USMNT's Ricardo Pepi nets PSV hat trick to top scoring charts

United States striker Ricardo Pepi continued his rich vein of scoring form, netting a hat trick in PSV Eindhoven's 5-0 victory over FC Groningen in the Dutch Eredivisie Saturday.

Pepi, who scored for the U.S. in both legs of its Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal win over Jamaica in the recent international break, has now scored six goals in his past four appearances for club and country.

His hat trick put the 21-year-old top of the Eredivisie scoring charts, level on nine goals with FC Twente's Sem Steijn. Pepi has amassed that total despite starting just four times in his 12 appearances in the Netherlands' top division.

PSV top the standings, eight points clear of second-placed Utrecht but having played two games more.

Olivier Boscagli and Guus Til got the first and third goals for PSV, but it was Pepi who stole the show against the team he played for on loan during the 2022-23 season.

His first goal, in the 37th minute, was a superb solo effort, sprinting in from the right touchline and driving into the penalty area before chipping the ball over the Groningen goalkeeper.

Pepi's second came in the 64th minute, after beating a defender and finding the bottom corner of the net. And the former FC Dallas starlet completed his hat trick with 12 minutes remaining with a well-placed header from 6 yards out.