Christian Pulisic delivered a heroic performance when AC Milan needed it most, scoring twice in a thrilling comeback victory against Lecce. The U.S. men's national team star continues to prove his value in Serie A, leading Milan in goal contributions this season.
Down 2-0 to struggling Lecce, Milan appeared headed for another embarrassing defeat amid rumors that coach Sergio Conceicao could be replaced as early as this summer. But Pulisic sparked a remarkable turnaround, winning and converting a penalty before adding a first-time finish just minutes later to complete a three-goal blitz in just 13 minutes.
"Pulisic might not be able to single-handedly save Conceicao, but he sure as hell did save Milan on Saturday," as the American's timely brace secured three crucial points. His goals haven't been mere stat-padding – they've come in crucial moments throughout the season, including Champions League matches and the Supercoppa Italiana.
This performance couldn't come at a better time for both Milan and the USMNT, with the CONCACAF Nations League just around the corner. Mauricio Pochettino is set to announce his squad on Tuesday, and Pulisic's return to scoring form is a welcome sight.
Meanwhile, another American made headlines as Sergino Dest completed his long-awaited return from an ACL injury, appearing for PSV Eindhoven for the first time in 329 days. The fullback came on as a second-half substitute in PSV's 2-1 win over Heerenveen, replacing Richy Ledezma, who had admirably filled in during Dest's absence.
"I am immensely happy to be back," Dest told PSV's official website. "The supporters and the players took good care of me and I'm very grateful for that." The defender completed all nine of his passes and showcased his attacking flair by dribbling past two defenders in his 23-minute cameo. After a grueling rehab process where he "had to learn to run again," Dest is finally back on the pitch though he wasn't called up for the upcoming Nations League matches as he continues to regain full fitness.
In England, Josh Sargent continued his red-hot scoring streak, netting his eighth goal in eight games for Norwich City. Unfortunately, the Canaries couldn't capitalize on his early strike, settling for a 1-1 draw with Oxford United that dealt a blow to their promotion hopes. Norwich now sit 10th in the Championship, six points outside the playoff spots.
Crystal Palace's Chris Richards delivered another defensive masterclass in a 1-0 win over Ipswich Town. The 24-year-old American led all players in passes completed, tackles (5), and duels won (10), while adding five clearances and two blocks in yet another clean sheet. Richards has been instrumental in Palace's impressive run of form, with six wins in their last seven matches across all competitions.
It wasn't all positive news for Americans abroad, as Weston McKennie and Juventus suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Atalanta. A harsh handball call against McKennie led to Atalanta's opening goal, and things only got worse from there for the Turin giants. The loss effectively ends Juventus' title hopes, leaving them nine points behind league leaders Inter Milan.
Elsewhere, Tyler Adams and Bournemouth surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Tottenham, while Caleb Wiley made his Watford debut with a 20-minute appearance off the bench. Antonee Robinson and Fulham suffered a heartbreaking defeat, conceding a 98th-minute penalty to fall 2-1 at Brighton.
Tanner Tessmann maintained his place in Lyon's midfield for their 2-0 win over Nice, playing the full 90 minutes. Gio Reyna remained on the bench for Dortmund in their 1-0 loss to Augsburg, while Noahkai Banks made a late appearance for the winning side.
Johnny Cardoso put in another strong performance for Real Betis in their 1-0 victory over Las Palmas, and Celtic's American duo of Auston Trusty and Cameron Carter-Vickers helped secure a clean sheet in a 2-0 FA Cup quarterfinal win against Hibernian.
As the CONCACAF Nations League approaches, American players continue to make their mark across European leagues, with Pulisic's brace for Milan highlighting a weekend of significant performances for USMNT stars.
