USMNT REWIND: Antonee Robinson, Brenden Aaronson Shine for Their Clubs

Fulham FC is off to an unbeaten start in the English Championship season and U.S. Men's National Team defenders Antonee Robinson and Tim Ream certainly have played their part.

Relegated from the Premier League last season, the Cottagers find themselves atop the English Championship table with an impressive 3-0-1 start and 10 points as they begin their promotion bid.

Defense has been a cornerstone of Fulham's start, as it has conceded only three goals. The team secured its first clean sheet of the season, a 2-0 win over Hull City at Craven Cottage in London on Saturday.

Robinson, who has played every minute so far this season, set up Fabio Carvalho's goal in the 34th minute to take the score to 2-0.

Ream, the team captain who also has performed well in the four games, was forced from the contest after he landed awkwardly in the 21st minute. Manager Marco Silva said that the injury didn't appear serious. He was waiting for a medical report, which could determine the center back's availability for Septembers World Cup qualifying matches.

Earlier in the week, the U.S. pair went the full 90 minutes in Fulham’s 2-1 win against Millwall on Tuesday.

LATE-MATCH HEROICS

Brenden Aaronson continues to remind fans and observers that his first season with Red Bull Salzburg hardly was a fluke.

The 20-year-old connected for a 90^th minute winner in Salzburg’s 2-1 first leg Champions League qualifying win against Brøndby on Tuesday. A halftime substitute, Aaronson latched on to a pass from Oumar Solet, took a touch with his left at the top of the box and fired a low blast inside the right post

Brenden Aaronson scores a late winner for @FCRBS_en in the first leg of the #ucl play-offs🔥🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/UKvTcgyHKE

— Serie A on Paramount+ ⚽️🇮🇹 (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 17, 2021

Salzburg takes a 2-1 advantage to Denmark for the second leg on Wednesday. On Saturday, Aaronson followed up his goal by the full 90 minutes in Salzburg’s 3-1 win against newly-promoted Austria Klagenfurt, taking the club to a perfect 5-0-0 record to start the Austrian Bundesliga season.

 

STILL A WINNER

New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner continued his unbeaten streak since returning from a victorious Concacaf Gold Cup as he backstopped a pair of wins. Turner made seven saves to help the Revs defeat D.C. United 3-2 on Aug. 18, and then had a three-save performance in their 2-1 win against FC Cincinnati on Saturday. Turner is 4-0-1 since the confederation tournament.

 

GOOD TEAM WORK

Ricardo Pepi and Jesús Ferreira combined for FC Dallas' second goal in its 2-2 draw at the Houston Dynamo Saturday. With the game knotted at 1-1 in the 58th minute, Ferreira intercepted a mis-kick from goalkeeper Marko Marić and found Pepi, who slotted home a right-footed shot.

RICARDO PEPI gives @FCDallas the lead!

The 18-year-old scores his 9th goal of the year. #DTID pic.twitter.com/Ww7aG89Z4r

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 22, 2021

 

The 18-year-old Pepi, who was selected for the MLS All Star Game on Wednesday, has scored a team-best nine goals this season. The El Paso, Texas native was called into U.S. Under-23 camp for Olympic Qualifying in March and represented the country at the 2019 U-17 World Cup in Brazil.

 

FIRST STEPS

Midfielder Tanner Tessmann made his Italian Serie A debut for Venezia, replacing Antonio Luca Fiordilino in the 63rd minute in a 2-0 setback at Napoli Sunday. Tessmann, a FC Dallas product, was shown a yellow card in the 75th minute.

Midfielder Gianluca Busio, who recently transferred from Sporting Kansas City and performed for the USMNT in its Gold Cup triumph, did not dress.

 

WHEN A POSITIVE IS A NEGATIVE

Christian Pulisic did not dress for Chelsea in its English Premier League game at Arsenal on Saturday, after he tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week. The U.S. Men’s National Team’s medical staff is working with Chelsea to determine Pulisic’s status for the World Cup Qualifiers in September.

 

FULL RUNDOWN:

 

-- Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Real Salt Lake (Aug. 21); Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 win at LA Galaxy (Aug. 18)

 

-- Paul Arriola (D.C. United; MLS) - Injured, DNP in 2-1 loss vs. Atlanta United (Aug. 21); 14 minutes and a GOAL in 3-2 loss at New England Revolution (Aug. 18)

 

-- Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig; German Bundesliga) – 90 minutes in 4-0 win vs. Stuttgart (Aug. 21)

 

-- Brenden Aaronson (Red Bull Salzburg; Austria Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Austria Klagenfurt (Aug. 21); 90 minutes and GOAL in 2-1 win vs. Brøndby in UCL qualifier (Aug. 18)

 

-- Julian Araujo (Los Angeles Galaxy; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Aug. 21); 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Colorado Rapids (Aug. 17)

 

-- George Bello (Atlanta United; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at D.C. United (Aug. 21); 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Toronto FC (Aug. 18)

 

-- John Brooks (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Hertha Berlin (Aug. 21)

 

-- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italy Serie A) - Not in 18, DNP play in 2-0 loss at Napoli (Aug. 22)

 

-- Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; Brazilian Serie A) – 1 minute as a substitute in 2-2 draw at Santos (Aug. 22)

 

-- Reggie Cannon (Boavista; Portuguese Primeira) – vs. Santa Clara, Monday, 4:15 p.m. ET

 

 

-- Konrad de la Fuente (Marseille; French Ligue 1) - 20 minutes as a substitute before match suspension in the 76th minute at Nice (Aug. 22)

 

-- Daryl Dike (Orlando City SC; MLS) - Not in 18, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Chicago Fire (Aug. 21); Not in 18, DNP in 1-1 draw at Nashville SC (Aug. 18)

 

-- Sergiño Dest (Barcelona; Spain La Liga) – 81 minutes in a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilboa (Aug. 21)

 

-- Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen; French Ligue 2) – 19 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw vs. Nancy (Aug. 21)

 

-- Julian Green (Greuther Fürth; German Bundesliga) – 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Arminia Bielefeld (Aug. 21)

 

-- Brad Guzan (Atlanta United) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at D.C. United (Aug. 21); 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Toronto FC (Aug. 18)

 

-- Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; MLS) - 90 minutes and ASSIST in 2-2 draw at Houston Dynamo (Aug. 21); 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Seattle Sounders (Aug. 18)

 

-- Matthew Hoppe (Schalke 04; German 2. Bundesliga) - In 18, DNP in 4-1 loss at Jahn Regensburg (Aug. 21)

 

-- Sean Johnson (New York City FC; MLS) - At New York Red Bulls postponed, inclement weather (Aug. 21); 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Philadelphia Union (Aug. 18)

 

-- Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; MLS) - 89 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Aug. 21); 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Colorado Rapids (Aug. 17)

 

-- Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italian Serie A) – Not in 18, DNP in 2-2 draw at Udinese (Aug. 22)

 

-- Matt Miazga (Alaves, Spain La Liga) - Not in 18, DNP in 1-0 loss vs. Mallorca (Aug. 21)

 

-- Shaq Moore (Tenerife; Spain La Liga) - 4 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw vs. Sporting Gijon (Aug. 21)

 

-- Yunus Musah (Valencia; Spain La Liga) - Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw at Granada (Aug. 18)

 

-- Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas; MLS) - 90 minutes and GOAL in 2-2 draw at Houston Dynamo (Aug. 21); 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Seattle Sounders (Aug. 18)

 

-- Tim Ream (Fulham; English Premier League) - 21 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Hull City (Aug. 21); 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Millwall (Aug. 17)

 

-- Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; German Bundesliga) – 70 minutes in 2-1 loss at Freiburg (Aug. 21); 78 minutes in 3-1 loss vs. Bayern Munich in German Super Cup (Aug. 17)

 

-- Bryan Reynolds (AS Roma, Italy Serie A) - In 18, DNP in 3-1 win vs. Fiorentina (Aug. 22)

 

-- Chris Richards (Bayern Munich; German Bundesliga) - 2 minutes as a substitute in 3-2 win vs. FC Cologne (Aug. 22); Not in 18, DNP in 3-1 win at Borussia Dortmund in German Super Cup (Aug. 17)

 

-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Championship) - 90 minutes, ASSIST in 2-0 win vs. Hull City (Aug. 21); 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Millwall (Aug. 17)

 

-- Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at D.C. United (Aug. 21): 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Toronto FC (Aug. 18)

 

-- Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Columbus Crew (Aug. 21); 45 minutes in 1-0 win at FC Dallas (Aug. 18)

 

-- James Sands (New York City FC; MLS) - At New York Red Bulls, postponed, inclement weather (Aug. 21); 77 minutes in 1-0 loss at Philadelphia Union (Aug. 18)

 

-- Josh Sargent (Norwich City; English Premier League) – 13 minutes as a substitute in 5-0 loss at Manchester City (Aug. 21)

 

-- Jordan Siebatcheu (Young Boys; Swiss Super League) - 58 minutes in 3-2 loss to Ferencvaros in Europa League qualifier (Aug. 18)

 

-- Zack Steffen (Manchester City; English Premier League) – In 18, DNP in 5-0 win vs. Norwich City (Aug. 21)

 

-- Tanner Tessmann (Venezia; Italy Serie A) - 27 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 loss at Napoli (Aug. 22)

 

-- Matt Turner (New England Revolution; MLS) - 90 minutes in 4-1 win vs. FC Cincinnati (Aug. 21); 90 minutes in 3-2 win vs. D.C. United (Aug. 18)

 

-- Sam Vines (Royal Antwerp; Belgian Pro League) - Not in 18, DNP in 4-2 loss at Omonia Nicosia in Europa League qualifier (Aug. 19)

 

-- Tim Weah (Lille; French Ligue 1) – 81 minutes in 1-1 draw at Saint-Etienne (Aug. 21)

 

-- Eryk Williamson (Portland Timbers; MLS) - 45 minutes in 3-0 loss at Austin FC (Aug. 21); Not in 18, DNP in 1-1 draw at Sporting Kansas City (Aug. 18)

 

-- DeAndre Yedlin (Galatasaray; Turkish Super Lig) - vs. Hatayspor, Monday, 2:45 p.m. ET

 

-- Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at LA Galaxy (Aug. 21); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Minnesota United (Aug. 17)

 

-- Gyasi Zardes (Columbus SC; MLS) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 loss vs. Seattle Sounders (Aug. 21); 45 minutes in 1-0 loss at New York Red Bulls (Aug. 18)