USMNT forward Ricardo Pepi’s goal while trying to will Groningen back into an eventual 4-1 loss to AZ Alkmaar on Saturday will not be one of the expected variety.
The 19-year-old striker, on loan from Augsburg, ran onto an audacious long pass from 20-year-old defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo but had plenty of work to do with AZ leading 2-0.
[ MORE: Josef Martinez scores audacious overhead goal ]
Pepi sees one defender fall in a race to the ball, then bodies up AZ’s Sam Beukema a little outside the six-yard box.
Hand-to-hand combat sees both players hit the turf, and Pepi probably could won a penalty.
But the World Cup hopeful spins while on the pitch and snaps a shot past charging AZ goalkeeper Hobie Verhulst to make it 2-1.
Video after the jump.
Ricardo Pepi goal video: Fantastic start to Groningen loan
Pepi now has a goal or an assist in his first three Eredivisie outings, not unlike his fantastic start to life in a USMNT shirt.
His goal contributions have taken a dive since his first two USMNT matches -- World Cup qualifiers against Honduras and Jamaica -- and he only has one assist from the following 10 outings in a U.S. shirt.
Still, Pepi is clearly one of Gregg Berhalter’s favorite options for the upcoming World Cup, and his performances will be measured against Union Berlin’s Jordan Pefok, FC Dallas’ Jesus Ferreira, and others.
In a tournament where every moment matters, his work for this scrappy finish will be well-noted by the USMNT staff.
Outworking the defender, great optics for Ricardo Pepi.
— Maximiliano Bretos (@MaxBretosSports) October 1, 2022
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