USMNT’s Ricardo Pepi in top form ahead of 2022 World Cup
The United States striker has scored six goals in seven games for Groningen this season, and helped his club beat PSV over the weekend.
Ricardo Pepi has left his scoreless drought in the past and he is making a case of his own to be the leading attacker for the United States men’s national team during the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The ‘Train’ helped FC Groningen defeat PSV 4-2 at home over the weekend and the 19-year-old scored his fifth goal in six Eredivisie appearances this season.
The FC Dallas product scored the opening goal of the match following a rebound in the 39th minute to eventually give Groningen their first win against the Eredivisie giants since the 2014 season. Pepi played the entire 90 minutes and he created two opportunities, won two duels and had a 90% passing rate.
Pepi the best striker in CONCACAF in the Eredivisie
Pepi has now scored six goals in seven appearances across all competitions, with four coming since the September international break. He is the best striker in the Eredivisie, with Mexico international Santiago Giménez only netting five goals with PSV in 13 appearances across all competitions.
USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter is pleased to see Pepi in top form ahead of the start of the World Cup and he is well placed to be the team’s No. 9 during the campaign. It is likely that the 19-year-old will start alongside Christian Pulisic and Brenden Aaronson in the attacking trio when the US face Wales in their opening group-stage game on 21 November.