CHICAGO (March 25, 2019) – After earning a 1-0 victory against Ecuador in Orlando, the U.S. Men’s National Team closes the spring international window when it faces two-time defending Copa América champions Chile on Tuesday, March 26 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.
Coverage of USA-Chile begins at 7:55 p.m. ET on ESPN2, UniMás and UDN. Fans can also follow along via U.S. Soccer’s official Facebook, Twitter (@USMNT) and Instagram (@USMNT) accounts.
USA DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (Club; Caps/Goals):
GOALKEEPERS (3): 12-Jesse Gonzalez (FC Dallas; 0/0), 22-Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge/BEL; 3/0), 1-Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 7/0)
DEFENDERS (8): 5-John Brooks (Wolfsburg/GER; 37/3), 3-Omar Gonzalez (Atlas/MEX; 48/3),
24-Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes; 2/0), 23-Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 5/0), 16-Daniel Lovitz (Montreal Impact; 2/0), 19-Matt Miazga (Reading, ENG; 11/1), 13-Tim Ream (Fulham, ENG; 27/1), 2-DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United, ENG; 58/0)
MIDFIELDERS (5): 4-Michael Bradley (Toronto FC, CAN; 144/17), 17-Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 8/2), 10-Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 24/9), 15-Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 8/0), 6-Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC; 14/0)
FORWARDS (6): 7-Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 20/3), 20-Corey Baird (Real Salt Lake; 2/0), 18-Jonathan Lewis (New York City FC; 3/0), 11-Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 26/5), 21-Christian Ramirez (LAFC; 2/1), 9-Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC; 43/7)
ZARDES POWERS MNT PAST ECUADOR
The U.S. Men’s National Team won its third straight match since MNT head coach Gregg Berhalter took the reins, using a Gyasi Zardes 81st-minute strike to earn a 1-0 victory against Ecuador on Thursday, March 21 at Orlando City Stadium in Orlando, Fla. The MNT controlled possession through much of the match, while the back line of Tyler Adams, John Brooks, Aaron Long and Tim Ream limited La Tricolor to just one shot during the course of the 90 minutes.
After coming close to a goal a few times during the first half, the MNT found the lone marker through Zardes, whose shot from 22 yards out took a wicked deflection off Ecuador defender Robert Arboleda and looped over ‘keeper Alexander Domínguez. The goal was the seventh of Zardes’ international career and first since scoring the game-winner against Ecuador in a 2-1 victory during the Copa America Centenario quarterfinal on June 16, 2016 in Seattle.
CHANGES EXPECTED FOR CHILE
Utilizing the March camp to make evaluations for this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup roster, MNT head coach Gregg Berhalter said post-game on Thursday that he would make several changes to the starting XI that will face Chile on Tuesday in Houston.
Twenty-four players have appeared for the MNT during the three matches this year, with 20 starting.
MILESTONE WATCH: GREGG BERHALTER
With Thursday’s result against Ecuador, Gregg Berhalter followed Bob Bradley as just the second MNT head coach to win each of his first three matches. Along with remaining unbeaten (3-0-0), the USA has not conceded a goal in the three matches under Berhalter. The record for most consecutive shutouts at the beginning of an MNT coaching tenure is held by Alkis Panagoulias, who guided the team to four straight clean sheets from 1983-84.
With a win Tuesday against Chile, Berhalter would set a new mark for most wins at the beginning of an MNT coaching tenure, while a clean sheet would tie him with the milestone set by Panagoulias in the 1980s.
ADAMS, McKENNIE RETURN TO BUNDESLIGA CLUBS
On Friday, midfielder Tyler Adams was released back to RB Leipzig in an arrangement that was made prior to the opening of the international window.
After exiting Thursday’s match with an injury, midfielder Weston McKennie remained with the MNT through the weekend for further evaluation and was diagnosed with a moderate to high degree left ankle sprain. He returned to Schalke on Monday where he will continue to his care and is expected to miss several weeks.
Neither player will be replaced on the roster, which now stands at 22 players heading into Tuesday’s match against Chile.
PREPARING TO PREPARE
One of the challenges for any National Team coach is impacting their players during the long periods between matches. Now add in a new coach and a new game model, and addressing that gap becomes more important. The coaching staff has spent the last six weeks attempting to do just that.
“We have laid a lot of ground work in preparation for this camp,” Berhalter said. “It entailed meeting with the players, video conferences with the players, conversations with the players, evaluating their games … it’s a very important time period to keep working and be productive. We’ve used that time to meet the players and communicate what we’re looking to do in the next camp.”
USA-CHILE NOTES
USA ROSTER NOTES
CHILE ROSTER BY POSITION:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Gabriel Arias (Racing/ARG; 3/0), Brayan Cortés (Colo-Colo; 2/0), Lawrence Vigouroux (Swindon Town/ENG; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (9): Paulo Díaz (Al-Ahli/KSA; 16/0), Mauricio Isla (Fenerbahçe/TUR; 105/4), Gonzalo Jara (Estudiantes La Plata/ARG; 110/3), Igor Lichnovsky (Cruz Azul/MEX; 5/0), Guillermo Maripán (Deportivo Alavés/ESP; 13/2), Gary Medel (Besiktas/TUR; 116/7), Eugenio Mena (Racing/ARG; 55/3), Óscar Opazo (Colo-Colo; 4/0), Sebastián Vegas (Morelia/MEX; 4/1)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Charles Aránguiz (Bayer Leverkusen/GER; 67/7), Pablo Hernández (Independiente/ARG; 25/3), Jimmy Martínez (Universidad de Chile; 3/0), Jean Meneses (Club León/MEX; 0/0), Esteban Pavez (Colo-Colo; 3/0), Erick Pulgar (Bologna/ITA; 13/0), Diego Valdés (Santos Laguna/MEX; 9/1), Arturo Vidal (Barcelona/ESP; 105/26)
FORWARDS (4): Nicolás Castillo (Club América/MEX; 18/3), Felipe Mora (Pumas UNAM/MEX; 2/0), Iván Morales (Colo-Colo; 0/0), Diego Rubio (Colorado Rapids/USA; 4/0)
CHILE NOTES