The European club friendlies rolled on Saturday with several U.S. men’s national team players getting on the scoresheet as their preseason schedules continued.
Ricardo Pepi scored his first goal for Eredivisie side PSV in a 2-1 comeback victory over FC Blau-Weib Linz on Saturday. The USMNT forward joined PSV from Bundesliga club Augsburg earlier this summer and didn’t waste any time making an impact with his new club.
Xavi Simons’ 14th minute penalty-kick equalizer tied it up for PSV before Pepi delivered the go-ahead goal just two minutes later.
Pepi was substituted off at halftime of the 120-minute friendly match, being replaced by Simon Colyn.
Here is a round-up of Saturday’s action involving American players:
Paxten Aaronson scores four goals for Eintracht Frankfurt
Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt continued its preseason preparations with former U.S. Under-20 men’s national team star Paxten Aaronson scoring four goals in a 15-1 victory over sixth-tier FSV Braunfels.
Former USMNT defender Timmy Chandler also scored once in the win, getting the start before Aaronson came on for the second half.
Chandler’s goal came in the 15th minute off a rebound, then giving Frankfurt a 3-0 at the time.
Aaronson came on for the final 45 minutes of the friendly and delivered all four of his goals in a 34-minute span. The former Philadelphia Union homegrown joined Eintracht Frankfurt last season and proceeded to make eight first-team appearances.
Eintracht Frankfurt continues its preseason schedule on July 18 against TSV Steinbach before final tuneups against SG Barockstadt Fulda Lehnerz and Nottingham Forest.
Brenden Aaronson nets first goal for Union Berlin
Brenden Aaronson joined his brother on the international scoresheet on Saturday, netting his first goal for Union Berlin.
The Bundesliga side fell 3-2 to Zalaegerszeg, but Aaronson made a promising debut for the club since arriving on loan from Leeds United. Aaronson came on in the 58th minute and would pull one goal back for Urs Fischer’s squad in the 89th minute.
Fellow USMNT teammate Jordan Pefok also appeared off the bench in the second-half for his first appearance alongside his international partner.
Union Berlin next faces Rapid Vienna on July 19 before a final friendly against Holstein Kiel on July 22.
Rokas Pukstas starts in Croatian Supercup defeat
Hajduk Split did not get off to a positive note in its first match of the new Croatian season on Saturday, losing 1-0 to Dinamo Zagreb in the 2023 Croatian Supercup.
U.S. Under-20 men’s national team midfielder Rokas Pukstas earned his first start of the season, logging 69 minutes in the loss.
Hajduk Split was reduced to 10-men before halftime after Ivan Leko picked up two yellow cards in quick succession. Dinamo Zagreb scored its only goal in the 52nd minute as Martin Baturina played the hero for the defending league champions.
Pukstas enjoyed a positive 2022-23 season with Hajduk Split, scoring 10 goals and adding seven assists in 35 combined first and second team appearances.
The two Croatian giants will face off again on July 21, this time in the HNL season opener.
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