USMNT REWIND: Antonee Robinson, Sergiño Dest Turn in Strong Performances at the Weekend

Oh, baby, what a memorable 10 days for Antonee Robinson.

The Fulham FC left back helped anchor a pair of key home FIFA World Cup Qualifying wins for the U.S. Men's National Team before becoming an offensive spark off the bench for his English Championship Club on Saturday.

The 24-year-old defender was given a breather from starting after traveling across the Atlantic two days prior, but was pressed into action in the 58th minute when Joe Bryan suffered an injury with the game knotted up at 1-1.

Not only did Robinson help the Cottagers keep Queens Park Rangers off the scoreboard the rest of the way, he had a say in two goals while putting the punctuation on the final one in a 4-1 triumph.

In the 67th minute, Robinson started the scoring sequence on Aleksandar Mitrovic’s second goal of the match, feeding Neeskens Kebano from the left side. Kebano then found Mitrovic, who scored to make it 2-1.

BABY ON THE WAY!

A day after making public that his firstborn is on the way in December, @Antonee_Jedi scored to cap @FulhamFC's 4-1 win vs. QPR...The celebration was appropriate. 👼

🎥: @SkyFootballpic.twitter.com/VMscATDloW

— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 16, 2021

Leading 3-1 a minute into second half stoppage time, Robinson connected on his first goal of the season off a long-range blast that deflected off a defender and past goalkeeper Seny Dieng to put a bow on the game.

During his goal celebration, Robinson put his right thumb in his mouth and ball under his shirt, indicating that he and his wife Darcy were expecting their first child. On Friday, Robinson revealed that the due date was Dec. 12.

USMNT and Fulham teammate Tim Ream went the full 90 minutes in the win after missing out on the recent qualifying camp due to family reasons. Robinson played the full 90 minutes in 2-1 home victories over Jamaica on Oct. 7 and over Costa Rica on Oct. 13.

DEST AND BELLO DELIVER

USMNT defender Sergiño Dest picked up where he left off in WCQ, assisting on Barcelona's final goal in its 3-1 home victory over Valencia in Spain's La Liga on Sunday. Fresh off his man of the match performance against Costa Rica -- a scintillating goal and an assist – Dest lined up as a right winger and was dangerous throughout the game before setting up Phillipe Coutinho's goal in the 85th minute.

 

DEST TO COUTINHO 😤

BARCELONA UP 3-1. pic.twitter.com/oN3nYMocW7

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 17, 2021

 

 

Dest wasn't the only USMNT defender that helped influence his team's attack.

On Saturday, George Bello assisted on Luiz Araújo's goal in Atlanta's 2-0 victory at Toronto FC. With the game scoreless two minutes into first-half injury time, Bello helped originate the play as he combined with Ezequiel Barco and Marcelino Moreno as the visitors worked the ball down the left flank. Bello received a pass near the end line of the penalty area and crossed it to Araújo, who lobbed an effort over Alex Bono.

 

A perfect way to end the half 💯

Well done, Luiz Araújo! pic.twitter.com/1uBeUduuhQ

— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) October 17, 2021

BRACE FOR ZARDES

Gyasi Zardes made a triumphant return to the Columbus Crew after the WCQ window, nodding home two goals in a 4-0 home win over Inter Miami on Saturday night. Zardes opened the scoring when he flicked home a Pedro Santos feed to beat goalkeeper Nick Marsman in the 39th minute. On the other side of halftime, the USMNT striker got up to head home another cross from Santos to give the home side a 3-0 lead in the 64^th minute. Zardes has nine goals in 20 regular season matches for Columbus this season.

 

.@gyasinho got 🆙 for two more goals last night with @ColumbusCrew. pic.twitter.com/AHsIIYhfFV

— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 17, 2021

KEEPING IT CLEAN

Due to quarantine requirements for Ederson after returning from World Cup Qualifying duty with Brazil, USMNT goalkeeper Zack Steffen made a rare league start for Manchester City on Saturday. Three days after backstopping the USA to a 2-1 WCQ win against Costa Rica, Steffen made two saves to keep the clean sheet in City’s 2-0 home win against Burnley.

Big 3 points! Thanks for your support 💙 pic.twitter.com/XcAhu7VIaa

— Zack Steffen (@zacksteffen_) October 16, 2021

GAME-WINNER

Timing as they say, can be mean everything in life and midfielder Christian Cappis' timing could not have been any better to lift Brøndby to a 3-2 win against Vejle in the Danish Superliga on Sunday. After coming on as a substitute just after the hour mark, Cappis made the most of his limited playing time by striking home the game-winner from the top of the area in the 85th minute. The goal was Cappis’ second this season for the Danish Superliga side.

Christian Cappis ⚽️🟡🔵 proud father? @jaycappis ❤️‍🔥 #brøndby #brøndbyif #bif #bifvb #biflive #sldk pic.twitter.com/35JFSGu801

— Brondbybiased (@brondbybiased) October 17, 2021

FULL RUNDOWN

 -- Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - Not in 18, DNP in 3-1 loss at Real Salt Lake (Oct. 16)

 

-- Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig; German Bundesliga) – Not in 18, DNP in 1-1 draw at Freiburg (Oct. 16)

 

-- Brenden Aaronson (Red Bull Salzburg; Austria Bundesliga) - Not in 18, DNP in 1-1 draw at Rheindorf Altach (Oct. 16)

 

-- Paul Arriola (D.C. United; MLS) - Not in 18, DNP in 0-0 draw vs. Nashville SC (Oct. 16)

 

-- George Bello (Atlanta United; MLS) - 90 minutes and ASSIST in 2-0 win at Toronto FC (Oct. 16)

