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Both Graham Zusi and Matt Besler started for the U.S., played solid matches and were subbed out in the 64th minute in the 1-1 draw with Honduras.
The match was an opportunity for U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann to experiment. He called in players for this and the Ecaudor game who were making their first appearances or have not been in the picture recently and changed the roles of some veterans.
Jermaine Jones who can play most midfield roles well ended up playing center back next to Matt Besler. Mix Diskerud and Michael Bradley switched roles with Bradley playing the top of the diamond underneath Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore. Tijuana’s Greg Garza made his third appearance for the U.S. and Minnesota United’s Miguel Ibarra made his first.
The first score came when Jozy Altidore received the ball from Bradley and took on Victor Bernardez and made a strong cut back to his right and shot near post past the defender’s outstretched foot.
Altidore's goal in the 10th minute staked the U.S. out to the early lead which held most of the match until Honduras captain Maynor Figueroa equalized in the 86th minute off of a beautiful free kick from Mario Martinez.
Besler injury?
Sports Illustrated’s Brian Straus tweeted after the match that Besler was moving very gingerly, almost surely a hamstring.
Matt Besler was walking very, very gingerly after leaving the US locker room. Almost surely a hamstring.
— Brian Straus (@BrianStraus) October 15, 2014
When asked about Besler, Sporting Kansas City responded that he is returning to KC today and will be evaluated by technical staff.
Besler was subbed out during the World Cup for a suspected hamstring issue as well. He was replaced in the Ghana game by John Brooks (who scored the game winner off of Zusi) at halftime but started the next match versus Portugal six days later.
Sporting KC's next match is
With all of the Sporting KC’s injury woes this year, they do not need another injured defender. Ike Opara, Chance Myers and Erik Palmer-Brown all out for the season and Aurelien Collin missing the last three matches and status unknown would leave SKC’s manager Peter Vermes scrambling once again to piece together a lineup.