Lineup Notes: U.S. MNT vs. Mexico - International Friendly
The U.S. Men's National Team continues the Kickoff Series with USA-Mexico, presented by AT&T on Tuesday, Sept. 11 (8:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, Univision).
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USA vs. Mexico, Presented by AT&T
Kickoff Series - International Friendly
Sept. 11, 2018
Nissan Stadium; Nashville, Tenn.
Live Broadcast: 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and Univision
Tonight’s U.S. MNT Starting XI vs. Mexico: 1-Zack Steffen; 19-Shaq Moore, 5-Cameron Carter-Vickers, 3-Matt Miazga, 15-Eric Lichaj; 20-Wil Trapp (capt.); 23-Kellyn Acosta, 4-Tyler Adams, 8-Weston McKennie, 11-Tim Weah; 9-Gyasi Zardes
Substitutes: 12-Ethan Horvath, 2-DeAndre Yedlin, 7-Bobby Wood, 10-Cristian Roldan, 13-Andrija Novakovich, 16-Julian Green, 17-Antonee Robinson, 21-Tim Parker, 25-Marky Delgado
- U.S. MNT Starting XI Cap Numbers (including this match): Gyasi Zardes (40), Kellyn Acosta (19), Eric Lichaj (16), Matt Miazga (9), Wil Trapp (8), Tyler Adams (7), Weston McKennie (6), Cameron Carter-Vickers (5), Zack Steffen (5), Tim Weah (5), Shaq Moore (3)
- Making his eighth MNT appearance, Wil Trapp captains the side for the sixth time tonight. Trapp has worn the armband in every U.S. match this year except for the 3-0 win against Bolivia on May 28.
- The Starting XI’s average cap number (including this match): 11.2 caps
- Dave Sarachan makes six changes from the lineup that faced Brazil on Friday, inserting Shaq Moore, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Eric Lichaj on the back line, Kellyn Acosta and Tim Weah in midfield and Gyasi Zardes up top.
- With an average of 23 years, 5 days, tonight’s Starting XI is the youngest the MNT has put out against Mexico in the modern era (1990-present). The next youngest lineup against El Trí in that timespan came on March 12, 1991, a 2-2 draw in Los Angeles (23 years, 289 days). Starting left back Eric Lichaj is the only player in tonight’s Starting XI that was alive when the match was played.
- This is the sixth straight match in which the MNT lineup has had an average age under 24 years.
- At 18 years, 201 days, Tim Weah is the third youngest player in the MNT’s modern era to start against Mexico after Christian Pulisic (18 years, 54 days; Nov. 16, 2011) and Jozy Altidore (18 years, 92 days; Feb. 6, 2008).
- Three players have previous senior-team experience against Mexico: Gyasi Zardes (two games), Kellyn Acosta and Eric Lichaj (one game each)
- Collecting his fifth cap tonight, Zack Steffen becomes the second-least experienced goalkeeper to make his first appearance against Mexico after Jonny Walker, who made his third and final MNT appearance in a 1-0 win against El Trí on April 28, 2004.
- Nine of the starting XI are products of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls), Weston McKennie (FC Dallas), Matt Miazga (New York Red Bulls), Shaq Moore (FC Dallas) Zack Steffen (FC DELCO), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC), Tim Weah (New York Red Bulls/BW Gottschee), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
- The MNT trails the all-time series with an 18-34-15 mark, but leads the series since 2000, holding a 13-7-6 record since. The USA is also 7-0-4 against Mexico in the two sides’ last 11 friendly matches.
- Adams and Trapp make their team-leading sixth appearances of 2018.
- Adams, Weston McKennie and Trapp form the core of the MNT central midfield for the fourth-straight match.
- Matt Miazga and Cameron Carter-Vickers start as the MNT’s center back pair for the third time. The duo partnered in the 1-0 victory against Paraguay on March 27 and the 2-1 defeat at Ireland on June 2.
- Kellyn Acosta is the lone player to appear in the last meeting with Mexico, logging 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw in World Cup Qualifying at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11, 2017.
- The MNT starting XI represents clubs in six different countries: USA (5), England (2), France (2), Germany (1), Spain (1)
- With the MNT dressing 20 players, goalkeeper Alex Bono and defender Aaron Long are healthy scratches from tonight’s matchday squad. Teams are allowed six substitutions in tonight’s match.
- Tonight marks the MNT’s sixth match at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium. The USA is 2-2-1 all-time at the venue and last played to a 1-1 draw with Panama in the opening match of the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup.
- This is the second time the MNT has played on September 11. The first came in 2012, a 1-0 win against Jamaica in Semifinal Round World Cup Qualifying in Columbus, Ohio.
- During their stay in the New York area last week, the U.S. Men’s National Team met with members of the NYPD and FDNY Soccer Teams at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, exchanging jerseys and touring the museum.