USMNT's Ricardo Pepi scores and assists to help PSV get back to their best in a 3-0 win vs. NAC Breda; Malik Tillman and Richy Ledezma also feature

PSV got back to their best in Eredivisie and they have Ricardo Pepi to thank for inspiring a 3-0 win over Nac Breda.

The 21-year-old U.S. international striker scored PSV's first goal off a brilliant assist from Ismael Saibari in front of goal in the 21st minute. Pepi would return the favor in the 33rd minute, creating a chance that Saibari would bury off of a nifty pass. Johan Bakayoko would round off the scoring for the Boeren.

Malik Tillman also started and played 83 minutes for PSV, creating three key passes in the match. Richy Ledezma, who started the season as PSV's starter at right back, saw some rare playing time in the win, coming on in the 83rd minute.

PSV padded their lead on the Dutch top flight table to five points, though two competitors for the No. 1 spot have games in hand. Paxten Aaronson's FC Utrecht are in the No. 2 slot and have a game in hand, while Dutch giants Ajax are eight points back with two games in hand.

Last season, PSV won the Eredivisie by seven points over Feyenoord.

Pepi has a golden opportunity to make some headway in the competition for minutes at the striker position for the USMNT under new manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Top two choices Folarin Balogun and Josh Sargent are out with injury and Pepi is in strong form, when he gets minutes, for PSV. Despite inconsistent playing time and just three starts in 10 matches, Pepi has six goals for his club team. All of these factors point to Pepi likely being named as starter when the U.S. faces Jamaica in the Nations League quarterfinals over the next two weeks.

Tillman didn't get a goal contribution, but looked comfortable as it he continues to be utilized recently in a deeper more central midfield role for PSV. For Ledezma, it's a positive sign for a player who hasn't seen much action since a poor performance against Juventus in 3-1 loss on Sept. 17. The former NYCFC midfielder started PSV's opening six matches as their right back prior to that result and has only seen 101 minutes since that point.

Ricardo Pepi is just the second player in the past 14 seasons to tally multiple goal contributions in each of his first three starts in an Eredivisie campaign, following Vangelis Pavlidis in 2023-24.

Pepi and Tillman will await likely call-ups to the USMNT ahead of the upcoming international break. PSV and their American trio will return to club action on Nov. 23, when they face FC Groningen.