USA vs. Honduras
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, 8 pm ET
FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, Fla.
Watch on ESPN, WatchESPN, UniMas
After seeing a late goal put a damper on their international friendly against Ecuador last week, the US national team will try to get back to winning ways on Tuesday against an opponent they know all too well.
The US host CONCACAF foe Honduras at FAU Stadium in the second of their October friendlies on Tuesday night, hoping that an infusion of veterans can help get the Americans back in the win column after Landon Donovan's farewell game was spoiled by a late equalizer in last Friday's 1-1 draw vs. Ecuador at Rentschler Field.
Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones are among the six players added to the US roster by Jurgen Klinsmann, and they will attempt to jumpstart their new World Cup cycle with an impressive peformance that will surely see Klinsmann integrate some of the younger players he has deployed in the last two games. Whether it is Mix Diskerud or Joe Corona or Greg Garza, Klinsmann has plenty of options to consider as he tries to further tinker with his lineup ahead of next summer's Gold Cup.
In goal, the ongoing battle for the US' No. 1 spot continues. Brad Guzan played 90 minutes and did well against the Ecuadorians, but now it is Nick Rimando's turn to stake his claim with a whistle-to-whistle outing vs. the Catrachos.
HISTORY
The US boast an impressive 13-3-3 career record vs. Honduras, and were triumphant in their most recent meeting in the 2013 Gold Cup semifinals. The Americans used a Donovan brace and an Eddie Johnson goal to pick up a 3-1 win at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and move onto the tournament final, which they narrowly won over Panama.
Klinsmann is no stranger to facing Honduras in South Florida, as the he led the US in a friendly played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens back on Oct. 8, 2011. The Americans came out on top in the 1-0 affair courtesy of a Dempsey goal, giving Klinsmann his first win as the US head coach.
USA OUTLOOK
Two games into the new cycle, the US are unbeaten with a win and draw against the Czech Republic and Ecuador, respectively. But Klinsmann has used primarily young and inexperienced sides in those games and is now tasked with trying to incorporate the standouts from those into his more full-strength lineup.
Dempsey, Bradley, Jones, Graham Zusi and Matt Besler were all summoned from their MLS clubs this past weekend for this friendly in the Sunshine State, and should see time from first kick on Tuesday. Klinsmann will probably want to integrate Diskerud into the starting lineup with the regulars, given that the 24-year-old midfielder has shone in the past two friendlies by connecting passes and showing improvements in his defensive game.
While Klinsmann will want to see how his usual starters fare three months after finishing in the Round of 16 at the World Cup, expect him to give more opportunities to his lesser-experienced players. Bobby Wood and Miguel Ibarra could see time off the bench in the second half, especially since there are not that many more opportunities to experiment before the 2015 Gold Cup.
HONDURAS OUTLOOK
Honduras are preparing themselves for their potential participation in the Gold Cup, but are coming off a loss to Mexico. The Catrachos suffered a 2-0 defeat to El Tri last Friday, and will attempt to bounce back against the other CONCACAF heavyweight.
Led by new head coach Hernan Medford, Honduras are still sorting themselves out. They followed up a less-than-stellar World Cup performance under the guidance of Luis Fernando Suarez with another disappointing outing in the 2014 Copa Centroamericana.
Medford is still trying to find the right balance with his lineup, and is doing so before the Honduras play in the Gold Cup play-in game between the fifth-placed Central American and Carribean teams. He has plenty of young and inexperienced players in his current roster, but also boasts seasoned veterans like Boniek Garcia, Jorge Claros, Victor Bernardez and Maynor Figueroa.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
USA - Clint Dempsey
The US captain is back and will look to translate his current dominant form on the club level with the Seattle Sounders to the international level. Dempsey has scored 14 goals in 21 games for the Sounders in his first full season with the club, and he enjoyed a solid World Cup that included goals against Ghana and Portugal.
HONDURAS - Andy Najar
The former D.C. United winger might be just 21, but he is already considered one of Honduras' better players. Najar is enjoying a strong start to the Pro League season in Belgium, starting in eight of Anderlecht's 10 matches so far and contributing with two goals. He's also caught the eye of scouts at Tottenham, with expectations that he could be playing at White Hart Lane next year.
US ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS(2): Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (6): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Michael Orozco (Puebla), Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
MIDFIELDERS (7):Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Miguel Ibarra (Minnesota United FC), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (1860 Munich)
HONDURAS ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS (2): Donis Escober (Olimpia), Kevin Hernandez (Real Espana)
DEFENDERS (7): Henry Figueroa (Motagua), Maynor Figueroa (Hull City), Víctor Bernárdez (San Jose Earthquakes), Wilfredo Barahona (Real Espana), Javier Portillo (Olimpia), Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic), Wilmer Crisanto (Motagua)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Juan Jose Rodríguez (Parrillas One), Boniek García (Houston Dynamo), Andy Najar (Anderlecht), Mario Martínez (Barcelona, Ecuador), Marvin Chavez (Chivas USA), Luis Garrido (Houston Dynamo), Jorge Claros (Sporting Kansas City), Edder Delgado (Real Espana)
FORWARDS (3): Roger Rojas (Al-Ettifaq), Alberth Elis (Olimpia), Romell Quioto (Olimpia)
