Trinidad & Tobago vs. USA
CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier
November 17 | 6:30 pm ET | Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
TV: beIN SPORTS, NBC Universo, En Vivo Extra
After handling St. Vincent & the Grenadines on Friday night, the US national team will face the first real challenge of their World Cup qualifying campaign on Tuesday when they travel to the Caribbean to take on Trinidad & Tobago.
Tuesday’s contest will be the second for both nations in Group 3 after each started their qualifying campaign on the right foot, with the US taking care of St. Vincent & the Grenadines 6-1 in St. Louis and Trinidad & Tobago registering a solid 2-1 win at Guatemala.
NOW THE FUN STARTS: It wasn't perfect, but the US were solid on Friday night, doing more than enough to get the job done against Vincy Heat. That match, however, was never going to be a real test for the USMNT.
Tuesday will no doubt be a different story.
Trinidad & Tobago have rounded into form nicely over the last few months, toppling Mexico to win Group A at the Gold Cup before bowing out of the tournament in a shootout loss against Panama in the quarterfinals. They started their road to Russia well on Friday, getting goals from Khaleem Hyland and Sheldon Bateau to top Guatemala 2-1 in Guatemala City.
They'll be a formidable foe on Tuesday, especially in the friendly confines of Hasely Crawford Stadium. The Soca Warriors have enjoyed success against the US in past World Cup qualifiers in Trinidad & Tobago, winning in Port of Spain in CONCACAF’s third round of qualifying in 2008 before giving the Americans all they could handle in a 1-0 US win at T&T in that cycle’s Hexagonal.
TIMMY TIME: For just the second time since his heroic performance against Belgium in the 2014 World Cup, Tim Howard will start between the pipes for the US on Tuesday. Manager Jurgen Klinsmann announced prior to Friday’s match that Howard, who took a year-long hiatus following the World Cup and has backed up Brad Guzan in all but one match – a friendly against Costa Rica – since making his return to the national team, will get the nod in goal.
Ever the savvy veteran, Howard says he’s not fazed by Klinsmann’s decision to platoon him and Guzan.
“Nothing has changed for me or for Brad,” said Howard. “We try to do our best with our clubs, and Jurgen will make his decision based on a number of different factors. But it’s not something I lose sleep over.”
MLS CONNECTIONS: Trinidad & Tobago’s long tradition of using MLS players in their biggest matches continued on Friday, when Joevin Jones and Daneil Cyrus – both of the Chicago Fire – went the full 90 for the Soca Warriors.
Jones and Cyrus are likely to stay in the starting lineup on Tuesday against the US. We’ll see whether or not Columbus Crew midfielder Kevan George – who played 28 minutes off the bench in Guatemala – and San Jose Earthquakes attacker Cordell Cato get in on the action, too.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Fabian Johnson, USA: Johnson and Klinsmann patched things up from their brief falling out ahead of Friday’s qualifier, with Johnson – who usually lines up along the back line for the USMNT – slotting in at left wing, his position on the club level. He was solid there against St. Vincent & the Grenadines, notching a goal and looking active while playing in front of defender Tim Ream. We’ll see if Johnson gets the nod again along the wing on Tuesday.
Kenwyne Jones, Trinidad & Tobago: The veteran striker has been good for Cardiff City in the English Championship this year, scoring three goals in 11 games with the second-division side. The focal point of the Trinidad & Tobago front line, Jones will be a key cog on Tuesday night. Stop him, and the US should have some success. If he’s able to hold the ball up, bring his teammates into the game and wreak havoc in the box, it could be a long night for the Americans.
