USMNT facing Guatemala in World Cup Qualifying on Tuesday

CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Men’s National Team looks to bounce back from Friday’s 2-0 World Cup Qualifying loss in Guatemala City with USA-Guatemala at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday, March 29.

The match kicks off at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on ESPN2, UniMas and Univision Deportes.

With the MNT taking four points from the team’s first two semifinal World Cup Qualifying matches last November, the side has now completed the two toughest road games of the round following the 2-0 loss on Friday night in Guatemala City.

Sitting two points behind Guatemala in CONCACAF’s semifinal round Group C standings, Tuesday’sre-match provides the U.S. a chance for redemption as well as the opportunity to move back into the top half of the group ahead of this summer’s Copa America Centenario.

+Read: U.S. U-17 MNT defeats Russia 4-0 to win group at French tournament

As the MNT returns stateside, they’ll be welcomed back to a familiar home in Columbus. The historic soccer-specific stadium has played host to a number of memorable U.S. matches and has been a regular fixture on the MNT’s World Cup Qualifying circuit, hosting at least one match in each qualifying cycle dating back to 2002.

Most famous for being the setting for the USA’s four “Dos a Cero” World Cup Qualifying victories against Mexico, the U.S. is 6-0-2 all-time in qualifying matches at MAPFRE Stadium, winning each of its last four matches there. In 10 matches, the U.S. has never tasted defeat in Columbus, going 7-0-3 all-time while conceding just one goal.

With the team returning to the U.S., a few roster changes have occurred from the original 26-man list announced at the start of camp. Defenders John Brooks and Matt Besler and midfielder Fabian Johnson have departed camp due to injury, while U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has called midfielders Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund) and Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City), settling the number of players in camp at 25.

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (Club; WCQ Caps/Goals)

GOALKEEPERS (4) : David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa; 9/0), Tim Howard (Everton FC; 31/0), William Yarbrough (Club Leon; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (7) : Ventura Alvarado (Club America; 0/0), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United; 0/0), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City; 16/1), Edgar Castillo (Monterrey; 5/0), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca; 9/0), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana; 5/1), DeAndre Yedlin (Sunderland; 3/0)
MIDFIELDERS (9) : Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake; 6/0), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes FC; 4/0), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC; 27/5), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC; 4/0), Ethan Finlay (Columbus Crew SC; 0/0), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers FC; 3/0), Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution; 0/0), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund; 0/0) Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City; 6/2)
FORWARDS (5) : Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC; 29/12), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC; 35/13), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Bobby Wood (Union Berlin; 3/1), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy; 3/1)

USA NOTES:

• The MNT holds a 15-5-6 all-time record against Guatemala, with a 7-1-5 edge in World Cup Qualifying and 6-0-0 record in home qualifying matches.
• The U.S. is 7-0-3 all-time and 6-0-2 in World Cup Qualifying matches played at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
• The U.S. has earned nine clean sheets in 10 matches at MAPFRE Stadium, conceding only a penalty kick in the MNT’s 1-1 World Cup Qualifying draw with Jamaica on November 17, 2004.
• Clint Dempsey made his international debut in the same match, coming on as a substitute for Ramiro Corrales in the 1-1 draw with Jamaica.
• Michael Bradley is the only player on the current roster to have scored at MAPFRE Stadium, tallying both goals in the MNT’s 2-0 victory against Mexico to begin final round qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup on February 11, 2009
• After earning his MNT debut in January’s 3-2 win against Iceland and first assist in the 1-0 win against Canada on Feb. 5, Columbus Crew SC midfielder Ethan Finlay has the chance to play for the USA on his home field.
• Twelve players from the USA’s 2014 FIFA World Cup roster are part of this group: Jozy Altidore, Kyle Beckerman, Alejandro Bedoya, Michael Bradley, Geoff Cameron, Clint Dempsey, Mix Diskerud, Brad Guzan, Tim Howard, Chris Wondolowski, DeAndre Yedlin and Graham Zusi
• Eighteen players have previous World Cup Qualifying experience.
• Four players on the roster have played in 25+ World Cup Qualifying games: Dempsey (35), Howard (31), Altidore (29), Bradley (27)
• Seven players have the chance to appear in their first qualifier: David Bingham, Steve Birnbaum, Ethan Finlay, Lee Nguyen, Christian Pulisic, Chris Wondolowski, William Yarbrough
• Eight players have registered goals in a World Cup qualifier: Altidore, Bradley, Cameron, Dempsey, Johnson, Orozco, Wood, Zardes
• Having scored in his World Cup Qualifying debut in last November’s 6-1 win vs. St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Union Berlin striker Bobby Wood comes into camp sitting third on the Second Bundesliga scoring chart with 14 goals this season.
• French-based midfielder Alejandro Bedoya has also seen an inspired start to 2016, racking up four goals and two assists in 14 competitive appearances, while helping Nantes to sixth place in the tight Ligue 1 table.
• DeAndre Yedlin has hit his stride for Sunderland of late, starting in each of the Black Cats’ last six league matches while helping the club to a six-game unbeaten streak including wins against Manchester United and West Ham United.

MILESTONE WATCH

• With 13 total, Clint Dempsey is tied with Landon Donovan for most World Cup Qualifying goals by a U.S. player. Jozy Altidore is right behind them with 12.
• With an appearance Tuesday against Guatemala, Jozy Altidore would earn his 30^th World Cup Qualifying cap, making him the youngest U.S. player to reach the milestone at 26 years and 144 days. At 26 years, 277 days Landon Donovan was the fastest player to reach the mark, which came in the MNT’s 2-1 victory against Honduras on June 6, 2009.

