Fans can also follow along via U.S. Soccer’s official Facebook, Twitter (@ussoccer_MNT) and Instagram (@ussoccer_MNT) accounts.
Here is a preview of USA-Peru, presented by Volpi Foods.
DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (Club; Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (2): 1-Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC; 58/0), 22-Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge/BEL; 2/0)
DEFENDERS (8): 6-John Brooks (Wolfsburg/GER; 35/3), 18-Reggie Cannon (FC Dallas; 0/0), 5-Cameron Carter-Vickers (Swansea City/WAL; 5/0), 21-Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 0/0), 3-Matt Miazga (Nantes/FRA; 10/1), 17-Antonee Robinson (Wigan Athletic/ENG; 5/0), 19-Ben Sweat (New York City FC; 1/0), 2-DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United/ENG; 55/0)
MIDFIELDERS (9): 23-Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; 20/2), 24-Jonathan Amon (Nordsjælland/DEN; 0/0), 4-Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 141/17), 8-Marky Delgado (Toronto FC/CAN; 4/0), 16-Julian Green (Greuther Fürth/GER; 13/4), 14-Fafa Picault (Philadelphia Union; 2/0) 15-Kenny Saief (Anderlecht/BEL; 3/0), 20-Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC; 8/0), 11-Tim Weah (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA; 6/1)
FORWARDS (3): 9-Andrija Novakovich (Fortuna Sittard/NED; 3/0), 13-Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen/GER; 4/1), 7-Bobby Wood (Hannover 96/GER; 42/13)
STORYLINES
MNT FALLS IN SPIRITED 4-2 DEFEAT TO COLOMBIA
The highlight reel got plenty of use and an MNT side growing together gained lots of experience in Thursday’s 4-2 defeat to Colombia. Following James Rodriguez’s first-half golazo, the MNT utilized opportunistic strikes from Kellyn Acosta and Bobby Wood to take an early second-half advantage. Led by its powerful attack, Colombia rebounded via goals from Radamel Falcao, Carlos Bacca and a bicycle kick Miguel Angel Borja to see the match out. While disappointed with the defeat, MNT players recognized there were plenty of lessons to learn from the experience.
STEFFEN DEPARTS MNT CAMP
After playing the full 90 minutes against Peru, goalkeeper Zack Steffen experienced tightness in his right hamstring and the decision was made for him to depart camp, allowing the 23-year-old to return to Columbus Crew SC as a precaution. Steffen was not replaced on the roster, leaving the squad at 22 players going into the Peru match. Earning his sixth cap against Colombia, Steffen tied Kasey Keller (1990) and Troy Perkins (2009) for most appearances by an MNT goalkeeper during his debut year and can break the record with an appearance next month against either England or Italy.
WITH ASSIST TIM WEAH JOINS DISTINGUISHED COMPANY
Tim Weah registered his first career assist when he threaded a clever ball to Bobby Wood in the 56th minute of Tuesday’s match against Colombia. With that, Weah (18 years, 232 days) became the third youngest player to register an assist for the MNT, coming in behind only Christian Pulisic (17 years, 349 days) and Juan Agudelo (18 years, 197 days). See below for the full list of MNT players that achieved the feat during their teenage years.
|
Player |
First Assist |
Opponent/Result |
Age |
|
Christian Pulisic |
Sept. 2, 2016 |
6-0 W at St. Vincent and the Grenadines |
17 years, 349 days |
|
Juan Agudelo |
June 7, 2011 |
2-0 W vs. Canada |
18 years, 197 days |
|
Tim Weah |
Oct. 11, 2018 |
2-4 L vs. Colombia |
18 years, 232 days |
|
Landon Donovan |
Oct. 25, 2000 |
2-0 W vs. Mexico |
18 years, 236 days |
|
Jozy Altidore |
Oct. 15, 2008 |
1-2 L at Trinidad & Tobago |
18 years, 344 days |
|
Freddy Adu |
June 22, 2008 |
1-0 W at Barbados |
19 years, 20 days |
|
DaMarcus Beasley |
Jan. 27, 2002 |
4-0 W vs. El Salvador |
19 years, 149 days |
Already with a goal to his name, it is also true that Weah is the third youngest player to register a goal and assist for the MNT, also behind Pulisic and Agudelo.
