COLUMBUS, Ohio —
Antonee Robinson had a shocking confession to make Thursday, an hour after his purpose gave the U.S. a 1-0 win over El Salvador in a World Cup qualifier it couldn’t afford to lose.
“I really feel bizarre being referred to as Antonee,” he stated. “I choose being referred to as Jedi.”
A Jedi — somebody who exhibits extraordinary talent or experience in a particular discipline — is a reputation that matches Robinson, who stated he’s been answering to it since he was 5.
“Once I was actually younger, I used to be a giant ‘Star Wars’ fan,” he stated. “Ever since that age I’ve been referred to as Jedi. It’s simply part of me.”
And due to his purpose earlier than a sellout crowd of 20,000 at a cold Decrease.com Stadium, Robinson might quickly be a part of a World Cup crew as nicely.
With 5 video games remaining within the CONCACAF qualifying event, the U.S. (5-1-3) is second within the eight-team desk, a degree behind unbeaten Canada and a degree in entrance of third-place Mexico. The highest three groups qualify for this fall’s World Cup in Qatar.
“That is what we’ve been getting ready for,” Robinson stated. “It wasn’t the prettiest recreation; there have been occasions after we needed to sort of dig out possibilities. However we acquired the win. We’re one step nearer to our purpose of qualifying for the World Cup.”
For Robinson, Thursday’s purpose additionally helped erase some painful reminiscences from the early days of what has been a largely up-and-down profession.
“Antonee has been glorious for us in each window,” teammate Tim Weah stated “He’s an enormous a part of the crew and we love and cherish him. I’m glad he’s getting the glory tonight. He actually deserves it.”
The temperature at kickoff was 30 levels with a windchill of 23, making it the second-coldest temperature at kickoff for a qualifier the U.S. has performed this century. And neither crew seemed significantly sharp in a ragged first half that noticed Jesús Ferreira miss two close-range photographs for the U.S. in a three-minute span.
Even Robinson’s purpose, seven minutes into the second half, was as a lot a product of luck because it was talent. It was additionally a reward for hustle, with a lucky bounce dropping the ball at his toes to arrange a simple end.
The sequence began with Salvadoran keeper Marlo González making a sliding cease of Weah’s arduous shot from the precise fringe of the six-yard field. When his defenders did not clear the rebound from the penalty space, Ferreira was capable of head the excessive carom again towards the online for Weah, who went airborne in an try to get a foot on it and missed. That allowed an unmarked Robinson, who was trailing the play, to race in and volley a low left-footed shot previous González and in on the far facet.
Robinson then celebrated with a somersault and a again handspring.
“My mates have been on me for weeks to do this celebration, so I needed to pull it out,” Robinson stated. “I didn’t inform anybody, so there have been a couple of folks scared. However it’s all a part of the enjoyable of having fun with the sport for me.”
Robinson, 24, who was born in England to U.S. mother and father, has recognized each promise and strain throughout a profession that started within the Everton academy system and took him to Bolton and Wigan earlier than he landed with Fulham final 12 months. His time with the nationwide crew has additionally been checkered, though he has hit his stride throughout qualifying.
“I can’t actually consider a degree the place it simply clicked,” he stated. “I’ve been coping with highs and lows with the nationwide crew. I’ve been coping with highs and lows in soccer ever since I first on the scholarship with Everton after I was 15, 16 years previous. Whether or not it’s accidents, being left on the crew all gamers should take care of highs and lows in some unspecified time in the future.
“I really feel like I’m somebody who bounces again from low factors. I really feel like [U.S. coach] Gregg [Berhalter] has seen the affect that I can deliver to the crew. [But] after I’m enjoying nicely, I positively don’t take it without any consideration.”
Neither is Berhalter taking without any consideration his crew’s place within the qualifying desk. Particularly not with a first-place showdown with Canada looming Sunday.
“The large image of this [win] we’re nonetheless in excellent place in World Cup qualifying,” he stated.
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