Americans Abroad Five: USMNT attackers keep club momentum after break

The FIFA window can be a double-edged sword for international players.

On one hand, the chance to represent their country and in this window, make their final cases for World Cup inclusion, is always a major opportunity.

But for players in form with their clubs, it can also serve as a momentum-halter.

Luckily for two Americans Abroad, the international break did nothing to slow down their positive runs. For Malik Tillman and Folarin Balogun , as well as their U.S. teammates, the next few weeks will be vital at the club level as Mauricio Pochettino closes in on naming his World Cup squad at the end of May.

This week's Five kicks off with two players who impressed on either side of the March window.

Folarin Balogun scores stunner

Folarin Balogun had a fairly quiet international break, but he picked up right where he left off on his return to club action.

The Monaco forward made it eight goals in his last eight games on Sunday, April 5, with a second-half strike in a crucial 2-1 win over Tim Weah and Marseille.

This one was probably Balogun's best of the season. The striker pounced on a loose ball, used his pace to blow past a defender and then, at full speed, produced an audacious chip from the side of the box that perfectly lobbed the goalkeeper.

"I told him that it was one of the most beautiful goals I’ve ever seen in my career," Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara said after the game.

That's now 16 goals on the season for Balogun. It's unlikely he'll score a better one.

Malik Tillman makes it two straight

Much like Balogun, Malik Tillman has also continued a scoring run from one side of the international break to the other.

Tillman found the net late in Bayer Leverkusen 's 6-3 win over Wolfsburg on Saturday, April 4, following on from his goal in a draw against Heidenheim prior to the break.

Much of the credit for Tillman's goal has to go to Ernest Poku , who blew by two defenders before setting the American up for a close-range finish.

Tillman is now up to eight total goals in his debut campaign with Leverkusen. The 23-year-old hasn't always impressed after making a €40 million move from PSV, but he's starting to find some form at the business end of the season.

Brenden Aaronson helps Leeds reach Wembley

Brenden Aaronson wasn't in the lineup for Leeds' FA Cup quarterfinal with West Ham on Sunday but when he came in, the American made a big difference.

Aaronson replaced the injured Anton Stach just before halftime with Leeds up 1-0. The midfielder made a telling contribution in the second half, winning a penalty that Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted to double the lead.

West Ham found two late goals to take the match into extra time and eventually penalties, where Aaronson converted his spot kick to help Leeds win the shootout.

Though he hasn't managed to maintain the blistering form he enjoyed near the turn of the year, Aaronson is still producing for a Leeds side that has now reached the FA Cup semifinal for the first time in 39 years.

PSV crowned champion again

For the third consecutive year, Ricardo Pepi and Sergiño Dest have won the Eredivisie with PSV.

This time around, it wasn't even close. PSV's win over Utrecht combined with Feyenoord's draw with Volendam clinched the title for PSV with five league matches to spare.

Both Pepi and Dest have been key contributors once again for PSV, with Dest a regular starter before going down with a hamstring injury a month ago and Pepi netting 13 goals.

This may have been the last season with PSV for one or both players, who have been linked with moves abroad. Pepi was on the verge of joining Fulham last month before the deal collapsed at the 11th hour. If either of them leaves, their place in club history is already secured.

Auston Trusty regains starting role

After a strong performance in a 2-0 loss to Portugal, Auston Trusty regained some much-needed club momentum upon his return to Celtic.

Trusty was restored to Celtic's lineup after missing three games due to a red-card suspension, starting in a 2-1 win over Dundee on Sunday. The defender put in a strong shift, winning four duels and tallying eight clearances and five defensive recoveries.

The 27-year-old has been a regular starter for Celtic for much of this season, and will need to maintain his spot as he chases a World Cup roster berth.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Americans Abroad: USMNT stars Balogun and Tillman keep momentum