With just seven matches remaining in the Eredivisie season, Groningen slipped closer to relegation following a 3-1 away defeat to Fortuna Sittard on Sunday. They're seven points from safety and looking destined for the Eerste Divisie.
The lone bright spot for Groningen has been 20-year-old American striker Ricardo Pepi, who's on a year-long loan from FC Augsburg. Pepi scored Groningen's lone goal of the match and now has 10 this season to go with three assists.
The club has only managed 26 goals in 27 games, but Pepi has now been involved in 50% of them.
GOALLLLL!
Ricardo Pepi
Fortuna Sittard: 2-1 :FC Groningen#FORGRO #USMNT pic.twitter.com/VNY7rcqeNQ— ' Burak | Dutch League #Eredivisie (@DutchLeagues) April 2, 2023
USMNT international Ricardo Pepi for Groningen today
☑️ 90 min
⚽️ 1 goal
100% dribbles
1 chance created
100% tackles
3 recoveries
⚔️ 5 duels won
✅ 7.9 fotmob rating (team highest)Solid despite the loss pic.twitter.com/sVp4VPm7PG
— Takes (@USMNTTAKES) April 2, 2023
The American is still in the running for the league's top scorer award (the Willy van der Kuijlen Trophy) as Anastasios Douvikas (Utrecht) and Xavi Simons (PSV) lead the way on 13 goals.
Pepi moved to Augsburg from FC Dallas in January of 2022 for $20 million on a contract through the 2025-26 season, and although he'll return to his parent club after the Eredivisie season, it's already been reported that Pepi will leave this summer. The rumored destination is PSV (currently third-place in the Eredivisie).
Augsburg should have no trouble recouping the money spent on Pepi given his output for Groningen and the USMNT. After failing to make the U.S. World Cup roster, the 20-year-old returned to the Nations League squad in March and scored three goals in two games.
INSTANT IMPACT.
The Ricardo Pepi train has left the station.
: @NBCUniverso & @peacock #USAvSLV | #USMNT pic.twitter.com/Bq1aBqDGA2— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) March 28, 2023
