bench in Leeds’ 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday.
Zavier Gozo (19) was not in Crystal Palace’s squad for the Leeds game.
Malik Tillman (24) was an unused sub for Leverkusen in their 2-0 win over RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
Montrell Culbreath is out with a foot injury, missing the Leverkusen-Leipzig game. Culbreath is expected back in late September.
Cole Campbell (20) played 87 minutes, completed the most dribbles (8/14), and created 2 chances in Elversberg’s 0-0 draw with Schalke in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
Christian Pulisic (28) made his first start of the season, played 69 minutes, had the most touches (5) in the opposition box, scored a goal, and created 2 chances in AC Milan’s 3-0 win over Lecce in Serie A on Sunday.

Just look at that first touch and finish:

Center mids

Adri Mehmeti (17) played 84 minutes and created a chance in the New York Red Bulls’ 1-0 win over NYCFC in MLS on Friday.
Sebastian Berhalter (25) played 27 minutes off the bench and created a chance in Middlesbrough’s 2-2 draw with Birmingham City in the EFL Championship on Saturday.

Aidan Morris (24) played the full 90 and completed the most passes (49) in the Boro-Birmingham game.
- Rokas Pukštas (22) was an unused sub for Boro.
Tanner Tessmann (24) played 11 minutes off the bench in Lyon’s 4-0 win over Rennes in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
Brooklyn Raines (21) played the full 90 in the New England Revolution’s 4-2 win over Orlando City in MLS on Saturday.
Beau Leroux (23) played the full 90, provided an assist, and created the joint-most chances (4) in the San Jose Earthquakes’ 2-2 draw with LAFC in MLS on Saturday.

Owen Wolff (21) played 20 minutes off the bench and created a chance in Sporting KC’s 3-4 loss to Philadelphia Union in MLS on Saturday.
Quinn Sullivan (22) played 45 minutes off the bench and provided an assist in the Philadelphia Union’s 4-3 comeback win over Sporting KC in MLS on Saturday.

Paxten Aaronson (23) played 84 minutes, created the most chances (7), provided 2 assists, and created 7 chances in the Colorado Rapids’ 3-3 draw with Seattle Sounders FC in MLS on Saturday.

Pax’s first assist:

Pax’s second:

Cristian Roldán (31) played the full 90, had the most touches (77) and scored a goal in the Seattle Sounders’ 3-3 draw with Colorado Rapids in MLS on Saturday.
Tyler Adams (27) played 88 minutes and created a chance in Bournemouth’s 0-1 loss to Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.
Benja Cremaschi (21) was an unused sub for Parma in their 2-1 win over Genoa in Serie A on Sunday.
Johnny Cardoso (25) played the full 90 in Atlético Madrid’s 2-1 win over Real Madrid in La Liga on Sunday.

Weston McKennie (28) played 86 minutes and created a chance in Juventus’ 2-0 win over Atalanta in Serie A on Sunday.
Santiago Castañeda (21) played the full 90 and scored a goal in Paderborn’s 3-1 win over Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Sunday. Castañeda was rated Man of the Match by FotMob.

Yunus Musah (23) played 14 minutes off the bench in AC Milan’s 3-0 win over Lecce in Serie A on Sunday.

Fullbacks

Marlon Fossey (28) played 87 minutes in Standard Liège’s 1-2 loss to Gent in Belgium’s First Division A on Friday.
Jonathan Gómez (23) played 87 minutes, forced an own goal (video here), and created 2 chances in Osnabrück’s 1-1 draw with Holstein Kiel in the 2. Bundesliga on Saturday.
- John Tolkin (24) was an unused sub for Holstein Kiel.
Luca Bombino (20) played 10 minutes off the bench in Stoke City’s 2-1 win over Sheffield United in the EFL Championship on Saturday.
Joe Scally (23) played 76 minutes and created a chance in Mönchengladbach’s 3-4 loss to Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Max Arfsten (25) played 86 minutes, completed the most dribbles (4), scored his first Boro goal, and created a chance in Middlesbrough’s 2-2 draw with Birmingham City in the EFL Championship on Saturday. Arfsten was rated Man of the Match by FotMob.

Caleb Wiley (21) was not in Preston North End’s squad for their 2-2 draw with QPR in the EFL Championship on Saturday.
Bryan Reynolds (25) played 17 minutes off the bench in Rennes’ 0-4 loss to Lyon in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
Peyton Miller (18) played the full 90, scored a brace, conceded a penalty, and created a chance in the New England Revolution’s 4-2 win over Orlando City in MLS on Saturday.

Peyton’s first:

Peyton’s second:

Harbor Miller (19) played 59 minutes in the LA Galaxy’s 3-2 win over Minnesota United in MLS on Saturday.
Frankie Westfield (20) played the full 90, provided an assist, and had the most touches (80) in the Philadelphia Union’s 4-3 comeback win over Sporting KC in MLS on Saturday.

Reed Baker-Whiting (21) played the full 90, provided an assist and created 2 chances in Nashville SC’s 3-0 win over Chicago Fire FC in MLS on Saturday.

