In what was an abbreviated week for some European leagues due to the holidays, several U.S. Men's National Team players found ways to make headlines and an impact.
In England, Brenden Aaronson tallied the winning goal for Leeds United, propelling them to the top of the EFL Championship.
Antonee Robinson enjoyed two strong performances, including setting up yet another goal for Fulham.
In Italy, Kristoffer Lund also scored, albeit in a losing effort for Palermo.
SITTING PRETTY
Leeds United finds itself atop the English Championship heading into the new year, thanks to Brenden Aaronson. Aaronson connected on the lone goal of the match in the 1-0 triumph at Derby County on Sunday, Dec. 29. After an impressive build-up, Aaronson slotted home Joel Piroe's feed from seven yards past goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström for his seventh goal of the campaign. Leeds (15-3-6, 51 points), which moved past Sheffield United (15-3-6, 49) is 6-0-1 when Aaronson scores a goal. Two points were deducted from Sheffield United for defaulting on transfer payments.
AMAZING ANTONEE
It was another memorable week for Antonee Robinson. The Fulham left back played well in the Cottagers' 2-1 comeback win at Chelsea on Boxing Day, Dec. 26 as the team won the first time at Stamford Bridge since 1979. He also had a "hockey assist," helping to set up the equalizing goal in the 82nd minute. Robinson sent a cross to Timothy Castagne, who headed back across the goal. Harry Wilson then nodded it home from close range past goalie Robert Sanchez to equalize at one apiece.
On Sunday, Dec. 29, Robinson was credited with an assist in a 2-2 draw with AFC Bournemouth. His cross from the left side of the box was headed home from 10 yards by Wilson past goalkeeper Kepa to give the hosts a 2-1 lead in the 72nd minute.
Robinson has accumulated seven assists in 19 appearances, good for third place in the EPL, behind Liverpool's Mo Salah (13) and Arsenal's Bukayo Saka (10). Fulham (7-4-8, 29) sits in eighth place.
A FIRST FOR LUND
Kristoffer Lund scored his first goal of the Italian Serie B season for Palermo in its 2-1 defeat at Cittadella on Sunday, Dec. 29). Lund recorded an unassisted tally in the 55th minute. Palermo (24 points), which is in 11th place out of 20 teams, dropped to 6-8-6.
CLOSING OUT THE YEAR IN STYLE
Celtic and USMNT defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers and Aaron Trusty closed out the year in style with a pair of 4-0 victories in the Scottish Premier League. The team down Motherwell on Wednesday, Dec. 26 and then St. Johnstone three days later on Sunday. Carter-Vickers went the full 90 in both matches, while Trusty dressed, but did not get off the bench in either game. Celtic (16-0-2), which has accrued 50 out of a possible 54 points, enjoys a 14-point lead over second-place Rangers (11-4-3, 36).
TWO FROM THE BACK
Westerlo might have gone done to a 4-3 away defeat to Club Brugge in the Belgian Pro League on Wednesday, Dec. 26, but it wasn't due to the lack of effort by Bryan Reynolds. The 23-year-old defender recorded two assists, one of which set up fellow American Griffin Yow for his second goal of the campaign, which sliced the visitors' deficit to 2-1 two minutes into first-half stoppage time.
FULL RUNDOWN
-- Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United; English Championship) - 89 minutes, GOAL, in 1-0 win at Derby County (Dec. 29); 90 minutes in 2-0 win at Stoke City (Dec. 26)
-- Paxten Aaronson (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - No games
-- Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth; English Premier League) – Not in 18, DNP in 2-2 draw at Fulham (Dec. 29); 28 minutes as a substitute in 0-0 draw vs. Crystal Palace (Dec. 26)
-- Folarin Balogun (Monaco; French Ligue 1) – No games
-- Taylor Booth (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - No games
-- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italian Serie A) – 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Napoli (Dec. 29)
-- Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis; Spain La Liga) - No games
-- Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 4-0 win vs. St. Johnstone (Dec. 29); 90 minutes in 4-0 win vs. Motherwell (Dec. 26)
-- Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - No games
-- Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo, Spain La Liga) - No games
-- Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at Mechelen (Dec. 26)
-- Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City; Championship) - In 18, DNP in 2-1 win at Watford (Dec. 29); In 18, DNP in 3-2 loss at Oxford United (Dec. 26)
-- Richy Ledezma (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - No games
-- Kristoffer Lund (Palermo; Italy Serie B) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 2-1 loss at Cittadella (Dec. 29); 45 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win vs. Bari (Dec. 26)
-- Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim; Bundesliga) - No games
-- Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 62 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. Fiorentina (Dec. 29)
-- Mark McKenzie (Toulouse; French Ligue 1) - No games
-- Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough; Championship) - Injured, DNP in 0-0 draw vs. Burnley (Dec. 29); Injured, DNP in 3-3 draw vs. Sheffield Wednesday (Dec. 26)
-- Yunus Musah (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Roma (Dec. 29)
-- Erik Palmer-Brown (Panathinaikos; Greek Super League) - No games
-- Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - No games
-- Jordan Pefok (Union Berlin; Bundesliga) - No games
-- Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - No games
-- Christian Pulisic (A.C. Milan; Italy Serie A) - Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Roma (Dec. 29)
-- Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; Bundesliga) - No games
-- Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes, TWO ASSISTS, in 4-3 loss at Club Brugge (Dec. 26)
-- Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Southampton (Dec. 29); In 18, DNP in 0-0 draw at AFC Bournemouth (Dec. 26)
-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 2-2 draw vs. AFC Bournemouth (Dec. 29); 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Chelsea (Dec. 26)
-- Josh Sargent (Norwich City; English Championship) - Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw vs, Queens Park Rangers (Dec. 29); Injured, DNP in 2-1-win vs. Millwall (Dec. 26)
-- Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - No games
-- Gaga Slonina (Barnsley; English League One) - Injured, DNP in 3-1 win at Peterborough United (Dec. 29); Injured, DNP in 2-1 win at Bolton Wanderers (Dec. 26)'
-- Tanner Tessmann (Lyon; French Ligue 1) – No games
-- Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - No games
-- Auston Trusty (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - In 18, DNP in 4-0 win vs. St. Johnstone (Dec. 29); In 18, DNP in 4-0 win vs. Motherwell (Dec. 26)
-- Matt Turner (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 2-1 win vs. Southampton (Dec. 29); In 18, DNP in 0-0 draw at AFC Bournemouth (Dec. 26)
-- Tim Weah (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - Injured, DNP in 2-2 draw vs. Fiorentina (Dec. 29)
-- Caleb Wiley (Strasbourg; French Ligue 1) - No games
-- Haji Wright (Coventry City; Championship) - Injured, DNP in 0-0 draw vs. Millwall (Dec. 29); Injured, DNP in 4-1 win vs. Plymouth Argyle (Dec. 26)
