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SBI USMNT Man of the Match: Miles Robinson

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Miles Robinson has been a rock at the back of the U.S. men’s national team’s defense throughout the Concacaf Gold Cup, but Sunday saw the centerback play the hero in front of the opposing goal for the first time this summer.

Robinson scored the winning goal for the USMNT in Las Vegas, helping the Americans edge rivals Mexico, 1-0, to win the Concacaf Gold Cup Final. The Atlanta United defender earned SBI USMNT Man of the Match honors after delivering the winning goal in the 117th minute and also putting in another strong shift in defense.

The 24-year-old rose highest to head home Kellyn Acosta’s cross past Alfredo Talavera, breaking the deadlock between the two teams and sending Gregg Berhalter’s side to a second epic victory past El Tri this summer.

Robinson was not only key in the deciding goal between the two North American national teams, but he also was all over the place defensively for the USMNT. He made 11 clearances and four interceptions to go along with five aerial battles won out of nine in total.

With his first competitive tournament under his belt, Robinson will now return to MLS play with the Five Stripes before likely earning a spot in the World Cup Qualifying roster in September.

Robinson’s goal-scoring performance helped him earn the Man of the Match nod ahead of Kellyn Acosta and Matt Turner, who both turned in strong outings to complete outstanding tournaments.

What did you think of Robinson’s performance? Who was your pick for Man of the Match?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Hope he gets some transfer interest, time to get out of the dumpster fire that is ATLU. I had kind of forgotten the Tata drafted him and didn’t play him angle.

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  2. I agree that Robinson was MoM. He has been a steady presence on the USA’s backline. In these 6 games, he made, maybe, one mental error, he consistently cut out dangerous passes and when forced into 1v1 defending did well to stop the attackers most of the time. CBs often do not get credit for good play, just criticism for mental errors or lackluster 1v1 defending.
    Of course, Turner made some spectacular saves and Acosta disrupted and stopped the Mexican’s build-up play surprisingly well, but the steady play of Robinson trumped their fantastic efforts.

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  3. Well deserved. Here’s the next big question. We now have a good half dozen or more from this tourney who deserve consideration for Qualifying. What’s our best 23 and best 11? Say, don’t know where to put this comment, so I’ll stick it here. Are there others besides myself sick to death of all the crowd shots, especially of fans acting stupid in strange get ups? I would much rather watch the players or even the coaches.

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    • I thought some of the fan costumes were hilarious!

      My best eleven at the moment are as follows:

      1. Matt Turner (start him in qualifying and see if that sparks a fire in Steffan’s belly. Up to this point. Steffan hasn’t had much competition.)

      2. Dest (he’s weaker on defense, but he’s got more on-the-ball skill than anyone else on our team. We need more flare-players in my opinion to keep defenders on their toes.)

      3-4. John Brooks and Miles Robinson.

      5. Shaq Moore (I just like his speed and directness; hardly put a foot wrong in this tournament and completely changed my mind. I like Antonee Robinson as well, but let’s see if Robinson can take it to the next level in England this season.)

      6-10. Pulisic, Adams, McKennie, Reyna, and Brendon Aaronson (or exchange Aaronson for Musah when Musah is fit)

      11. Josh Sargent (the obvious #9 choice for me and it isn’t even close. I appreciate Zardes’ running and willingness to press, I like Dike’s physical prowess when he’s on his a-game, and I think Giocchini’s all-around grit is a great x-factor off the bench, but Sargent has to be the fulcrum of our attack going forward. His hold-up play is just too good and his finishing is improving as well.)

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  4. Acosta, without that dude stealing cookies in midfield all night we lose that game by 2 or mor goals. It’s very very rare I’ve ever seen a US mid male Mexico play around the middle and he forced them wide all game. They got nothing they the center all night. Acosta absolute beast mode tonight. Never a big fan of his but he plays like this or near it most outings I def want him coming on in a match when we’re up a goal and need to kill off the last 15-20 minutes. Same tactics as today apply if we’re playing a big elite nation at Qatar next year. Tonight’s game with this B squad was a template GB can use going up against a Brazil or Germany or France next year

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  5. It’s like poetic justice that he would score the game winner! Atl soccer community, sports radio, and Syracuse soccer is going to go crazy!

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  6. Well deserved, he broke up so many plays thru the box. Really good at stopping attacks thru out the tournament. I didn’t really have an high opinion before this Gold Cup and now I think he’s our 2nd best CB in the pool.

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    • Totally agreed! Miles Robinson should be starting next to John Brooks if WCQ starts tomorrow, until/unless Chris Richards, Mark Mckenzie, Aaron Long, Matt Miazga, and/or Walker Zimmerman, etc. showed better performances in high level competitions that they’re worthy of the #2 CB spot.

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