Tuesday Kicks: U.S. faces Costa Rica in Carson in September & more

*U.S. Soccer announced today an 8 p.m. Sept. 2 friendly against Costa Rica at Home Depot Center that will air on ESPN2.

Tickets go on sale July 15 starting at $20.

It’s a rare non-January friendly in Southern California against a Latin American team, which U.S. Soccer officials customarily attempt to avoid because of their fan support here. The U.S. has a 8-1-2 record at Home Depot Center.

The two nations haven’t faced each other since the fall of 2009 when a Jonathan Bornstein goal saw the U.S. qualify for the World Cup in a 2-2 draw. Costa Rica were forced into a playoff for a World Cup spot with Uruguay and lost.

The U.S. will also play belgium four days later in Brussels (11:30 a.m. ESPN Classic). It’s the first U.S. game against the Europeans since 1998.

The matches against Costa Rica and Belgium represent another great opportunity to continue the building process as we move towards the start of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying,” said U.S. Coach Bob Bradley. “We will have the chance to look at a variety of players and at the same time challenge ourselves against two very different opponents.”

*The Galaxy reserves lost to their Seattle counterparts today at the HDC.

*The Palos Verdes Peninsula’s John Thorrington is still trying to shake off persistent injuries and add to his 52 minutes of action this season for the Vancouver Whitecaps.

*Fan voting for the MLS All-Star game ends at 9 p.m. tonight.

ESPNU has increased its college soccer coverage. From the press release:

ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network, will double its men’s soccer coverage and showcase the strongest women’s line-up in the network’s six-year history during the 2011 NCAA season. In addition to four more regular season games on its six-week schedule, the network will televise both the men’s and women’s ACC championship matches for the first time.

A total of 10 women’s – up from eight in 2010 – and four men’s regular season games will be televised throughout the fall.

*And no, you didn’t miss today’s column. I took Monday off; the column returns next Tuesday.

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About Nick Green

South Bay-based Los Angeles News Group soccer columnist and blogger Nick Green writes at the 100 Percent Soccer blog at www.insidesocal.com/soccer and craft beer at the Beer Goggles blog at www.insidesocal.com/beer. Cheers!