Jordan Pefok celebrates goal during Concacaf Nations League semifinal. (Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)
Jordan Pefok scored a career-high four goals – two in each half – to power Young Boys to a 5-0 win over host Lugano in a Swiss Super League match on Sunday.
It is rare for any American player to score that many goals in a game, domestically or overseeas. Stat guru Paul Carr said that according to his research, the only other U.S. player to tally that many goals in a European match was Glen Cove, N.Y. native Mike Grella. The former Red Bulls midfielder scored four goals for Brentford in a 2011 Football League Trophy regional quarterfinals.
Jordon Pefok has FOUR goals for Young Boys today. 🇺🇸
So far I've only found one other American with four goals in a European game:
🇺🇸 @MikeGrella10 for Brentford in the 2011 Football League Trophy regional quarterfinals.
— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) December 19, 2021
The U.S. men’s national team forward gave Young Boys a two-goal advantage on goals in the sixth and 21st minutes.
Goal! Jordan Pefok gives Young Boys a 1–0 lead on Lugano pic.twitter.com/ztJZVFrYa4
— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) December 19, 2021
Make it a brace for Pefok inside of 21 minutes! The #USMNT forward gives Young Boys a 2-0 lead on Lugano with both goals so far pic.twitter.com/VUFBMSfOBt
— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) December 19, 2021
After Mohamed Camara increased the margin to 3-0 in the 35th minute, the 25-year Pefok took center stage again. He converted a penalty kick in the 49th minute and closed out the scoring in the 61st minute.
Pefok with 4(!!) goals today for Young Boys! He completed his hat trick with a penalty. Here was his 4th, his best of the day. Young Boys up 5-0 on Lugano #USMNT pic.twitter.com/F8K0Tf9aYy
— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) December 19, 2021
Pefok has 10 goals in 1,097 minutes over 17 league matches for his side.
Young Boys (9-4-5, 32 points) is in third place, trailing Basel (8-1-9, 33) by a point.
