U.S. MNT hosting Peru tonight in Connecticut for Kickoff Series clash

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (Via U.S. Soccer) – Following Thursday’s 4-2 defeat to Colombia, the U.S. Men’s National Team continues to challenge itself against strong international opponents when it takes on 2018 FIFA World Cup participants Peru on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn.

Coverage of the MNT’s fourth Kickoff Series match begins at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, UniMas and UDN.

Here is a preview of USA-Peru:

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 56^th 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.

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

• Having first met in 1989, the MNT leads the series with a 3-2-1 record.
• In the last meeting, the USA used a brace from Jozy Altidore to earn a 2-1 comeback victory on Sept. 4, 2015 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
• Tuesday’s match comes 22 years to the day of Peru’s first win in the series, a 4-1 victory  on Oct. 16, 1996 in Lima.

USA ROSTER NOTES

• As of Oct. 16, 2018, the 22-player roster carries an average age of 24 years, 62 days, while 15 players are 23 years and under.
• Six players are age-eligible for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo (born 1997 or later): Jonathan Amon, Reggie Cannon, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Antonee Robinson, Josh Sargent and Tim Weah
• Following the Colombia match, the roster averages 18.9 caps, with 16 players holding 10 or less appearances.
• The MNT’s October camp has been highlighted by the return of long-time veterans, midfielder Michael Bradley and goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
• With his next appearance, midfielder Michael Bradley will move into sole possession of third place on the MNT’s all-time caps list. Bradley currently sits tied with Clint Dempsey (141 caps) and sits behind only Cobi Jones (164) and Landon Donovan (157).
• Coming on in the 75th minute of Thursday’s match against Colombia, Ben Sweat became the 16th player to earn their MNT debut this year – third most in the modern era behind 1992 (21) and 2007 (20).
• Three more players have the chance to make their debuts on Tuesday: midfielder Jonathan Amon and defenders Reggie Cannon and Aaron Long.
• Bradley (141) and Guzan (58) lead the way in caps, followed by DeAndre Yedlin (55), Bobby Wood (42) and John Brooks (35).
• The roster features players that ply their trade in nine different countries: USA (7), Germany (4), Belgium, Canada, England and France (2 each); Denmark, Netherlands and Wales (one each)
• Bobby Wood’s 53rd minute strike against Colombia was his team-leading third of the year and fourth career goal against Top-20 ranked opponents.
• Tim Weah’s assist on Wood’s goal made him the third youngest MNT player to record a goal and assist at 18 years, 232 days. He comes in behind only Christian Pulisic (17 years, 349 days) and Juan Agudelo (18 years, 197 days).
• One of 16 players to make their senior-team debuts this year, Antonee Robinson leads the MNT with two assists, providing helpers to Tim Weah (May 28 vs. Bolivia) and Tyler Adams (Sept. 11 vs. Mexico).
• Last seen during the MNT’s 1-1 draw with France back in June, 18-year-old Josh Sargent has had a strong start to his competitive tenure at Werder Bremen, leading the club’s reserve side with six goals in 10 matches.
• Andrija Novakovich joins Amon in leading the MNT’s European contingent with four goals scored this season with Fortuna Sittard in the Dutch Eredivisie.
• A right back in the midst of his second MLS season, Reggie Cannon has appeared in each of FC Dallas’ 30 matches, adding a goal and three assists for the Western Conference leaders.
• Left back Ben Sweat has been a stalwart for New York City FC in 2018, appearing in 27 of 32 matches to help the club clinch a third-consecutive postseason berth.
• Also in his second season with Nordsjælland, 19-year-old winger Jonathan Amon has recorded four goals in eight matches across all competitions for the Danish side this campaign.
• Four players took part in the MNT’s last meeting with Peru, a 2-1 win on Sept. 4, 2015 in Washington, D.C.: John Brooks, Brad Guzan, Bobby Wood and DeAndre Yedlin
• Ten players have been part of a final U.S. roster at a youth World Cup: Kellyn Acosta, Michael Bradley, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Marky Delgado Ethan Horvath, Matt Miazga, Josh Sargent, Wil Trapp, Tim Weah and DeAndre Yedlin.

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

• Peru began the new World Cup cycle last month with matching 2-1 defeats to Netherlands and Germany.
• Most recently, they used a brace from Pedro Aquino to defeat Chile 3-0 on Oct. 12 in Miami Gardens, Fla.
• Sixteen players on the roster were part of Peru’s 2018 FIFA World Cup squad.
• Forward André Carillo scored what would stand as the game-winning goal in Peru’s 2-0 defeat of Australia – their first World Cup win since 1978.
• Peru has been managed by Ricardo Gareca since 2015. He led the country to a fourth-place finish at that year’s Copa America as well as qualification to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1982.