Ricardo Pepi brace inspires incredible KNVB cup win for PSV as USMNT star joins Malik Tillman on scoresheet in wild comeback

PSV refused to go down in a KNVB Cup upset as the club overturned a 2-0 deficit against second-division side Excelsior to advance past the Round of 16, with USMNT's Malik Tillman and Ricardo Pepi playing catalysts.

Trailing by two goals in the 73rd minute, PSV's comeback was initially inspired by Tillman, who pulled the Dutch giants back within one with his 11th goal of the season in all competitions. Excelsior added another goal of their own in the 80th minute. Then Pepi would get going as he popped up with a flicked finish in the 86th minute to cut the score to 3-2.

Ismael Saibari then scored in the seventh minute of stoppage time to send the game to extra time for PSV, where Pepi played hero, scoring in the 101st minute to complete his brace with a fantastic one-on-one finish. Ivan Perisic added another goal to make it 5-3 nine minutes later before Excelsior pulled yet another back in the 117th, but PSV held on to win from there to advance to the next round of the cup with a 5-4 win.

The two goals bring Pepi up to 15 goals on the season in all competitions despite largely serving as Luuk de Jong's backup during that time. He has 10 in under 700 minutes of Eredivisie play, leaving him a Golden Boot contender as PSV pushes for another league title.

Pepi has been linked with transfers all winter long, with sources telling GOAL that clubs in England and France have been after the striker. PSV Director of Football Earnie Stewart told GOAL, though, that the club has no plan to sell Pepi, who remains an integral part of the team's present and future.

Pepi isn't the only American star shining for PSV. As for Tillman, the midfielder has followed up on a breakout nine-goal, 11-assist campaign last season with another strong run this season. He now has 11 goals and three assists in all competitions for PSV.

Fellow American Richy Ledezma was also in PSV's starting XI, going 80 minutes at the right-back spot.

PSV will be back at it on Saturday when they visit PEC Zwolle in their next Eredivisie match. As things stand, they have a four-point lead on second-place Ajax and a seven-point lead on third-place Utrecht.