Michael Bradley (white jersey #4) is on the USA's roster for a World Cup qualifier against visiting Trinidad & Tobago on September 6, 2016. (Photo: Mexsport)
JACKSONVILLE, Florida – As it bids to seal a place in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the United States will be without two key defenders for Tuesday’s showdown against visiting Trinidad & Tobago.
Suspended DeAndre Yedlin will return to Newcastle United, his new club in England, after picking up his second caution in qualifying during the Americans’ 6-0 win Friday at St. Vincent & the Grenadines, resulting in a one-match ban.
Matt Besler heads back to Kansas City, where he will be with his wife and new daughter, who was born Friday – the day her father scored his first international goal.
In their place after serving one-game suspension are midfielder Michael Bradley and defender Michael Orozco. Bradley, 29, has not scored in 17 MLS outings with Toronto FC this season, while the 30-year-old Orozco has appeared in five games for Club Tijuana, which tops the 2016 Liga MX Apertura table.
The U.S. needs only a draw against Group C table-topper T&T at Jacksonville’s EverBank Field to claim one of the spots in the six-team Hexagonal.
