WATCH: USMNT’s Sergiño Dest nets goal as PSV thrash Sparta Rotterdam in Eredivisie opener, while Ricardo Pepi sits out under recovery plan

U.S. men's national team defender Sergino Dest and PSV began their Eredivisie title defense with a bang on Saturday as they walloped Sparta Rotterdam 4-0, with Dest scoring their third of the day in a dominant showing from Peter Bosz's side. 

PSV opened the scoring just three minutes in through Ruben Van Bommel before Ivan Perisic doubled it in the 40th minute. Come first half stoppage time, Dest combined for a beautiful team goal inside the box, smashing the ball in to make it 3-0 on the verge of the halfway mark. 

Attacker Joey Veerman added a fourth five minutes into the second half, and two more goals came from Guus Til and Yarek Gasiorowski, while Sparta earned a brief goal back midway through.

Dest missed the majority of the 2024-25 season due to a torn ACL he suffered in the spring of 2024, but returned in March, only to suffer a few minor setbacks across the spring calendar. He was selected as part of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup roster with the USMNT, but had to pull out due to injury.

This September, the 2022 FIFA World Cup veteran will look to return to the national team and make an appearance under Mauricio Pochettino when the U.S. hosts Korea and Japan in a pair of international friendlies.

Meanwhile, fellow American Ricardo Pepi was not named to the teamsheet for the matchday as he continues to recover from an injury that held him out from January through July of this year. 

PSV return to the pitch next Sunday when they take on FC Twente on Matchday 2 of the season.