The very best information to return out of the weekend for Mauricio Pochettino and the U.S. males’s nationwide group was not Ricardo Pepi’s scoring type or Sergiño Dest’s second of brilliance. (Extra on that later.) No, Pochettino was undoubtedly most heartened by the sight of and in a Premier League beginning lineup for the primary time since Could.
Getting back from a persistent knee concern, the veteran left again overcame a rocky begin to assist arrange a purpose as a part of a 90-minute effort in — their first win at Turf Moor in 74 years.
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“I didn’t have any doubts,” Fulham supervisor Marco Silva stated. “He’s an ideal athlete. We all know what he’s able to, and he confirmed that. He’s an important participant for us.”
Robinson had not performed since a short look towards Aston Villa on Sept. 28. Throughout all competitions, his earlier begin got here Sept. 23 towards fourth-tier Cambridge United within the League Cup, however by way of the Premier League, his absence from the lineup went again to the Could 25 season finale towards Manchester Metropolis.
Robinson — who hasn’t performed for the U.S. group in additional than a yr — was known as into U.S. camp in October however suffered a setback and didn’t play within the two friendlies. Subsequently, he was unavailable for final month’s camp.
Antonee Robinson performed 90 minutes and helped arrange a purpose in his first Premier League begin since Could, a welcome sight for the U.S. males’s nationwide group.
(Alex Livesey through Getty Pictures)
Ought to Robinson stay wholesome and achieve common enjoying time within the coming months, Pochettino appears sure to summon him to the March camp in Atlanta for friendlies towards Belgium and Portugal. It’s the final meeting earlier than Pochettino names his World Cup squad in late Could — two weeks earlier than the match begins.
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In Robinson’s absence, Pochettino has turned to the Columbus Crew’s Max Arfsten, and lesser so, Holstein Kiel’s John Tolkin, on the left facet. In his first yr on the nationwide group, Arfsten has rewarded Pochettino’s religion with a rising confidence to get ahead and contribute to the assault.
Arfsten was second on the U.S. group in matches performed this yr with 16, one behind Actual Salt Lake attacker Diego Luna, and tied for first with New York Metropolis FC goalkeeper Matt Freese in begins (13). Robinson’s expertise, although, would supply a notable edge to start out the World Cup opener towards Paraguay — if, after all, he’s wholesome.
Elsewhere in Europe …
Netherlands
Pepi, who’s vying for considered one of most likely three U.S. striker slots subsequent summer season, transformed a Twentieth-minute penalty kick to increase his scoring streak to 4 matches as first-place .
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In keeping with , Pepi is the primary Dutch-based U.S. nationwide group participant to attain in 4 straight in all competitions since Aron Johannsson for AZ Alkmaar in 2013-14.
A sub most of his injury-pocked season, Pepi has began three consecutive Eredivisie matches, every with a purpose. His different rating throughout the streak got here as a sub towards Atlético Madrid within the Champions League.
Pepi isn’t the one American thriving at PSV. Dest, the beginning proper again, made a superb reducing run within the 81st minute to arrange Guus Til’s successful purpose because the membership improved to 14-1-1 and elevated its result in 9 factors over Feyenoord.
Italy
Christian Pulisic logged 73 minutes in , a disappointing outcome that left it some extent behind new frontrunner Inter Milan however, nonetheless, stretched the membership’s unbeaten streak in league play to 14.
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Pulisic ought to have been credited together with his eighth Serie A purpose within the 57th minute, however his deflection contained in the 6-yard field was annulled by a on a teammate.
Coming off one other Champions League purpose, midfielder Weston McKennie performed 90 as .
Midfielder Yunus Musah entered within the 66th minute of .
In Serie B, goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann began once more as third-place Cesena staged a two-goal comeback and edged Mantova 3-2 to tug inside some extent of automated promotion.
England
Middle again Chris Richards and fifth-place Crystal Palace couldn’t cease Erling Haaland, the Manchester Metropolis large who scored twice in a 3-0 consequence.
Midfielder Brendan Aaronson entered within the 73rd minute as . In seventeenth place, Leeds is three factors above the relegation zone.
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Midfielder Tyler Adams is predicted to return from a yellow card suspension Monday for .
Within the second-flight Championship, ahead Haji Wright performed 81 minutes and contributed to the purpose as maintained its five-point lead over Middlesbrough with .
Middlesbrough midfielder Aidan Morris (leg harm) missed his fourth consecutive match. Norwich Metropolis ahead Josh Sargent (six objectives, three assists) was sidelined with a concussion, suffered final week. Ahead Patrick Agyemang (three objectives, three assists) and Derby County go to last-place Sheffield Wednesday on Monday.
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Germany
After sporting a low profile, midfielder Gio Reyna is getting alternatives with Mönchengladbach. His third consecutive begin, although, lasted simply 57 minutes in a 3-1 house loss to Wolfsburg. His first-half cross led to his membership’s solely rating — a.
Coach Eugen Polaski has been usually happy with Reyna’s progress, saying Friday, “We needed to step by step combine him extra and generate extra enjoying time. For that to occur, it was essential that Gio embraced it the way in which he did. I’ve not often seen a coaching session from him that I wasn’t glad with, and I’ve not too long ago seen values I hadn’t seen earlier than.”
Joe Scally, Reyna’s membership and nation teammate, served a yellow-card suspension.
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Midfielder Malik Tillman acquired excessive marks for his 86-minute effort in fourth-place .
Middle again Noahkai Banks performed 90 minutes in Augsburg’s 1-0 loss at Eintracht Frankfurt, whereas midfielder James Sands did the identical as third-to-last St. Pauli edged next-to-last Heidenheim 2-1.
Within the second division, Tolkin went 90 as Holstein Kiel scored late to attract at Magdeburg 3-3.
France
Olympique Marseille’s Tim Weah and Monaco’s Folarin Balogun went face to face, with each enjoying 90 minutes. Within the 1-0 consequence, Marseille scored the late winner at house a couple of minute after video replay disallowed Balogun’s obvious purpose for being offside. Early within the second half, Balogun was dominated offside on Lamine Camara’s obvious purpose.
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Middle again Mark McKenzie helped Toulouse publish its second consecutive shutout, blanking Paris FC 3-0.
Olympique Lyonnais midfielder-defender Tanner Tessmann remained sidelined with a thigh harm, lacking a 1-0 victory over Le Havre.
Others
Within the Scottish League Cup closing, heart again Auston Trusty performed 90 minutes in Celtic’s 3-1 loss to lowly St. Mirren — the third consecutive defeat below new coach Wilfried Nancy.
In Spain’s La Liga, Atlético Madrid midfielder Johnny Cardoso was in uniform however didn’t play in a 2-1 victory over Valencia — the third time in 4 matches he hasn’t gotten off the bench.
