In Italy, Christian Pulisic got back on the scoresheet in spectacular fashion, helping AC Milan to a comeback victory with a pair of goals.
In England, Josh Sargent remained the hottest goal-scorer among U.S. Men's National Team players with yet another tally for Norwich City.
Domestically, Jordan Morris came off the bench to set a Seattle Sounders goal-scoring record, while Djordje Mihailovic and Jesús Ferreira registered assists in wins for the Colorado Rapids and the Sounders, respectively.
In net, Zack Steffen and Patrick Schulte recorded their second clean sheets of the MLS for the Colorado Rapids and Columbus Crew, respectively, to round out some of the top USMNT performances last week.
PULISIC TO THE RESCUE
It’s incredible how quickly the pendulum can swing from one side to the other – for a player and a team. Christian Pulisic entered AC Milan’s game at Lecce without a goal contribution in his last four matches. Then, within an eight-minute span, he struck twice to help the Serie A team to record a dramatic a 3-2 comeback triumph on Saturday, March 8, snapping a three-game Serie A losing streak for Rossoneri.
Pulisic’s heroics start in the 73rd minute after he was tripped in the box by Federico Baschirotto. He converted the ensuing penalty into the lower left corner past a diving Wladimiro to knot the score up at 2-2. He connected for the game-winner in the 81st minute, volleying in Rafael Leao’s free kick into the left side into the lower right corner for what proved to be the game-winner. Pulisic scored 14 goals and recorded nine assists across all competitions this season. He has eight Serie A goals.
With 10 games remaining in the Serie A campaign, ninth-place AC Milan (12-8-8, 44 points) is a longshot for a Champions League berth next year. It trails fourth-place Juventus (13-2-13, 52) by eight points for the final spot.
AN EVEN DOZEN
There's just no stopping Josh Sargent these days. The 24-year-old striker struck for his eighth goal in as many matches and his 12th of the season for Norwich City in a 1-1 draw with Oxford United on Friday, March 7. Only five minutes into the match, Sargent put away right back's Kellen Fisher cross past goalkeeper Jamie Cumming to lift the Canaries into a 1-0 lead in the English Championship game. Oxford, however, equalized and forced the hosts to settle for a 1-1 draw. With the league season ready to enter its stretch run with 10 games remaining, Norwich (12-11-13, 49 points) is in 10th place six points adrift from sixth place and a spot in the promotion playoffs.
MILESTONE GOAL
Jordan Morris connected for his 87th goal and became the Seattle Sounders' all-time MLS goal-scoring leader in the team's 5-2 rout of Los Angeles FC on Saturday, March 8. The 30-year-old Morris, who replaced Daniel Musovski at the half, took a pass from Paul Rothrock and beat goalkeeper Thomas Hasal for a 3-1 advantage in the 77th minute and his third goal in as many matches this season. Morris, who has three goals in as many matches, broke a tie with former teammate Raul Ruidiaz.
A COUPLE OF HELPERS
Jesús Ferreira, usually better known for his goal-scoring prowess than his play-making abilities, sparked the Seattle Sounders to a 5-2 rout of Los Angeles FC on Saturday, March 8 with an assist. His pin-point pass found defender Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, up on loan from the Tacoma Defiance. Kossa-Rienzi then scored from close range to lift the Sounders into a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute. Ferreira notched his third assist across all competitions.
Djordje Mihailovic assisted on the Colorado Rapids' lone tally in their 1-0 away win over Austin FC on Saturday, March 8. He fed Rafael Navarro, who scored in the 18th minute. It was his second assist of the young MLS season.
TWO OUT OF THREE
Goalkeepers Zack Steffen and Patrick Schulte both secured their second clean sheets, respectively, in three Major League Soccer contests on Saturday, March 8.
Steffen produced four saves to earn the 31st shutout of his MLS career in the Colorado Rapids' 1-0 win at Austin FC. He denied Myrto Uzuni from point-blank range, Brandon Vazquez in the 61st and 63rd minutes, and Jader Obrian in the 73rd minute. He secured a clean sheet in a season-opening scoreless draw against St. Louis CITY SC on Feb. 22.
