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USMNT REWIND: Miles Robinson Scores First MLS Goal to Lift Atlanta United into the Playoffs

By: Michael Lewis

There's a first time for everything and Miles Robinson could not have picked a better moment.

 

The U.S. Men's National Team center back scored his first Major League Soccer goal to ignite Atlanta United's 2-1 comeback victory at FC Cincinnati on Sunday. The win boosted Atlanta into the MLS Cup Playoffs.

 

With the visitors trailing in the 70th minute, Ezequiel Barco placed his corner kick into the center of the box, where Robinson’s header re-directed it into the top left corner for a 1-1 deadlock. Josef Martinez scored the game-winner nine minutes later.

 

 

 

Atlanta (13-9-12, 51 points) finished in fifth place in the Eastern Conference and will play at New York City FC in the first round of the postseason later month.

 

Robinson already has three goals for the USA under his belt, having found the net three times in 14 appearances. In fact, the 24-year-old defender has scored all his international goals this year. His best-known goal was in extratime to boost the USA to a 1-0 win over Mexico in the Concacaf Gold Cup final on Aug. 1.

 

Unlike the rest of his teammates, Robinson didn’t have to travel that far for training camp, as it is in Cincinnati. The USMNT meets Mexico in a World Cup qualifier at TQL Stadium on Friday (ESPN2, Univision, TUDN), before traveling to Jamaica to close out the window on Nov. 16.

 

 

HOT FINISH

 

Attacker Jesús Ferreira finished his season on a positive note, assisting on FC Dallas' lone goal in a 1-1 draw at the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday. A long pass from Ferreira set up Jader Obrian, who beat goalkeeper Daniel Vega in the 42nd minute. Ferreira, who collected two goals and three assists in his final six matches, accumulated eight goals and nine assists over 27 games.

 

 

 

 

FINISHING ON TOP

 

Kellyn Acosta helped the Colorado Rapids jump start their surprising 5-2 win over the Los Angeles FC and secure the MLS Western Conference crown on Sunday. The midfielder set up the first of Jonathan Lewis' two goals in the 18th minute. Acosta ran down the left side before sending the ball into the penalty area to Lewis, who tallied for a 1-0 lead. Acosta finished the season with a goal and two assists.

 

 

 

The Rapids (17-7-10, 61) surprised many observers and pundits as they edged Seattle Sounders FC (17-8-9, 60) to finish on top of the Western Conference.

 

 

ACORSS THE POND

 

Defender Antonee Robinson went the entire way while helping Fulham record two clean sheets in the English Championship this past week. He earned an assist in a 7-0 win over the Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday before helping his side to a 1-0 victory at Peterborough United on Saturday. Second-place Fulham (12-3-2, 36) trails AFC Bournemouth (12-1-4, 40) by two points.

 

Midfielder Weston McKennnie also went 90 minutes in both of Juventus' wins in two competitions. Juve beat Zenit in the UEFA Champions League, 4-2, on Tuesday and edged Fiorentina, 1-0, in Italy's Serie A on Saturday.

 

Midfielder Tyler Adams did not enjoy a perfect week, but he had an undefeated one. On Wednesday, he played 74 minutes in a 2-2 draw with Paris St-Germain in the Champions League before going the entire 90 minutes in a 2-1 home victory over Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga.

 

 

FULL RUNDOWN

 

 -- Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 90 minutes and an ASSIST in 5-2 win vs. Los Angeles FC (Nov. 7)

 

-- Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig; German Bundesliga) – 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Borussia Dortmund (Nov. 6); 74 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. Paris St-Germain in UCL (Nov. 3)

 

-- Brenden Aaronson (Red Bull Salzburg; Austria Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win at Austria Vienna (Nov. 6); 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Wolfsburg in UCL (Nov. 2)

 

-- Paul Arriola (D.C. United; MLS) - 61 minutes in 3-1 win at Toronto FC (Nov. 7)

 

-- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes in 3-2 win vs. Roma (Nov. 7)

 

-- Reggie Cannon (Boavista; Portuguese Primeira) – 58 minutes and a RED CARD in 5-2 loss vs. Famalicao (Nov. 5)

 

-- Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; MLS) – 90 minutes and an ASSIST in 1-1 draw at San Jose Earthquakes (Nov. 7)

 

-- Sean Johnson (New York City FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Philadelphia Union (Nov. 7)

 

-- Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; MLS) - 90 minutes and a GOAL IN 3-3 draw vs. Minnesota United (Nov. 7); 63 minutes in 1-1 draw at Seattle Sounders FC (Nov. 1)

 

-- Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italian Serie A) – 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Fiorentina (Nov. 6); 90 minutes in 4-2 win vs. Zenit in UCL (Nov. 2)

 

-- Mark McKenzie (Genk; Belgian Pro League) - In 18, DNP in 2-0 win vs. Cercle Brugge (Nov. 7); In 18, DNP in 2-2 draw vs. West Ham United in Europa League (Nov. 4)

 

-- Yunus Musah (Valencia; Spain La Liga) - 25 minutes as a substitute in 3-1 loss vs. Atletico Madrid (Nov. 7)

 

-- Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas; MLS) - 78 minutes in 1-1 draw at San Jose Earthquakes (Nov. 7)

 

-- Chris Pulisic (Chelsea; English Premier League) 5 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw vs. Burnley (Nov. 6); 16 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win at Malmo in UCL (Nov. 2)

 

-- Chris Richards (Hoffenheim; German Bundesliga) - 26 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 loss at Bochum (Nov. 6)

 

-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win at Peterborough United (Nov. 6); 90 minutes and an ASSIST in 7-0 win at Blackburn Rovers (Nov. 3)

 

-- Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; MLS) - 90 minutes and a GOAL IN 2-1 win at FC Cincinnati (Nov. 7); 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at New York Red Bulls (Nov. 3)

 

-- Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (Nov. 7); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at LA Galaxy (Nov. 1)

 

-- Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Mainz (Nov. 5)

 

-- Zack Steffen (Manchester City; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 2-0 win at Manchester United (Nov. 6); In 18, DNP in 4-1 win vs. Clube Brugge in UCL (Nov. 3)

 

-- Matt Turner (New England Revolution; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Inter Miami CF (Nov. 7)

 

-- Sam Vines (Royal Antwerp; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Anderlecht (Nov. 7); 90 minutes in 3-0 loss vs. Fenerbahce in Europa League (Nov. 4)

 

-- Tim Weah (Lille; French Ligue 1) - 15 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw vs/ Angers (Nov. 6); 72 minutes in 2-1 win at Sevilla in UCL (Nov. 2) 

 

-- DeAndre Yedlin (Galatasaray; Turkish Super Lig) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Fatih Karagümrük (Nov. 7); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Lokomotiv Moscow in Europa League (Nov. 4)

 

-- Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; MLS) -

Go Deeper

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