USMNT weekend roundup: Why Antonee Robinson's return could change everything
The best news to come out of the weekend for Mauricio Pochettino and the U.S. men’s national team was not Ricardo Pepi’s scoring form or Sergiño Dest’s moment of brilliance. (More on that later.) No, Pochettino was undoubtedly most heartened by the sight of Antonee Robinson in Fulham’s uniform for the first time in more than two months and in a Premier League starting lineup for the first time since May.
Returning from a persistent knee issue, the veteran left back overcame a rocky start to help set up a goal as part of a 90-minute effort in the Cottagers’ 3-2 victory at Burnley — their first win at Turf Moor in 74 years.
“I didn’t have any doubts,” Fulham manager Marco Silva said. “He’s a great athlete. We know what he’s capable of, and he showed that. He’s a very important player for us.”
Robinson had not played since a brief appearance against Aston Villa on Sept. 28. Across all competitions, his previous start came Sept. 23 against fourth-tier Cambridge United in the League Cup, but in terms of the Premier League, his absence from the lineup went back to the May 25 season finale against Manchester City.
Robinson — who hasn’t played for the U.S. team in more than a year — was called into U.S. camp in October but suffered a setback and didn’t play in the two friendlies. Subsequently, he was unavailable for last month’s camp.
Should Robinson remain healthy and gain regular playing time in the coming months, Pochettino seems certain to summon him to the March camp in Atlanta for friendlies against Belgium and Portugal. It’s the last assembly before Pochettino names his World Cup squad in late May — two weeks before the tournament begins.
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 side. In his first year on the national team, Arfsten has rewarded Pochettino’s faith with a growing confidence to get forward and contribute to the attack.
Arfsten was second on the U.S. team in matches played this year with 16, one behind Real Salt Lake attacker Diego Luna, and tied for first with New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese in starts (13). Robinson’s experience, though, would provide a notable edge to start the World Cup opener against Paraguay — if, of course, he’s healthy.
Elsewhere in Europe …
Netherlands
Pepi, who is vying for one of probably three U.S. striker slots next summer, converted a 20th-minute penalty kick to extend his scoring streak to four matches as first-place PSV Eindhoven defeated Heracles 4-3.
According to Opta, Pepi is the first Dutch-based U.S. national team player to score in four straight in all competitions since Aron Johannsson for AZ Alkmaar in 2013-14.
A sub most of his injury-pocked season, Pepi has started three consecutive Eredivisie matches, each with a goal. His other score during the streak came as a sub against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League.
Pepi isn’t the only American thriving at PSV. Dest, the starting right back, made a brilliant cutting run in the 81st minute to set up Guus Til’s winning goal as the club improved to 14-1-1 and increased its lead to nine points over Feyenoord.
Guus Til verlost PSV met de 4-3 (!) van stug Heracles 🥵#psvherpic.twitter.com/iBHpUctJ7i
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) December 13, 2025
Italy
Christian Pulisic logged 73 minutes in AC Milan’s 2-2 home draw with Sassuolo, a disappointing result that left it a point behind new frontrunner Inter Milan but, nonetheless, stretched the club’s unbeaten streak in league play to 14.
Pulisic should have been credited with his eighth Serie A goal in the 57th minute, but his deflection inside the 6-yard box was annulled by a questionable foul on a teammate.
Coming off another Champions League goal, midfielder Weston McKennie played 90 as Juventus overtook Bologna for fifth place with a 1-0 victory.
Midfielder Yunus Musah entered in the 66th minute of Atalanta’s 2-1 victory over Cagliari.
In Serie B, goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann started again as third-place Cesena staged a two-goal comeback and edged Mantova 3-2 to pull within a point of automatic promotion.
England
Center back Chris Richards and fifth-place Crystal Palace couldn’t stop Erling Haaland, the Manchester City giant who scored twice in a 3-0 outcome.
ONE CHANCE, ONE GOAL. A typically towering Erling Haaland header puts Man City in front. 💥 pic.twitter.com/f6vDMIpdGv
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 14, 2025
Midfielder Brendan Aaronson entered in the 73rd minute as Leeds United rallied for a 1-1 draw at Brentford. In 17th place, Leeds is three points above the relegation zone.
Midfielder Tyler Adams returned from a yellow card suspension Monday for Bournemouth’s visit to Manchester United, but limped off the field with an apparent knee injury in the fifth minute after making a routine block on a Matheus Cunha shot. After the match, Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola said the injury to Adams was "the worst news from the game. I think it's just the MCL. But we have to check him and see if it's just a small sprain. It's bad news for us because Tyler is massive for us."
In the second-flight Championship, forward Haji Wright played 81 minutes and contributed to the goal as front-running Coventry City maintained its five-point lead over Middlesbrough with a 1-0 victory over Bristol City.
Ephron Mason-Clark reacts quickest in a packed box to put league leaders Coventry City in front 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YpNVuIQcJh
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) December 13, 2025
Middlesbrough midfielder Aidan Morris (leg injury) missed his fourth consecutive match. Norwich City forward Josh Sargent (six goals, three assists) was sidelined with a concussion, suffered last week. Forward Patrick Agyemang (five goals, three assists) scored twice in Derby County’s 3-0 rout of last-place Sheffield Wednesday on Monday.
Germany
After sporting a low profile, midfielder Gio Reyna is getting opportunities with Mönchengladbach. His third consecutive start, though, lasted just 57 minutes in a 3-1 home loss to Wolfsburg. His first-half cross led to his club’s only score — a headed own goal.
Coach Eugen Polaski has been generally pleased with Reyna’s progress, saying Friday, “We wanted to gradually integrate him more and generate more playing time. For that to happen, it was crucial that Gio embraced it the way he did. I have rarely seen a training session from him that I wasn't satisfied with, and I have recently seen values I hadn't seen before."
Joe Scally, Reyna’s club and country teammate, served a yellow-card suspension.
Midfielder Malik Tillman received high marks for his 86-minute effort in fourth-place Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-0 victory over Köln.
Center back Noahkai Banks played 90 minutes in Augsburg’s 1-0 loss at Eintracht Frankfurt, while midfielder James Sands did the same as third-to-last St. Pauli edged next-to-last Heidenheim 2-1.
In the second division, Tolkin went 90 as Holstein Kiel scored late to draw at Magdeburg 3-3.
France
Olympique Marseille’s Tim Weah and Monaco’s Folarin Balogun went head to head, with both playing 90 minutes. In the 1-0 outcome, Marseille scored the late winner at home about a minute after video replay disallowed Balogun’s apparent goal for being offside. Early in the second half, Balogun was ruled offside on Lamine Camara’s apparent goal.
Center back Mark McKenzie helped Toulouse post its second consecutive shutout, blanking Paris FC 3-0.
Olympique Lyonnais midfielder-defender Tanner Tessmann remained sidelined with a thigh injury, missing a 1-0 victory over Le Havre.
Others
In the Scottish League Cup final, center back Auston Trusty played 90 minutes in Celtic’s 3-1 loss to lowly St. Mirren — the third consecutive defeat under new coach Wilfried Nancy.
In Spain’s La Liga, Atlético Madrid midfielder Johnny Cardoso was in uniform but didn’t play in a 2-1 victory over Valencia — the third time in four matches he hasn’t gotten off the bench.