If someone had asked me close to this time last year which USMNT strikers would go to Qatar I would have had Ricadro Pepi top of mind. Fast forward to present day and the job for the starting striker at the World Cup with the USMNT is there for the taking with several bidders.
Josh Sargent is in the best form of his career, Jordan Pefok has been a menace in front of goal for Union Berlin and Haji Wright is racking up the goals in Turkey. All three USMNT strikers had goal contributions this weekend.
Josh Sargent Does It Again
Sargent has rediscovered his shooting boots and has scored four goals in last three appearances with Norwich. He scored a brace in his last game with the Canaries and on Saturday he got the game-winner against Sunderland.
This man is in form!! Sargent's goal #USMNT pic.twitter.com/JQOY9XuhdJ
— drew (@ItsWhipple) August 27, 2022
Critics had written off Sargent for a spot on the USMNT’s plane to Qatar, but this resurgence could sneak him on the flight. The last time Sargent scored in three-straight games was March 10, 2021, when he was still playing with Werder Bremen.
Jordan Pefok Supplies Two Assists
Perhaps the most in-form striker for the USMNT is Pefok. He and his new club Union Berlin are off to a flying start to the season right on Bayern Munich’s tail in the Bundesliga standings.
Pefok has been scoring goals and becoming supplier. Through five games he has three goals and three assists. Union Berlin torched Schalke on Saturday with a 6-1 victory that saw Pefok get two assists.
The 26-year-old assisted the second and fourth goals for Union Berlin.
2 assists* my bad
— USMNT (@USMNTTAKES) August 27, 2022
Also, people are still working on getting his name correct.
Siebatcheu ? Pefok ? My name is Theoson-Jordan Siebatcheu ! My friends call me Jordy and my best friend is my mum that’s why I play with PEFOK ( or Jordan because she gave me this name and I couldn’t put PEFOK ). It’s easier to say PEFOK than Siebatcheu so now it’s up to you ✌
— Call me PEFOK (@Theosonsmith) August 25, 2022
Haji Wright Continues Hot Form
Wright is on the outside looking in for a spot to Qatar. He’s picked up where he left off last club season and continues to score goals for fun in the Turkish Super Lig. He finished the 2021-22 campaign with nine goals in his last 10 games.
He’s started the 22-23 season with five goals in four games. He added two more to his tally on Friday in a 5-2 defeat to Gaziantep.
GOL | Gaziantep FK 1-1 Antalyaspor
⚽️ 30' Haji WrightMaç Linki ve anlık goller için takip: @GoalHubTR pic.twitter.com/XZmAArj6Wt
— Süper Lig | Anlık goller (@Golsperlig1) August 26, 2022
GOL | Gaziantep FK 1-2 Antalyaspor
⚽️ 42' Haji WrightMaç Linki ve anlık goller için takip: @GoalHubTR pic.twitter.com/bVNlQiRUF4
— Süper Lig | Anlık goller (@Golsperlig1) August 26, 2022
Honorable Mentions
Ricardo Pepi — Pepi got his first start of the season for Augsburg on Saturday but didn’t have too much impact on the game and was taken out in the 56th minute during a 1-0 defeat to Hoffenheim.
Jesús Ferreira — Ferreira has been lethal for FC Dallas with 15 goals in 27 league appearances. He had a slight slump this summer with only three goals in 14 appearances but has bounced back by equaling that goal tally in his previous two games.
Brandon Vazquez — The wildcard. Vazquez has never made an appearance for the USMNT before but it’s hard to ignore his form in MLS. The FC Cincinnati striker actually has a slightly better goal rate than Ferreira with 15 goals in 25 league appearances.
Have fun trying to pick your strikers, Gregg Berhalter.
