Jordan Pefok is clearly determined to make Gregg Berhalter’s job as hard as possible.
Just days after USMNT head coach Berhalter omitted Pefok from his latest roster, the Union Berlin forward continued his fantastic start to life in the Bundesliga with a goal against Wolfsburg.
The 26-year-old opened the scoring on Sunday with a glancing header, his third Bundesliga goal of the season and his fourth in all competitions.
Union Berlin would go on to win the match 2-0, in the process reclaiming first place in the Bundesliga. It was enough to give the team’s social media admin some justifiable fuel for a cheeky nod at the forward’s recent USMNT snub.
đź‘‹ @USMNT
— 1. FC Union Berlin (@fcunion) September 18, 2022
Berhalter has been adamant that the door isn’t closed on players who didn’t make his roster for September’s friendlies against Japan and Saudi Arabia, the final squad he will name before his 26-man World Cup roster.
Asked about Pefok specifically, the USMNT coach said: “We’re pretty confident we know Jordan’s profile, we know what he can do. And we didn’t feel like we needed to see him in this camp to determine whether he can be on the [World Cup] roster or not.”
Berhalter also made an appearance at halftime of ESPN’s broadcast of the Portland Timbers vs. Columbus Crew on Sunday, and was asked again about Pefok following his goal against Wolfsburg.
The USMNT coach didn’t sound like someone ready to reconsider the striker, instead saying his only path to a World Cup spot would likely be through injury to another player.
“When guys get in camp, there will probably be five players that were expected to be on the roster that couldn’t take part because of injury,” Berhalter said.
“So what I would say is that there probably will be an opportunity for guys that aren’t in this camp just because of attrition. And that’s something we’re expecting to happen. We hope it doesn’t, but it’s likely based on what’s happened in the past.”
Watch Pefok’s goal vs. Wolfsburg
#USMNT This is an elite goal from Pefok.
The timing of his run to arrive as the ball is being crossed and then a delicate header to the back post.
Biggest omission from USA roster for sure. In form and firing on all cylinders. pic.twitter.com/ycsc8ifBLL
— Stu Holden (@stuholden) September 18, 2022
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