As he took his spot on the bench on Saturday, Robinho couldn’t hold back his tears.
He tried to hide them, walking to the sideline before coach James O’Connor caught him in a hug. He did his best to comfort the midfielder, offering reassurance that his effort had been spot on.
With the Minnesota attack bearing down on the Orlando backline throughout the first half, O’Connor needed to add a jolt to the Lions’ offense. A half-time substitution for Robinho would give new designated player Mauricio Pereyra the chance to test the waters and push Orlando higher up the field.