PRE-GAME HYPE: USMNT vs. Honduras
USMNT v Honduras
Location: Avaya Stadium (San Jose, CA)
Time: 7:30pm ET
TV: FS1, UniMas, & UDN
Watch with your #AOFamily at one of 193 chapter bars
THE HYPE
We have it all to do tonight…Three points is a must, as the USMNT welcomes Honduras to Avaya Stadium in San Jose for their 3rdof 10 World Cup Qualifying matches. The USMNT currently sits in last place of the Hexagonal table with 0 points, having lost to Mexico and Costa Rica in the previous round. Historically, the USMNT typically plays well with their backs against the wall. Let’s hope for nothing different tonight.
Here is the squad:
GK: David Bingham, Tim Howard, Nick Rimando
DEF: DaMarcus Beasley, Matt Besler, John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, Omar Gonzalez, Michael Orozco, Tim Ream, Jorge Villafaña, Walker Zimmerman, Graham Zusi
MID: Kellyn Acosta, Alejandro Bedoya, Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, Sacha Kljestan, Sebastian Lletget, Dax McCarty, Darlington Nagbe, Christian Pulisic
FOR: Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, Jordan Morris, Chris Wondolowski
Tim Howard has been outstanding in early MLS matches this season and you have to think he’ll get the nod. Brooks and Cameron the likely CB pairing, but will Arena implement a flat-back 3 with Besler? Lletget was impressive during January camp, but will it lead to his first WCQ start in his hometown alongside MB90 with JJ suspended? Pulisic has been killing it in Germany, so you have to think he’ll be in the starting eleven.
Injuries to Bobby Wood, Fabian Johnson, and a Jordan Morris knock will almost certainly offer the chance for Clint Dempsey to make his mark after 6 months off with an irregular heartbeat.
Here’s Honduras’ roster:
GK: Ricardo Canales (Vida), Donis Escober (Olimpia), Luis Lopez (Real España)
DEF: Ever Alvarado (Olimpia), Brayan Beckeles (Necaxa/MEX),Felix Crisianto (Motagua), Henry Figueroa (Motagua), Maynor Figueroa (FC Dallas/USA), Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic/SCO), Cesar Oseguera (Real España), Allans Vargas (Real España),
MID: Brayan Acosta (Real España), Erick Andino (Motagua), Jorge Claros (Real España), Carlos Disuca (Motagua), Roger Espinoza (Sporting Kansas City/USA ), Óscar Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo/USA), Mario Martinez (Enppi; EGY), Oliver Morazan (Juticalpa FC), Andy Najar (Anderlecht/BEL), Romell Quioto (Houston Dynamo/USA)
FOR: Rubilio Castillo (Motagua), Michael Chirinos (Olimpia/HON), Alberth Elis (Houston Dynamo/USA), Eddie Hernandez (Tolima/COL), Anthony Lozano (Tenerife/ESP)
It cannot be stated any other way, tonight is a huge match if the U.S. are to get their World Cup Qualifying campaign back on track.
Those who traveled, God speed. We’ll need each of your voices.
Those who aren’t in San Jose, find your chapter bar here
Much love,
AO
March 24, 2017