GUATEMALA CONNECTIONS:

• With five goals, Dempsey is the USA’s all-time leading scorer against Guatemala. He has tallied four of those in his last four appearances vs. los Chapines.
• New roster addition Graham Zusi assisted twice against Guatemala in the MNT’s pivotal 3-1 World Cup Qualifying win on October 16, 2012, clinching the team’s berth in final round of 2014 World Cup Qualifying.
• Both Wondolowski and Bedoya scored their first career international goals against Guatemala in a 6-0 win on July 5, 2013 in San Diego, Calif. Wondolowski has scored in both of his appearances against the Central American nation, with the other coming in a 4-0 win on July 3, 2015 in Nashville, Tenn.
• Goalkeeper Brad Guzan made his MNT debut in a 4-0 friendly win against Guatemala on February 19, 2006. The Aston Villa net minder holds a perfect 3-0-0 record and has never conceded a goal to Guatemala.

TEAMMATES AND OPPONENTS: While a few of Guatemala’s players having graced Major League Soccer, there are some club connections between the two teams.

• The only current connection comes through Columbus Crew SC where both U.S. midfielder Ethan Finlay and Guatemala’s Rodrigo Saravia are teammates.
• Having moved to the Colorado Rapids over the offseason, Marco Pappa spent two years at Seattle Sounders FC. Playing alongside Clint Dempsey and DeAndre Yedlin, with the trio won the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup together.
• Pappa will soon be teammates with U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard, who will join the Colorado Rapids from English club Everton FC in July.
• Though he’s never been teammates with anyone on the current U.S. roster, Guatemala captain Carlos Ruiz is well-known in American soccer circles after playing eight seasons in MLS with the LA Galaxy, FC Dallas, Toronto FC, Philadelphia Union and D.C. United. A two-time MLS Golden Boot winner, Ruiz was the league’s MVP in 2002 and went on to score the game-winner in that year’s MLS Cup Final, helping the Galaxy to its first league title.

GUATEMALA ROSTER BY POSITION:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jose Carlos Garcia (Coban Imperial), Paulo Motta (Municipal), Ricardo Jerez (Alianza Petrolera; COL)
DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Castrillo (Comunicaciones), Stefano Cincotta (Chemnitzer FC; GER) Luis Cardona (Comunicaciones), Moises Hernandez (FC Dallas; USA), Cristian Jimenez (Municipal), Hamilton Lopez (Xelaju), Jonathan Lopez (Marquense), Rafael Morales (Comunicaciones)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Gerardo Arias (Municipal), Jose Contreras (Comunicaciones), Jean Marquez (Comunicaciones), Marco Pappa (Colorado Rapids; USA), Marco Rivas (Municipal), Rodrigo Saravia (Columbus Crew SC; USA),
FORWARDS (5): Kevin Arriola (Xelaju), Edi Danilo Guerra (Guastatoya), Mafre Icute (Coban Imperial), Luis Martinez (Xelaju), Carlos Ruiz (Municipal) Gerson Tinoco (Coban Imperial)

Head Coach: Walter Claveri

GUATEMALA NOTES:

• Guatemala is led by head coach Walter Claveri, who was hired on January 19, 2016 and last led Guatemalan club Suchitepequez.
• Guatemala has won its first two matches under Claveri, defeating Honduras 3-1 in a friendly played on February 10 in Guatemala City and the United States 2-0 in World Cup Qualifying on March 25.
• With los Chapines dropping a November World Cup Qualifier 2-1 at home to Trinidad & Tobago in November, Guatemalan clubs agreed to allow the National Team’s 18-domestic players to begin training together on March 14.
• Of the five foreign-based Guatemala players, three ply their trade in Major League Soccer: Moises Hernandez (FC Dallas), Marco Pappa (Colorado Rapids), Rodrigo Saravia (Columbus Crew SC).

LAST MEETING

Date: July 3, 2015
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Nissan Stadium; Nashville, Tenn.
Kickoff: 6 p.m. CT
Attendance: 44,835
Weather: 76 degrees; Cloudy

Scoring Summary: 1   2   F
USA                        1   3   4
GUA                        0   0   0

USA: 1-Brad Guzan; 21-Timmy Chandler, 3-Omar Gonzalez (13-Ventura Alvarado, 46), 6-John Brooks (15-Tim Ream, 61), 23-Fabian Johnson (14-Greg Garza, 46); 2-DeAndre Yedlin, 10-Mix Diskerud (7-Alfredo Morales, 61), 4-Michael Bradley (capt.), 19-Graham Zusi (20-Gyasi Zardes, 46); 8-Clint Dempsey, 17-Jozy Altidore (18-Chris Wondolowski, 68)
Subs Not Used: 12-Nick Rimando, 22-William Yarbrough, 16-Brad Evans, 5-Kyle Beckerman, 11-Alejandro Bedoya, 9-Aron Johannsson
Head Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann

GUA: 12-Paulo Motta (capt.), 2-Ruben Morales, 4-Wilson Lalin, 13-Carlos Castrillo (19-Carlos Figueroa, 74), 15-Deniss Lopez; 6-Carlos Mejia (18-Aslinn Rodas, 84), 14-Kendel Herrarte (10-Jose Contreras, 46), 17-Brandon De Leon (8-Jonathan Marquez, 69), 23-Jorge Aparicio, 7-Jairo Arreola (16-Marco Pappa, 46), 22-Minor Lopez (20-Carlos Ruiz, 46)
Subs Not Used: 1-Victor Ayala, 21-Ricardo Jerez; 3-Jose Pinto, 11-Gerardo Arias
Head coach: Ivan Franco Sopegno