Schulte helped the Columbus Crew to 0-0 draw with the Houston Dynamo. He was called on to make only one save. Schulte also had a shutout in a 1-0 win at the New England Revolution on March 1.
BACK IN ACTION
Sergiño Dest, who missed nearly 11 months with an ACL injury, returned to play with PSV Eindhoeven on Saturday, March 8. The 24-year-old defender replaced USMNT player Richy Ledezma in the 67th minute of PSV’s 2-1 home victory over Heerenveen in the Dutch Eredivisie. Ledezma gave Dest a warm embrace when he was subbed. Dest last competed in a 6-0 win over Vitesse on April 14, 2024.
FULL RUNDOWN
-- Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United; English Championship) - 68 minutes in 1-0 loss at Portsmouth (March 8)
-- Paxten Aaronson (Utrecht; Dutch Eredivisie) - 83 minutes in 3-2 win at Willem II (March 9)
-- Kellyn Acosta (Chicago Fire; MLS) - 31 minutes in 3-1 win at FC Dallas (March 8)
-- Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth; English Premier League) – 90 minutes in 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur (March 9)
-- Folarin Balogun (Monaco; French Ligue 1) – Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw at Toulouse (March 7)
-- Taylor Booth (Twente; Dutch Eredivisie) - 63 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Almere City (March 9)
-- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italian Serie A) – In 18, DNP in 1-1 draw at Como (March 8)
-- Drake Callender (Inter Miami CF; MLS) – Injured, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Charlotte FC (March 9); Injured, DNP in 2-0 win vs. Cavalier in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 6)
-- Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis; Spain La Liga) - 80 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Las Palmas (March 9); 77 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. Vitoria Guimaraes in UEFA Conference League (March 6)
-- Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Hibernian in Scottish Cup (March 9)
-- Cade Cowell (Guadalajara; Liga MX) – 4 minutes as a substitute, RED CARD, in 0-0 draw vs. Club America (March 8); 23 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win vs. Club America in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 5)
-- Ben Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF; MLS) – 41 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Charlotte FC (March 9); 64 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Cavalier in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 6)
-- Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC; MLS) – 63 minutes in 3-1 win at Real Salt Lake (March 8)
-- Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 23 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win vs. Heerenveen (March 8); Injured, DNP in 7-1 loss vs. Arsenal in UCL (March 4)
-- Jesús Ferreira (Seattle Sounders; MLS) - 71 minutes, ASSIST, in 5-2 win vs. Los Angeles FC (March 8); 24 minutes as a substitute in 0-0 draw vs. Cruz Azul in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 5)
-- Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 3-0 loss at Union Saint-Gilloise (March 9)
-- Julian Gressel (Inter Miami CF; MLS) – In 18, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Charlotte FC (March 9); In 18, DNP in 2-0 win vs. Cavalier in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 6)
-- Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City; Championship) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Sunderland (March 8)
-- Sean Johnson (Toronto FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at FC Cincinnati (March 8)
-- DeJuan Jones (Columbus Crew; MLS) – In 18, DNP in 0-0 draw vs. Houston Dynamo (March 8); 64 minutes in 3-0 loss at Los Angeles FC in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 4)
-- Richy Ledezma (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - 67 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Heerenveen (March 8)65 minutes in 7-1 loss vs. Arsenal in UCL (March 4)
-- Kristoffer Lund (Palermo; Italy Serie B) - In 18, DNP in 1-1 draw at Sampdoria (March 8)
-- Lennard Maloney (Mainz; Bundesliga) - 3 minutes as a substitute in 3-1 win at Borussia Monchengladbach (March 8)
-- Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes in 4-0 loss vs. Atalanta (March 9); 61 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Verona (March 3)
-- Mark McKenzie (Toulouse; French Ligue 1) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Monaco (March 7)
-- Djordje Mihailovic (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 90 minutes, ASSIST, in 1-0 win at Austin FC (March 8)
