Pre-Game Hype: USMNT vs. Bolivia
USMNT v Bolivia Date: Saturday, May 28th, 2016 Location: Children's Mercy Park (Kansas City, KS) Time: 7pm CT TV: FS1 Watch with your #AOFamily at one of our 187 chapters bars. ---------------- THE HYPE Are you feeeeeeeling it yet? Copa America Centenario kicks off THIS FRIDAY!  But first, lemme take a international friendly.... Last Wednesday in Frisco the United States men's national team broke through and snagged a noice late win over 12th ranked Ecuador. Did you see that control from Chritian Pulisic? The ankle breaking from DeAndre Yedlin? The set up header by Bobby Wood? The chest and volley from Darlington Nagbe? All on the field! All babies! All ours! My goodness.  Tonight from the "cauldron" of Kansas City (we see you, KC supporters!) our boys face 79th ranked Bolivia. The U.S. has never beaten La Verde (0-4-2), but also haven't faced the Bolivians since 1999. Time to get a win in that column.  Juan Carlos Arce has two goals in World Cup qualifying and young goalkeeper Romel Quiñónez may prove troublesome to the U.S. attack, although he is just returning form injury. Only one stateside player for the South American side... New York Cosmos' Yasmani Duk. Bolivia will feature in the 100th anniversary edition of Copa America this summer. Like facing most opponents from our Western Hemisphere neighbors... the U.S. will have to be disciplined in defense (something we finally showed on Wednesday) and patient in the attack and make the most of our opportunities.  The real key? Score more than the other team. #analysis On Wednesday night the U.S. started with a relatively experienced set of starters and the line up got younger as the game went on Benjamin Button-style. That youth revolution was key to exploiting La Tricolor late in the match to get the "W". It will be interesting to see if JK goes with the tried and true to start again and then the newbies to gain experience and possibily break the game open again if needed.  KC, doe. We love this place. It is good to us. And tonight we bag three points before our Copa quest begins.  Oh, before we forget! Speaking of Copa America Centenario... all of our events are set! So if you're coming to Santa Clara, Chicago, and/or Philly.... join us at our Night Before Parties and tailgates whether you're #AOFamily or a guest. U.S. Roster by Position: GOALKEEPERS (3): 1-Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), 12-Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids), 22-Ethan Horvath (Molde IK) DEFENDERS (8): 5-Matt Besler (Sporting KC), 3-Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), 6-John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), 20-Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), 21-Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), 23-Fabian Johnson (Borussia Moenchengladbach), 14-Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), 2-DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur) - Kellyn Accosta (FC Dallas)* MIDFIELDERS/FORWARDS (12): 15-Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), 11-Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), 4-Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), 8-Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), 13-Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), 16-Perry Kitchen (Heart of Midlothian), 10-Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), 17-Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), 18-Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), 7-Bobby Wood (Hamburg SV), 20-Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy), 19-Graham Zusi (Sporting KC) *Added to roster for Ecuador game.... is not (yet) apart of the official Copa roster. This is a soccer nation. Pack the stadiums, pack your AO bars, pack your living rooms. Time to show the rest of the world what American soccer fans can do. XOXO, AO
May 28, 2016