USMNT star Ricardo Pepi reacts to ‘crazy’ denial of historic hat-trick – with contentious call in huge PSV win preventing striker from claiming first match ball in Europe

The 21-year-old striker left his homeland in January 2022 when completing a move from MLS outfit FC Dallas to Augsburg in the Bundesliga. From there, he has gone on to spend time in the Netherlands with Groningen before joining Eredivisie champions in Eindhoven on a permanent basis.

Pepi has had to be patient in pursuit of starting berths in the Dutch top-flight, but has taken his goal tally in 2024-25 to five through 11 appearances. He was on target in a thumping 6-0 win over Zwolle that has maintained PSV’s perfect record through 10 league games this season.

Pepi netted twice inside an hour and thought that he had completed his treble – securing a first match ball since leaving the United States – when hitting the net again in the 71st minute. His header deflected off goalkeeper Jasper Schendelaar and went down as an own goal – leaving Pepi to post on social media: “No hattrick is crazy!”

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Pepi, who has scored 11 goals through 31 appearances for the USMNT, last netted a hat-trick in July 2021 during his days in Dallas – with those exploits coming against the LA Galaxy. He will hope that there are many more opportunities to break his duck in Europe, with his contract at PSV running until 2028.