CHICAGO (AP) — Antonee Robinson struck the ball perfectly with his left foot, and it rocketed into the corner of the goal. Surrounded by a delirious sellout crowd at Soldier Field, the defender celebrated with a cartwheel and a backflip.
Not a bad way to go into the World Cup.
Robinson's spectacular goal was the biggest highlight for the United States in a 2-1 loss to Germany on Saturday. It was the ninth consecutive loss for the U.S. against European opponents dating to 2022, but the Americans were encouraged by their performance in their final World Cup tuneup.
“I mean against a really good team, I thought we were dangerous at times,” forward Christian Pulisic said. “We had good stretches of possession, defended well for good portions of it. And, yeah, I mean honestly, I think, we’re feeling good.”
Members of the 1994 U.S. team were recognized on the field before the game.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino started what figures to be close to his World Cup lineup, with Matt Freese in goal, Sergiño Dest at right back, Alex Freeman, Miles Robinson and Tim Ream in central defense, Antonee Robinson at left back, Tyler Adams and Malik Tillman in defensive midfield, Pulisic and Weston McKennie in advanced midfield and Folarin Balogun up front.
The U.S. played without top defender Chris Richards, sidelined since tearing a pair of left ankle ligaments on May 17. Richards, Mark McKenzie or Auston Trusty could replace Miles Robinson in the World Cup opener on Friday against Paraguay.
In its final test before the tournament, the U.S. generated a handful of promising scoring opportunities, led by Pulisic and Balogun. The 16th-ranked Americans controlled the last part of the first half and finished with 10 corner kicks, compared to two for the 10th-ranked Germans.
But the U.S. also made a couple of costly mistakes that Pochettino will look to clean up in his final preparations for the World Cup.
The U.S. has 14 wins, 10 losses and two draws since Pochettino took over as coach in October 2024.
“We compete. Unlucky. I think was an even game,” Pochettino said. “If you see the stats, similar stats in some stats for us. I am so happy with the commitment and how the team was.”
The Americans got off to a tough start when Adams was called for tripping Felix Nmecha with the German's back to the goal just 43 seconds into the game. Ream was picked by Nico Schlotterback on the resulting free kick, and a wide-open Kai Havertz broke past Miles Robinson and converted an easy header in the second minute.
On Germany's final goal, Miles Robinson was late in stepping up as Leroy Sané got a short pass from Havertz and beat Freese to the far post in the 57th minute.
“Disappointed that we lost, but many positives to take,” Antonee Robinson said. “I feel like conceding that early, we could have easily crumbled, and it could have been a very, very bad day to be going into the tournament with. But we fought back and at times played some really good football and looked good, looked competitive."
Nothing on the U.S. side looked better than Antonee Robinson's fifth international goal in the 37th minute. Jonathan Tah’s headed clearance attempt on Pulisic’s corner kick went just outside the area, and Robinson had perfect form on his volley past Germany goalkeeper Oliver Baumann.
“Sick. I mean, it’s a sick goal,” a smiling Pulisic said.
The 28-year-old Robinson, who gave himself the nickname of “ Jedi ” when he was just a kid, said he had never scored a goal like that in a competitive game.
It was reminiscent of Benny Feilhaber’s tiebreaking goal for the U.S. against Mexico in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup final at Soldier Field.
“Going into a World Cup it means a lot to have that kind of in my mind that I’ve scored something like that and a bit of freedom to shoot again if I’m in that position,” Robinson said.
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino reacts during the first half of an international friendly soccer match against Germany in Chicago, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
United States forward Christian Pulisic, right, is tackled by Germany forward Leroy Sané during the first half of an international friendly soccer match in Chicago, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
United States defenders Antonee Robinson, left, and Tim Ream celebrate after Robinson scored a goal during the first half of an international friendly soccer match against Germany in Chicago, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Andrei Svechnikov jammed in a puck on a six-on-four power play with 1:42 left to complete a furious four-goal comeback by the Carolina Hurricanes and force overtime at 4-4 against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Teams that trail by at least four goals in a Cup Final game are 0-108. Now the Hurricanes have an opportunity in sudden death to become the first.
