We start the week with the second of the October friendlies a day away. The USMNT is back in action on Tuesday, playing New Zealand at RFK Stadium (8pm ET – ESPN). An announced crowd of 40,287 showed up at Nashville’s LP Field to watch Mexico beat New Zealand 2-1 on Saturday night. The Galaxy’s Gio dos Santos wore the captain’s armband for a game that probably won’t revamp El Tri’s World Cup qualifying campaign. The same could be said of the USMNT’s 2-0 win at Cubs the day before.
So what does this mean for Tuesday? A new look for the USMNT, with coach Jurgen Klinsmann making multiple changes. That new group has had a few days of practice in the DC area to get ready for another friendly where they’re the favorite.
Pulling together takeaways from the USMNT’s win in Havana required creativity. The field conditions alone meant careful play trying to minimize the risk of injury. RFK will play better, but it’s still a push to get a friendly to the level that the coach would need to make disruptive choices for November.
A real issue that isn’t being talked about enough is how/when does the #USMNT schedule “quality friendlies”?! Opponents just aren’t there. https://t.co/TLgAYe8rKk
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) October 8, 2016
Moving on, there was one MLS game on the schedule with Colorado beating Houston 3-2 at BBVA Compass Stadium. Dominque Badjo put the Rapids up in the 12th minute with Mauro Manotas equalizing in the 45th. Badji scored again in the 54th with Shkelzen Gashi making it 3-1 in the 79th. Manotas pulled a goal back in the 81st. The result officially means Houston won’t be making the playoffs. They join Orlando City, Chicago, and Vancouver out of playoff contention.
AP’s Rob Harris explains CONCACAF’s plans to alter future World Cup qualifying. Goal.com’s Thomas Floyd talks to Sunderland and USMNT player Lyndon Gooch. Bundesliga.com explains what’s at stake in this game for Terrence Boyd. ESPN FC’s Doug McIntyre interviews Boyd about the extent of his injury and the lengthy recovery.
The New York Daily News’ John Marzulli reports on former Costa Rica soccer president Eduardo Li making a plea deal with the US Department of Justice. The Telegraph’s James Ducker has FIFA president Gianni Infantino responding to that paper’s investigation into soccer corruption. The Guardian’s Jamie Jackson is also reporting on allegations of corruption in soccer.
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