Sergino Dest started and played 90 minutes as PSV picked up a massive win in the Champions League on Wednesday.
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Dest starts for PSVPepi and Tillman come off benchPSV pick up huge win
Led by a goal from Luuk de Jong, PSV took down Lens, 1-0, to earn three crucial points in the fourth game of the Champions League group stage. Dest started the match at left-back, continuing to play a key part for the Dutch side.
His U.S. men's national team teammates, Malik Tillman and Ricardo Pepi, were named to the bench, with both coming on in the second half of the big win.
Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?
PSV took the lead early and never looked back, seizing a crucial Champions League win in the process.
The goal came in the 12th minute with De Jong providing a trademark header on a cross from Johan Bakayoko. De Jong's finish was his second in the competition as he continues to hold off Pepi for starting minutes.
Dest was the lone starter of the USMNT contingent, as he once again featured as an inverted left-back playing behind Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano. Tillman, meanwhile, came in midway through the second half, replacing Guus Til, while Pepi joined the fray as a 90th-minute sub to help kill the game.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
With the win, PSV have given themselves a chance at escaping from a competitive Group B.
As things stand, they sit second in the group on five points, four points behind leaders Arsenal. They're level with Lens, with Sevilla bottom on just two points after these four matches.
PSV will still need to visit Sevilla before hosting Arsenal in their final two games, but the Dutch side do have their fate in their hands after four massive Champions League matches.
GettyUSMNT IMPACT
Not much has changed for the USMNT contingent, with all three having pretty defined spots in the hierarchy at this point.
Dest has the flexibility to play on either the left or the right and has gotten games on both sides this year. Tillman is very much in the mix to start as an attacking midfielder, even if he didn't in this one. Pepi, meanwhile, is very much a backup for this team, having not gotten many minutes in recent weeks.
Pepi's situation will be the most concerning, as it'll take either an injury to De Jong or a huge downswing in form from the striker for the American to get minutes. Pepi will have to make the most out of whatever chances he gets, as he is currently second choice for both club and country.
Getty ImagesGOAL'S RATINGS
Sergino Dest (6/10):
Had a few okay moments and was better than usual defensively, but he just never feels quite as effective when played on the left-hand side.
Malik Tillman (6/10):
Didn't get too many chances to make things happen after coming on, with PSV relatively content to protect their 1-0 advantage.
Ricardo Pepi (N/A):
Didn't get into the match until the 90th minute as Peter Bosz didn't rock the boat with subs until it was time-wasting time.