 

-- Tyler Boyd (Rizespor; Turkish Super Lig) - 12 minutes and a RED CARD in 2-0 loss at Giresunspor (Oct. 16)

 

-- John Brooks (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Union Berlin (Oct. 16)

 

-- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italy Serie A) - vs. Fiorentina, Monday, 2:45 p.m. ET (Oct. 16)

 

-- Reggie Cannon (Boavista; Portuguese Primeira) – 65 minutes in 4-0 loss at Rio Ave in Taca de Portugal (Oct. 17)

 

-- Christian Cappis (Brondby; Danish Superliga) - 27 minutes as a substitute and a GOAL in 3-2 win vs. Vejle (Oct. 17)

 

-- Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; Brazilian Serie A) – 70 minutes in 1-0 loss at Palmeiras (Oct. 17); 4 minutes as a substitute in 3-1 win vs. America Mineiro (Oct. 13)

 

-- Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win at Motherwell (Oct. 16)

 

-- Konrad de la Fuente (Marseille; French Ligue 1) - 75 minutes in 4-1 win vs. Lorient (Oct. 17)

 

-- Luca de la Torre (Heracles; Dutch Eredivisie) - Not in 18, DNP in 4-2 loss at Go Ahead Eagles (Oct. 16)

 

-- Sergiño Dest (Barcelona; Spain La Liga) - 87 minutes and an ASSIST in 3-1 win vs. Valencia (Oct. 17)

 

-- Daryl Dike (Orlando City SC; MLS) - 71 minutes in 1-0 win at FC Cincinnati (Oct. 16)

 

-- Nicholas Gioacchini (Montpellier; French Ligue 1) – 7 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win vs. Lens (Oct. 17)

 

-- Julian Green (Greuther Fürth; German Bundesliga) – 23 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 loss vs. Bochum (Oct. 16)

 

-- Brad Guzan (Atlanta United) - 90 minutes and SHUTOUT in 2-0 win at Toronto FC (Oct. 16)

 

- Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; MLS) – 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Minnesota United (Oct. 2); 80 minutes in 3-1 loss vs. Sporting Kansas City (Sept. 29)

 

-- Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest; Championship) - In 18, DNP in 2-1 win vs. Blackpool (Oct. 16)

 

-- Matthew Hoppe (Mallorca; Spanish Primera) - Not in 18, DNP in 1-0 loss at Real Sociedad (Oct. 16)

 

-- Sean Johnson (New York City FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at New York Red Bulls (Oct. 17)

 

-- Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; MLS) - 20 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win vs. Portland Timbers (Oct. 16)

 

-- Matt Miazga (Alaves; Spanish Primera) - vs. Real Betis (Monday, 1 p.m. ET)

 

-- Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italian Serie A) – In 18, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Roma (Oct. 17)

 

-- Mark McKenzie (Genk; Belgian Pro League) - 82 minutes in 2-0 loss at Sporting Charleroi (Oct. 17)

 

-- Shaq Moore (Tenerife; Spain Sequnda Division) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Las Palmas (Oct. 16)

 

-- Yunus Musah (Valencia; Spain La Liga) - 15 minutes as a substitute in 3-1 loss at Barcelona (Oct. 16)

 

-- Owen Otasowie (Club Brugge; Belgian Pro League) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-0 win vs. Kortrijk (Oct. 15)

 

-- Erik Palmer-Brown (Troyes; French Ligue 1) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Nice (Oct. 17)

 

-- Jordan Pefok (Young Boys; Swiss Super League) - 45 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Luzern (Oct. 16)

 

-- Christian Pulisic (Chelsea; English Premier League) - Injured, DNP in 1-0 win at Brentford (Oct. 16)

 

-- Tim Ream (Fulham; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 4-1 win vs. Queens Park Rangers (Oct. 16)

 

-- Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; German Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 3-1 win vs. Mainz (Oct. 16)

 

-- Bryan Reynolds (AS Roma, Italy Serie A) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 loss at Juventus (Oct. 17)

 

-- Chris Richards (Hoffenheim; German Bundesliga) - 54 minutes as a substitute in 5-0 win vs. Köln (Oct. 15)

 

-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Championship) - 32 minutes as a substitute and GOAL in 4-1 win vs. Queens Park Rangers (Oct. 16)

 

-- Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win at Toronto FC (Oct. 16)

 

-- Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Houston Dynamo (Oct. 16)

 

-- James Sands (New York City FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at New York Red Bulls (Oct. 17)

 

-- Josh Sargent (Norwich City; English Premier League) – 76 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Brighton & Hove Albion (Oct. 16)

 

-- Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach (Bundesliga) - 81 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Stuttgart (Oct. 16)

 

-- Zack Steffen (Manchester City; English Premier League) - 90 minutes and SHUTOUT in 2-0 win vs. Burnley (Oct. 16)

 

-- Tanner Tessmann (Venezia; Italy Serie A) - vs. Fiorentina, Monday, 2:45 p.m. ET (Oct. 16)

 

-- Matt Turner (New England Revolution; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. Chicago Fire (Oct. 16)

 

-- Sam Vines (Royal Antwerp; Belgian Pro League) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 loss at Zulte Waregem (Oct. 16)

 

-- Tim Weah (Lille; French Ligue 1) - 71 minutes in 1-0 loss at Clermont (Oct. 16)

 

-- DeAndre Yedlin (Galatasaray; Turkish Super Lig) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Konyaspor (Oct. 17)

 

-- Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-1 loss at Los Angeles FC (Oct. 16)

 

-- Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew; MLS) - 79 minutes and TWO GOALS in 4-0 win at Inter Miami CF (Oct. 16)

 

-- Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at D.C. United (Oct. 16)