The U.S. men’s national team suffered two heart-in-mouth moments Sunday.
Defender Chris Richards and midfielder Brenden Aaronson suffered what appear to be minor injuries while playing for their clubs in the English Premier League.
The good news for the USMNT is that neither appear all too serious.
Richards, who might be the player the Americans can least afford injury to given their lack of defensive depth, stayed in the game for Crystal Palace after colliding with Brentford’s Igor Thiago, but needed help getting off the field at the end of the 2-2 draw.
“He twisted his ankle,” Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner told reporters following the game. “I think he got Thiago landing on his ankle and then it twisted. It’s quite swollen, so we have to assess it further, but hopefully he can return midweek.”
Palace finish out their Premier League campaign this coming Sunday against title-hopefuls Arsenal before playing in the Europa Conference League final May 27 against Rayo Vallecano.
With the U.S. roster announcement set for the 26th at an event in lower Manhattan, Richards will presumably join the team in Atlanta, where it will begin camp.
As for Aaronson, the Medford, N.J. native was taken off in the 59th minute of Leeds United’s eventual 1-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion with what manager Daniel Farke called a “dead leg.”
“He was, even at halftime, on the bike trying to keep going,” Farke told reporters. “It normally lasts a few days, but it was getting tighter and tighter. He should be all right for the next game.”
Leeds play next on Sunday at West Ham United.
Injury worries aside, the biggest ongoing story for the U.S. continues to be Christian Pulisic’s goal drought.
After sitting out Milan’s loss to Atalanta last weekend for precautionary reasons, Pulisic came off the bench and played 14 minutes in its 2-1 win over Genoa on Sunday.
He did assist Christopher Nkunku’s game-winner, and had a close-range shot saved in added time, but the goal drought continued.
The assist was only Pulisic’s second goal contribution since the calendar flipped to 2026. His last goal came Dec. 28, 2025 against Torino.
Next week’s match against Cagliari is Pulisic’s last chance to break his duck before heading to the national team.
Right back Sergiño Dest started and played the full 90 minutes for PSV Eindhoven in a 5-1 win over FC Twente, picking up a yellow card.
It was Dest’s second start, and first time going the distance, since a hamstring injury in early March.
Ricardo Pepi also put in a goal for PSV, continuing a red-hot streak that’s seen him score six times in five games for the Dutch champions.
Right back Antonee Robinson scored his first goal of the season, converting a spot-kick for Fulham. … Center back Auston Trusty was taken off after 73 nervy minutes and picked up a yellow card in Celtic’s title-deciding win over Hearts. … Winger Zavier Gozo, who is making a late run at inclusion in the squad, scored for Real Salt Lake in its win over the Rapids.
Joe Scally played 90 minutes for Borussia Mönchengladbach as Gio Reyna came off the bench for the last 23 minutes of a 4-0 win over Hoffenheim. … Center back Tim Ream was rested by Charlotte FC with what the team called load management.
Malik Tillman was back in Bayer Leverkusen’s starting lineup for the first time since the March international window, playing 62 minutes and recording a shot on target in a 1-1 draw against Hamburg. … Weston McKennie played the full 90 for Juventus in a 2-0 loss to Fiorentina.
Folarin Balogun recorded five shots, but just one on target and no goals across 76 minutes in Monaco’s 5-4 loss to Strasbourg. … Tim Weah notched 88 minutes for Marseille in a 3-1 win over Rennes. … Mark McKenzie played 22 minutes for Toulouse before its match against Nantes was abandoned due to a pitch invasion.
