Facing a weak Cuba team on Oct. 11 in World Cup qualifying, U.S. Coach Bob Bradley has finally shown a bit of an adventurous streak by dropping striker Eddie Johnson and adding the likes of Mexican league players Michael Orozco and Jose Francisco Torres to a 23-player squad announced today (World Cup qualifying caps and goals – or shutouts in the case of goalkeepers – are in parentheses):
goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa: 2/2 SO), Tim Howard (Everton FC: 6/5 SO), Troy Perkins (Valerenga IF: 0/0).
defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes: 16/2), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland: 2/0), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96: 17/0), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC: 1/0), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew: 13/1), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege: 11/0), Michael Orozco (San Luis: 0/0), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock: 5/0).
midfielders: Freddy Adu (AS Monaco: 1/0), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers: 19/4), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach: 5/2), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers: 3/0), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA: 3/0), Danny Szetela (Brescia Calcio: 0/0), Jos Francisco Torres (Pachuca: 0/0).
forwards: Jozy Altidore (Villarreal C.F.: 0/0), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo: 9/4), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF: 0/0) Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC: 11/4), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy: 24/8).
Good to see Altidore and Adu back in the team, too. Nine players from the Olympic squad are in this one. No room for the Galaxy’s Eddie Lewis, although I’m guessing Bradley is trying to help out Bruce Arena there.
In college games Thursday:
*Amy Rodriguez scored a hat trick as No. 5 USC (9-1-0) demolished Cal State Bakersfield (4-8-1) 7-0 for the Trojans’ seventh straight win. How dominating was this victory? USC out shot their opponents 37-2. Ouch. That’s not a game – it’s target practice. Next for USC: Cal State Northridge at 1 p.m. Sunday at McAlister Field.
*The Loyola Marymount men (2-2-4) beat Cal State Bakersfield (2-10-0) 2-1in overtime with freshman Fernando Barba scoring the winner. LMU visits Saint Mary’s Sunday to open West Coast Conference play.
