World Cup Qualifier: Barbados-U.S. at Home Depot Center
Gorgeous afternoon and a sparse (but hopefully enthusiastic crowd, observe U.S. Soccer officials) for this afternoon's game in Carson.
Turns out goalkeeper Tim Howard hurt his lower back during practice Friday, which is why Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan earns his eighth cap.
The rest of the starting line-up for the U.S.: at full back are Steve Cherundolo and Heath Pierce, while Oguchi Onyewu and Carlos Bocanegra are in the middle.
In midfield, it's Pablo Mastroeni, Landon Donovan, Michael Bradley and DaMarcus Beasley.
Up front are Brian Ching and Clint Dempsey.
Coach Bob Bradley has thankfully left the misfiring Eddie Johnson on the bench alongside Freddy Adu.
The Barbados team is littered with the likes of midfielder Jonathan Forte (Scunthorpe United) and Jonathon Nurse (Dagenham & Redbridge) from the lower divisions in England.
The man to keep your eye on for Barbados: playmaker and captain Norman Forde.
Landon Donovan is being honored before the game after collecting his century of caps.
The game is on ESPN2.
About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook.
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