It was an unremarkable kind of aim – a header from simply exterior the six-yard field, neatly glanced low into the far nook. Extra notable than the end was the id of the scorer and what it’d imply for the US males’s nationwide group as they play their final two video games earlier than the Qatar World Cup, beginning with a pleasant towards Japan on Friday.
Ricardo Pepi was named the MLS Younger Participant of the 12 months after scoring 13 occasions for FC Dallas in 2021. US head coach Gregg Berhalter had purpose to be pleased about {the teenager}’s deadly kind final September when Pepi scored on his worldwide debut and offered two assists because the Individuals recovered from a 1-0 deficit to beat Honduras 4-1 in San Pedro Sula.
That was the US’s third recreation in Concacaf qualifying. They solely drew the primary two and Berhalter’s job safety would have been the topic of intense scrutiny had they misplaced to the weakest group within the group. As a substitute, the US went on to beat Jamaica 2-0 in October and the Texan grabbed each targets in Austin to cement his standing as an ascendent star.
As Pepi jogged in the direction of the nook flag to take the adulation of the group and his teammates after steering a cross low into the online within the 62nd minute, nobody would have imagined that he wouldn’t have a good time once more for almost a 12 months.
Pepi’s aim for FC Groningen towards Sparta Rotterdam final Saturday ended an astonishing 30-match, 345-day scoreless streak for the striker. He joined Augsburg in January for a reported $20m-plus switch payment however the drought continued and the Bundesliga facet dispatched him to the Eredivisie final month on a season-long mortgage.
The 19-year-old slid from indispensable to non-obligatory – he hasn’t performed for the US since March – however Berhalter referred to as him into the squad for Friday’s match towards Japan in Düsseldorf and Tuesday’s recreation with Saudi Arabia in Murcia even earlier than the Groningen aim, citing a want to spice up the striker’s confidence.
It’s not shocking Berhalter feels a way of loyalty in the direction of a participant who had an necessary function in qualifying. His inclusion regardless of the barren run can be a mirrored image of the shortage of confirmed high-calibre choices at centre ahead, which stays one of many greatest query marks within the line-up as Qatar looms. Jesús Ferreira of FC Dallas is the putative favourite to start out when it issues. This 12 months the 21-year-old has proven he’s a prolific scorer who presents extra within the build-up than Pepi.
Josh Sargent can be in competition after a powerful begin to the season with Norwich Metropolis following a dismal 2021-22, although Berhalter should parse the extent to which the 22-year-old’s improved performances are a results of lower-quality opponents after Norwich’s relegation from the Premier League.
Since Jordan Pefok is in scoring kind within the Bundesliga with Union Berlin, his omission from the roster alerts that his World Cup prospects are distant, although Berhalter was eager to emphasize to reporters that “lots can occur between now and November 9”. That’s the date the US are planning to unveil the ultimate roster, 12 days earlier than they kick off towards Wales. The US additionally face England and Iran in Group B.
That’s not simply the same old hedging and warning from a coach who desires to maintain all his choices open, however an acknowledgement that this participant pool, although younger, has regularly been disrupted by well being points throughout his tenure. “Lots can occur between the ninth and the [Fifa deadline of the] 14th,” Berhalter added, a word that sounded extra lifelike than pessimistic given the US’s harm historical past and the vagaries of an unprecedented winter World Cup.
Ahead Tim Weah, midfielder Yunus Musah and left again Antonee Robinson, who’re positive to be on the airplane to Qatar if match, are injured and lacking from the present squad. Goalkeeper Zack Steffen was additionally overlooked due to harm however performed for Middlesbrough final Saturday.
Berhalter should select between Steffen, who’s had some shaky moments this 12 months however is enjoying usually, albeit within the English second tier, or Matt Turner, a extra strong performer who’s a back-up for Arsenal and has solely made one look this season.
One other drawback place is heart again, however the subsequent two video games could not present readability as to who’ll companion with Nashville’s Walker Zimmerman in Qatar, since two main contenders, Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic) and Chris Richards (Crystal Palace) are additionally sidelined. Not that this has opened the door for Benfica’s John Brooks or Fulham’s Tim Ream – veterans who’re too sluggish for a coach who’s shaping his group to be youthful and dynamic.
So with two months earlier than the beginning of the World Cup, the US’s concluding warm-ups could also be mainly helpful as energy assessments towards two different certified nations, tactical rehearsals and establishing who’s prone to fill reserve spots on the roster moderately than giving Berhalter the chance to verify the final three or 4 names on his definitive most popular beginning XI.
The following 180 minutes would possibly no less than give the coach a clearer thought of whether or not he prefers Gio Reyna or Brenden Aaronson as attacking midfielders/wingers. Probably the most intriguing query of all, although, is whether or not Pepi is about to get pleasure from a perfectly-timed renaissance. There’s solely a small pattern measurement for a participant initially of his profession, however he did have a tendency to attain in clusters final 12 months. If his long-awaited aim final weekend proves the primary of many – or no less than, some – then Berhalter could have a really welcome choice dilemma forward.
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