-- Shaq Moore (FC Dallas; MLS) - 89 minutes in 3-1 loss vs. Chicago Fire (March 8)
-- Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough; Championship) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Swansea City (March 8)
-- Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; MLS) - 45 minutes as a substitute, GOAL, in 5-2 win vs. Los Angeles FC (March 8); 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Cruz Azul in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 5)
-- Yunus Musah (AC Milan; Italy Serie A) - 74 minutes in 3-2 win at Lecce (March 8)
-- Jalen Neal (CF Montreal; MLS) – Injured, DNP in 2-0 loss at Vancouver Whitecaps (March 8)
-- Erik Palmer-Brown (Panathinaikos; Greek Super League) - Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw at Atromitos (March 9); Injured, DNP in 3-2 win vs. Fiorentina in UEFA Conference League (March 6)
-- Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. St. Pauli (March 8)
-- Jordan Pefok (Reims; France Ligue 1) - Injured, DNP in 2-0 loss vs. Auxerre (March 9)
-- Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - Injured, DNP in 2-1 win vs. Heerenveen (March 8); Injured, DNP in 7-1 loss vs. Arsenal in UCL (March 4)
-- Christian Pulisic (AC Milan; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes, TWO GOALS, in 3-2 win at Lecce (March 8)
-- Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Inter Miami CF (March 9)
-- Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; Bundesliga) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 loss vs. Augsburg (March 8)
-- Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Anderlecht (March 9)
-- Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Ipswich Town (March 8)
-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Brighton & Hove Albion (March 8)
-- Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Toronto FC (March 8); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Tigres UANL in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 4)
-- James Sands (St. Pauli; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw at Wolfsburg (March 8)
-- Josh Sargent (Norwich City; English Championship) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 1-1 draw vs. Oxford United (March 7)
-- Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - Not in 18, SUSPENDED, in 3-1 loss vs. Mainz (March 8)
-- Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; MLS) - 90 minutes, SHUTOUT, in 0-0 draw vs. Houston Dynamo (March 8); 90 minutes in 3-0 loss at Los Angeles FC in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 4)
-- Gaga Slonina (Chelsea U-21; English Premier League 2) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 win vs. Ipswich Town (March 7)
-- Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 90 minutes, SHUTOUT, in 1-0 win at Austin FC (March 8)
-- Tanner Tessmann (Lyon; French Ligue 1) – 90 minutes in 2-0 win at Nice (March 9); 76 minutes in 3-1 win at FCSB in UEFA Europa League (March 6)
-- Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven; Dutch Eredivisie) - Injured, DNP in 2-1 win vs. Heerenveen (March 8); Injured, DNP in 7-1 loss vs. Arsenal in UCL (March 4)
-- Timmy Tillman (Los Angeles FC; MLS) - Injured, DNP in 5-2 loss at Seattle Sounders (March 8); 90 minutes in 3-0 win vs. Columbus Crew in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 4)
-- John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 2-2 draw vs. Stuttgart (March 8)
-- Auston Trusty (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Hibernian in Scottish Cup (March 9)
-- Matt Turner (Crystal Palace; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Ipswich Town (March 8)
-- Tim Weah (Juventus; Italy Serie A) - 54 minutes in 4-0 loss vs. Atalanta (March 9); 61 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Verona (March 3)
-- Caleb Wiley (Watford; English Championship) - 19 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 loss vs. Millwall (March 8)
-- Haji Wright (Coventry City; Championship) - 24 minutes as a substitute in 3-2 win vs. Stoke City (March 8)
-- DeAndre Yedlin (FC Cincinnati; MLS) - 29 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 win vs. Toronto FC (March 8); 81 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Tigres UANL in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 4)
-- Alejandro Zendejas (Club America; Liga MX) - 27 minutes as a substitute in 0-0 draw at Guadalajara (March 8); 87 minutes in 1-0 loss at Guadalajara in Concacaf Champions Cup (March 3)
-- Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Portland Timbers (March 8)
