Deft and Pepi are sure of the next round at the World Cup.
1 min readIn Mexico, Team USA with PSV'ers Ricardo Pepi and Sergino Dest are certainly guaranteed a place in the next round of the 2026 World Cup. In Seattle, the United States convincingly took care of Australia (2-0), with Pepi playing 74 minutes and Dest being taken off after 81 minutes.
After starting as a substitute in the match against Paraguay, Pepi was in the starting lineup this time due to an injury suffered by star player Christian Pulisic. Pulisic picked up an injury in the first match and was not fit enough to be active against the Socceroos.
On the other hand, Dest was in the starting lineup for the second time and the right back was dangerous a number of times on the right side and also had a number of good actions up his sleeve. In the eleventh minute, the side of national team coach Maurico Pochettino took the lead after a smoothly flowing attack down the left side that was ultimately turned into an own goal by defender Cameron Burgess.
In contrast to the first group match against Turkey (2-0), Australia couldn’t really make a fist against the Americans, who were clearly the better team despite the fact that no real big chances were created. The team of head coach Tony Popovic didn’t really get going to create major opportunities and was simply a bit too small for the United States.
Before the break, Team USA took a well-deserved 2-0 lead and a big role was played by Sergino Dest. Dest received the ball from a short free kick from the right side of the pitch, after which the PSV player decided to go for it.
His shot was blocked and in the end his teammate Alexander Freeman managed to head home the 2-0 against the ropes, after which Freeman was flagged offside. However, in the replay it became clear that the defender was not in an offside position, and the goal was still allowed by the German referee Felix Zwayer.
After regulation time, the chances on both sides were scarce and, in fact, victory for the United States was never in danger. With six points from two matches, they proudly top Group D, and in addition the Americans have a goal difference of +5, which means the next round is assured.
Comments4
Pepi in de basis door Pulisic blessure is natuurlijk logisch, maar ik vind het toch tekenend. Als hij dit soort minuten pakt, moet PSV straks gewoon harder aanhaken bij zijn rol in de opbouw.
Dest deed het wel hoor, paar keer gevaarlijk rechts en dat doelpuntmoment was klasse. Wel kut dat het eerst afgekeurd leek, maar goed dat Zwayer het recht trok.
Dest weer in de basis en meteen dreiging over rechts, dat zie je gewoon. 2-0 en USA controle, tbh lekker dat Pepi 74 minuten ook gewoon liet zien dat hij kan meedoen. Zou PSV-gevoel moeten geven op die WK-wedstrijden.
Ngl dit voelt echt als een PSV-dubbel die eindelijk rendeert op WK-niveau. Pepi 74 min en Dest 81, goeie minuten, tbh.