VETERANS RETURN
While the emphasis from the past year has been placed on bringing along the MNT’s next generation, the master plan has always included the return of key veteran players into the mix. As a result, the October matches presented the right time to begin the reintegration process, with MNT head coach Dave Sarachan tapping midfielder Michael Bradley and goalkeeper Brad Guzan to return to the squad for this month’s matches against Colombia and Peru.
“When you are building a team, at some point there has to be the proper blend of youth and experience,” Sarachan told ussoccer.com last week. “As we head into these last four friendlies of the year, I felt the timing was right to begin that transition. I think it’s important to do it earlier than a week before the Gold Cup or a World Cup Qualifier. Bringing in players like Michael and Brad, who have a vast amount of experience and can be a great resource for our younger players – both on and off the field – is an important step for us at this point in time.”
Bradley wore the captain’s armband once again and went the full 90 minutes in Thursday’s loss to Colombia, while Guzan is expected to start against Peru on Tuesday.
PERU BRINGS STRONG ROSTER FOR USA MATCH
Playing in their first World Cup since 1982, La Blanquirroja captured hearts with their enthusiastic play and incredible fan support this summer in Russia.
Manager Ricardo Gareca has largely stuck with the team he took to the World Cup, calling up 16 players from the squad for Peru’s matches against Chile and the USA this month. Along attacking midfielder Christian Cueva, the Peru roster is notable for having four players based in Major League Soccer, with forwards Raúl Ruidíaz (Seattle Sounders FC) and Yordy Reyna (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) joining midfielders Andy Polo (Portland Timbers) and Yoshimar Yotún (Orlando City SC) on the squad.
RESTART ROLLING
With the 2022 cycle officially underway, the process of elevating a rising crop of internationals is already in motion. Since November of last year, a total of 19 players have debuted for the senior MNT. Seventeen of them came in under 24 years old at the time of their first caps, while 10 will be age-eligible to represent the U-23 MNT in the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament and 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo. ussoccer.com has profiled 11 of these hopefuls at the start of the new video series RISING: Emerging Faces of the U.S. Men’s National Team, which chronicle the route of players on their quest to become a part of the National Team by going behind the scenes with family, youth, coaches, teammates and professional club managers from across the world. [WATCH SERIES]
USA-PERU NOTES
USA ROSTER NOTES
PERU ROSTER BY POSITION (Club; Caps/Goals): *Updated through 10/12/2018
GOALKEEPERS (3): Patricio Álvarez (Sporting Cristal; 0/0), José Carvallo (Universidad Técnica de Cajamarca; 6/0), Pedro Gallese (Veracruz/MEX; 45/0)
DEFENDERS (8): Luis Advíncula (Rayo Vallecano/ESP; 72/1), Alexander Callens (Rayo Vallecano/ESP; 72/1), Wilder Cartagena (Veracruz/MEX; 4/0), Nilson Loyola (Melgar; 5/0), Johan Madrid (Sporting Cristal; 0/0), Christian Ramos (Al-Nassr/KSA; 73/3), Anderson Santamaría (Puebla/MEX; 11/0), Miguel Trauco (Flamengo/BRA; 33/0)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Pedro Aquino (Club León/MEX; 18/3), Horacio Calcaterra (Sporting Cristal; 3/0), Christian Cueva (Krasnodar/RUS; 52/8), Edison Flores (Morelia/MEX; 35/9), Paolo Hurtado (Konyaspor/TUR; 35/3), Sergio Peña (C.D. Tondela/POR; 5/0), Renato Tapia (Feyenoord/NED; 35/3), Yoshimar Yotún (Orlando City SC/USA; 79/2)
FORWARDS (4): André Carillo (Al-Hilal/KSA; 52/6), Andy Polo (Portland Timbers/USA; 18/1), Yordy Reyna (Vancouver Whitecaps FC/CAN; 19/2), Raúl Ruidíaz (Seattle Sounders FC/USA; 33/4)
PERU NOTES