Tate Johnson (21) played 80 minutes in the Vancouver Whitecaps’ 3-0 win over Real Salt Lake in MLS on Saturday.
Landon Emenalo (18) was not in Celtic’s squad for their 0-1 loss to Rangers in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
George Bello (24) played the full 90, provided an assist and created a chance in LASK Linz’s 3-3 draw with Hartberg in the Austrian Bundesliga on Sunday.
Sergiño Dest (25) played the full 90 in PSV’s 2-3 loss to FC Twente in the Eredivisie on Sunday.
Taiga Hata (24) played 75 minutes, committed an error that led to a goal and created a chance in St. Truiden’s 0-2 loss to Westerlo in the Belgian Pro League on Sunday.
Antonee Robinson (29) played the full 90 and created 2 chances in Fulham’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.

Alex Freeman (22) played the full 90 and created 2 chances in Villarreal’s 3-1 win over Levante in La Liga on Sunday.

We have clips of Freeman’s performance against Málaga on Thursday (90 minutes, joint-most dribbles completed (3/3), created 1 chance).

Tim Weah (26) played 77 minutes and was sent off with a red card in the 77th minute in Marseille’s 1-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

Center-backs

James Sands (26) played the full 90, committed an error that led to a goal, had the most touches (103), and created a chance in NYCFC’s 0-1 loss to Red Bull New York in MLS on Friday.

Sands’ giveaway for the Julian Hall goal:

I am not personally hate-watching Noahkai Banks (19) who recently chose Germany over the USA, but if you are, there are apparently enough others out there that I saw multiple accounts post this clip of him being beaten for a goal in Augsburg’s 2-3 loss to Werder Bremen on Saturday.

Mark McKenzie (27) played the full 90 and had the most defensive contributions (11) in Toulouse’s 3-2 win over Le Havre in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
Jalen Neal (23) played the full 90 and completed the most passes (69) in CF Montréal’s 0-2 loss to Columbus Crew in MLS on Saturday.
Tim Ream (38) played the full 90 in Charlotte FC’s 2-1 win over DC United in MLS on Saturday.
Ethan Kohler (21) played the full 90 and had the most defensive contributions (11) in the New England Revolution’s 4-2 win over Orlando City in MLS on Saturday.
Miles Robinson (29) played the full 90 and created 2 chances in FC Cincinnati’s 2-2 draw with Houston Dynamo FC in MLS on Saturday.
Neil Pierre (18) played the full 90 and forced an own goal in the Philadelphia Union’s 4-3 comeback win over Sporting KC in MLS on Saturday.

Cameron Carter-Vickers (28) played the full 90, had the most defensive contributions (14), had the most touches (89), and made a goal-line clearance in Celtic’s 0-1 loss to Rangers in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
- Auston Trusty (28) also played the full 90 for Celtic.

CCV’s block:

George Campbell (25) played the full 90 and had the most touches (93) in West Brom’s 0-1 loss to Wolves in the EFL Championship on Sunday.
Chris Richards (26) played the full 90 in Crystal Palace’s 0-0 draw with Leeds in the Premier League on Sunday.
Elijah Scott (20) was an unused sub in Lecce’s 0-3 loss to AC Milan in Serie A on Sunday. Scott was seen with Christian Pulisic after the game.

Goalkeepers

Diego Kochen (20) played the full 90 and made 2 saves in Lyngby’s 0-4 loss to Silkeborg in the Danish Superliga on Friday.
Matt Freese (28) played the full 90 and made 0 saves in NYCFC’s 0-1 loss to the Red Bulls in MLS on Friday.

Ethan Horvath (31) played the full 90 and made 4 saves in the New York Red Bulls’ 1-0 win over NYCFC in MLS on Friday. Horvath was rated Man of the Match by FotMob.
Julian Eyestone (20) played the full 90 and made 3 saves in Rotherham’s 1-0 win over Northampton in League Two on Saturday – Eyestone’s first clean sheet with Rotherham.

Patrick Schulte (25) played the full 90 and made 2 saves in the Columbus Crew’s 2-0 win over CF Montréal in MLS on Saturday.
Matt Turner (32) played the full 90 and made 3 saves in the New England Revolution’s 4-2 win over Orlando City in MLS on Saturday.
Roman Celentano (26) played the full 90 and made 0 saves in FC Cincinnati’s 2-2 draw with Houston Dynamo FC in MLS on Saturday.
Drake Callender (28) played the full 90 and made 2 saves in Minnesota United’s 2-3 loss to LA Galaxy in MLS on Saturday.
Brian Schwake (25) played the full 90 and made 1 save in Nashville SC’s 3-0 win over the Chicago Fire in MLS on Saturday.
Chris Brady (22) played the full 90 and made 3 saves in the Chicago Fire’s 0-3 loss to Nashville SC in MLS on Saturday.
Zack Steffen is out with a shoulder injury, missing the Colorado Rapids’ 3-3 draw with the Seattle Sounders in MLS on Saturday. Steffen is expected back late September 2026.
Polish-American Szymon Lyczko (20) made his first league start for Zagłębie Lubin in Poland’s top flight.

Goalkeeper stats: