There was a particular moment in Atlanta United’s 2-1 win Saturday against San Jose in which Miles Robinson looked as if last year’s ruptured Achilles never happened.
The speedy Cade Cowell tried to get past Robinson to the end line, only for Robinson to get there first and cut him off. Cowell tried to cut back inside. Robinson stopped that. Cowell tried again to get past Robinson, who got enough of the ball for goalkeeper Brad Guzan to take it.
Job done, Robinson simply turned and ran upfield.
“I felt like I had that same type of explosiveness (in the preseason),” Robinson said. “But just to do it in an actual MLS match felt great, especially the fact that we won the game. I think I’d be feeling a lot different if Thiago (Almada) didn’t score those two goals.”
Robinson was efficient in his first meaningful game in 10 months. He won two aerial duels, one of his two tackle attempts, took back possession three times and committed only one foul. In 69 minutes, Cowell was limited to one shot on goal, one chance created and six unsuccessful dribbles by Robinson and the rest of Atlanta United’s defenders. Jeremy Ebobisse, who scored San Jose’s goal, was more successful, with three aerial duels won, two shots on goal of three shots taken and one chance created.
Manager Gonzalo Pineda said he thought Robinson’s timing, decision-making and angles were very good. Robinson said the next step for the defense is to keep a clean sheet. They posted two of those in their first 10 games Robinson started last season before sustaining his injury May 7 against D.C. United.
“I think that’s something Gonzo has been preaching,” Robinson said. “If we can stay organized, I think we’ll have success.”
After the win, Robinson and Guzan, who also sustained an Achilles rupture last season, hugged each other.
Robinson said they had seen each other almost every day for the past 10 months as they rehabbed, feeling the same pains, asking themselves the same questions.
“It’s been a long road,” Guzan said. “And so to see him back out there puts a smile on my face because I know what he’s been through. I know what the road was like.”
Robinson said he experienced a mix of emotions being on the field in front of an announced attendance of more than 68,000. After he first suffered the injury, he said the first challenge was mental because “you feel pretty much trapped.” The next challenges were physical because Robinson wanted to feel the explosiveness that made him arguably the best one-on-one defender in MLS and a starter for the U.S. men’s national team.
Robinson said the only solution was to stay in the grind. That done, and finally back on the field, Robinson said he focused on staying present in the game because playing was the goal. Improving is next.
“I think Saturday’s performance was a good building block,” he said. “So, hopefully, I can build on this and keep getting bigger, faster, stronger. Right now, I feel really good.”
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Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule
Feb. 25 Atlanta United 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1
March 4 vs. Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.
March 11 at Charlotte FC, noon, Fox
March 18 vs. Portland Timbers, 7:30 p.m.
March 25 at Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
April 1 vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
April 8 at New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
April 15 at Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.
April 23 vs. Chicago Fire FC, 4:30 p.m., FS1
April 29 at Nashville SC, 1:30 p.m., Fox
May 6 at Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
May 13 vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 17 vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
May 20 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.
May 27 at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.
May 31 vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m., FS1
June 3 at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m.
June 10 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 21 vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
June 24 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
July 2 vs. Philadelphia Union, 4 p.m., Fox
July 8 at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 12 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
July 15 vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m., FS1
Aug. 20 at Seattle Sounders, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, TBA
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