Dempsey on Roster for Cuba

Fulham Striker Leads Squad with Four Goals

October 4, 2008

Currently leading Group 1 with nine points from three matches, the U.S. can clinch a place in the final round of qualifying with a victory against Cuba at RFK Stadium. Kickoff for the USA’s first match in the nation’s capital in four years is set for Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. ET.

Former Rev Clint Dempsey is on the World Cup Qualifying roster.

The team will begin gathering on Oct. 5 in Washington, D.C., in preparation for the match. Following the game and the weekend MLS matches, Bradley will announce the travel roster for the qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago, which takes place Oct. 15 at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.

Each of the starters from the last two victories against Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago return, led up front by Fulham striker Dempsey, who has already amassed four goals in the four World Cup qualifiers he has played this year, including the lone goal in the USA’s 1-0 win on Sept. 6 in Cuba. Houston Dynamo forward Bring Ching has three goals to his credit in the current campaign.

At the other end of the park, the defense is backstopped by goalkeeper Tim Howard, the Sierra Mist Man of the Match against Guatemala. U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra anchors a backline that has not conceded a goal in a team record six straight matches, dating back to the 0-0 draw against Argentina on June 8 in New Jersey.

RFK Stadium is no stranger to the U.S. National Team, having hosted 17 matches since 1977. The U.S. has collected a 10-3-4 record in the nation’s capital, including a 3-1-1 record in World Cup qualifying.

U.S. MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa: 2/2 SO), Tim Howard (Everton FC: 6/5 SO), Troy Perkins (Valerenga IF: 0/0)

DEFENDERS (8): Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes: 16/2), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland: 2/0), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96: 17/0), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC: 1/0), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew: 13/1), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege: 11/0), Michael Orozco (San Luis: 0/0), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock: 5/0)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Freddy Adu (AS Monaco: 1/0), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers: 19/4), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach: 5/2), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers: 3/0), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA: 3/0), Danny Szetela (Brescia Calcio: 0/0), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca: 0/0)

FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Villarreal C.F.: 0/0), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo: 9/4), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF: 0/0) Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC: 11/4), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy: 24/8)

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