Dest and Pepi on the road to glory—what does this do to transfer values?
1 min readIn Mexico, Team USA with PSV players Ricardo Pepi and Sergino Dest is also certain of a place in the next round of the 2026 World Cup. In Seattle, the United States convincingly took care of business against Australia (2-0), with Pepi playing 74 minutes and Dest being taken off after 81 minutes.
After beginning as a substitute in the match against Paraguay, Pepi was this time in the starting lineup due to an injury to star player Christian Pulisic. Pulisic picked up an injury in the first match and was not fit enough to be active against the Socceroos.
Meanwhile, Dest was in the starting lineup for the second time and the right-back was dangerous several times on the right side and also had a number of good actions up his sleeve. In the eleventh minute, the team of head coach Maurico Pochettino took the lead after a smooth attack down the left flank, which ultimately ended up as an own goal scored by defender Cameron Burgess.
In contrast to the first group match against Turkey (2-0), Australia failed to make a fist against the Americans, who clearly were the better team despite there not really being any big chances created. The team led by coach Tony Popovic did not really get many great chances and was simply just a bit too small for the United States.
Before the break, Team USA went into a well-deserved 2-0 lead, with a major role played by Sergino Dest. Dest received the ball after a quick free kick from the right side of the pitch, after which the PSV player decided to strike out.
He destined his shot to be blocked and eventually teammate Alexander Freeman managed to head home the 2-0 against the ropes, after which Freeman was flagged offside. In the replay, however, it turned out the defender was not offside and the goal was nonetheless allowed by the German referee Felix Zwayer.
After halftime, 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 Pool D, and in addition the Americans have a goal difference of +5, which means the next round is assured.
Comments5
2-0 in Seattle, geen echte kansen voor Australië, dan was het gewoon efficiënt. Met zes punten en doelsaldo +5 is 'bijna zeker' echt understatement, dit ruikt naar doorpakken.
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.