On Saturday, the United States Men's National Team will take on Ghana in a friendly ahead of the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Setting the Scene
NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson will suit up for the United States, while former City standout Kwadwo Poku will dress opposite him as a member of the Black Stars. Both players are in great form for their current clubs–Poku recently scored a game-winning goal against Atlanta United in the US Open Cup, while Johnson has won his last three NYCFC starts–and are hungry to prove their worth to their national teams.
For Johnson, this match is an opportunity to prove he belongs in the stacked upper echelon of American goalkeepers competing for playing time not just at this tournament, but going forward as well. As competition for a spot on the USA's 2018 FIFA World Cup roster heats up, a breakout summer could go a long way toward putting Johnson on Bruce Arena's radar ahead of the biggest tournament in the world.
Unlike many of his teammates, however, Johnson has been here before. He earned his first-ever national team start in the 2013 Gold Cup, shutting out Costa Rica en route to a 1-0 victory. The U.S. would go on to win the tournament. Now a 27-year old veteran, he may very well find himself in a leadership role on this inexperienced squad.
Of the 23 players on the USMNT roster for this tournament, nine have five or fewer caps; four of them are uncapped. Kenny Saief (KAA Gent) and Dom Dwyer (Sporting Kansas City) have only recently become eligible to suit up for the United States. Saturday's match may be more a test of cohesion than of talent for the USA, as Arena looks to work a brand new crop of exciting players into his program.
Last Time Out
The USMNT and Ghana have quite a bit of shared history. The two sides have faced off in every FIFA World Cup since 2006. Ghana eliminated the U.S. in 2006 and 2010, before John Brooks' late header earned the Americans a win in the 2014 group stage opener. While the stakes won't be quite as high in Saturday's match-up, the two sides both know what a win would mean in their first meeting in three years.
The USMNT battled to a much-needed 1-1 draw against Mexico in their last match, a World Cup Qualifier at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca on June 11th. Michael Bradley and Carlos Vela each scored goals, as the United States climbed to third in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying standings.
Ghana also faced off against Mexico in their most recent match, a 1-0 friendly defeat in Houston on June 28th.
What to Watch For
How well does new U.S. attacking talent fit in?
The key to a successful summer for the USMNT will be their ability to quickly integrate their new players. Kenny Saief is coming off of his most productive season yet for KAA Gent, while Dom Dwyer has been a prolific scorer in MLS over the past few years. If they can translate their club form to the international level, Bruce Arena could find himself with an embarrassment of attacking riches in the Gold Cup.
Who Wins the Midfield Battle?
Uncapped midfielders Kelyn Rowe and Cristian Roldan could make their debuts for the U.S. on Saturday against a physical, pacy Ghana side quick to pounce on mistakes, headlined by the play of Kwadwo Poku. Once again, the question of cohesion looms large for the Americans in midfield as they look to mesh this young crop of players in with veterans like Dax McCarty and Alejandro Bedoya.
Rosters
Ghana
GOALKEEPERS (2): Joseph Addo (Aduana Stars), Richard Ofori (Wa All Stars)
DEFENDERS (8): Harrison Afful (Columbus Crew SC), Lumor Agbenyenu (1860 Munich), Jerry Akaminko (Eskiserhispor), John Boye (Sivasspor), Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew SC), Nicholas Opoku (Berekum Chelsea), Samuel Sarfo (Liberty Professionals), Rashid Sumalia (Al Gharafa),
MIDFIELDERS (8): Mohammed Abu (Columbus Crew SC), Frank Acheampong (Anderlecht), Thomas Agyepong (NAC Breda), Winful Cobbinah (Hearts of Oak), Ofori Ebenezer (Stuttgart), Gershon Koffie (New England Revolution), Kwadwo Poku (Miami FC), Isaac Sackey (Alanyaspor)
FORWARDS (4): David Accam (Chicago Fire), Raphael Dwamena (FC Zurich), Asamoah Gyan (Al-Alhi), Majeed Waris (Lorient)
United States
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (New York City FC)
DEFENDERS (8): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest), Matt Miazga (Chelsea), Justin Morrow (Toronto FC), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC), Kelyn Rowe (New England Revolution), Kenny Saief (Gent), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
FORWARDS (3): Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Dom Dwyer (Sporting Kansas City), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC)