The Golden Knights seemed to have the game in hand after scoring four times in the second, including a natural hat trick by Mitch Marner.
But Jordan Martinook, Taylor Hall and Jordan Staal scored goals for the Hurricanes to turn what appeared to be a party atmosphere into a white-knuckler for the Golden Knights. Their goals, occurring 39 seconds apart, are the fastest in a Cup Final game
Marner scored the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history, igniting a four-goal second period in for the Vegas Golden Knights, who held off a furious Carolina rally to beat the Hurricanes 4-3 lead and take a 2-1 series lead.
Marner's scoring outburst came over a 6:10 stretch of the period, and he had four points in the second. He had the secondary assist on Tomas Hertl's goal midway through the period.
The last time a player had four points in a period of the Cup final occurred in 1919 when Frank Foyston of the Seattle Metropolitans pulled off that feat.
Marner nearly added to the total in the third period, but failed to capitalize on a breakaway and a penalty shot. Those missed chances came back to bite the Golden Knights.
The Hurricanes made the comeback after changing goalies to open the third, going with Brandon Bussi, who stood tall in making all nine saves. Frederik Andersen had given up those four goals on 16 shots.
Vegas' Carter Hart has made 19 stops on 23 shots.
Vegas twice thought it took the lead early in the second period, but the Hurricanes successfully challenged both goals to keep the game scoreless.
Mark Stone's goal from the slot 36 seconds into the period was overturned when Brett Howden was determined to be offside after a video review. Another review wiped off Jack Eichel's rebound goal four minutes in when Rasmus Andersson was called for goalie interference.
It's not the first time this series went against the Golden Knights.
An unsuccessful video challenge by Vegas coach John Tortorella in Game 2 on Thursday night led to a power-play goal by Jordan Staal, whose goal helped the Hurricanes rally to win 4-3 in overtime.
The series is 1-1. Teams that take a 2-1 series lead in the final went on to win the Cup 46 of 57 times, or 80.7%.
The Golden Knights received a major boost when defenseman Brayden McNabb took the ice. He took a puck in the face in the first period Thursday night at Carolina and didn't return to the game. McNabb, who had on a cage to protect his face, is Vegas' best defensive defenseman. He was on the first defensive pair with Shea Theodore.
“I wish I could say it’s shocking, but it’s not," Golden Knights captain Mark Stone said on the ABC broadcast. "Just the way he comes to the rink every day, it’s like nothing happened. He’s one of a kind. They don’t make them like that anymore, that’s for sure.”
This series has been, if anything, unpredictable.
Each team blew two-goal leads in the first two games, with the Golden Knights rallying in the opener and Hurricanes responding with a Game 2 victory in overtime.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov, center, celebrates his goal with defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, left, and center Sebastian Aho during the third period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series against the Vegas Golden Knights, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) celebrates his goal with right wing Seth Jarvis (24) and center Jordan Staal (11) as he steps over Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (5) during the third period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner, center, celebrates his goal with center William Karlsson, left, during the second period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series against the Carolina Hurricanes, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner, left, celebrates his goal with center Tomas Hertl during the second period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series against the Carolina Hurricanes, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner, left, celebrates his third goal for a hat trick with center Tomas Hertl during the second period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series against the Carolina Hurricanes, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen, right, stops a shot by Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner during the second period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner, left, celebrates his goal as Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker, right, skates behind during the second period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb is seen with a cage on his helmet during the first period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series against the Carolina Hurricanes, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)
Carolina Hurricanes right wing Seth Jarvis shoots the puck during the first period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series against the Vegas Golden Knights, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Vegas Golden Knights' Mark Stone (61) celebrates with Pavel Dorofeyev (16) after scoring against the Carolina Hurricanes to tie in the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Martinook (48), Seth Jarvis (24), Shayne Gostisbehere (4), and Logan Stankoven (22) ceelbrate after Jarvis scored the game-winning goal against against the Vegas Golden Knights in overtime of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
