MNT Rewind: Bedoya and Besler Provide Assists Before Gold Cup Camp
Prior to coming into camp for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Alejandro Bedoya and Matt Besler provided assists to help their clubs win over the weekend
Before the U.S. Men’s National Team began arriving in Nashville on Sunday, they had some unfinished business with their club teams. Here’s how they performed coming into Gold Cup camp:
In Philadelphia, Alejandro Bedoya provided a picture-perfect cross to allow Fafa Picault a one-time finish in the 31st minute of the Union’s 1-0 victory against D.C. United.
WATCH: Bedoya Provides Game-Winning Assist vs. D.C. United
Out west, Matt Besler, Dom Dwyer and Graham Zusi were all active in Sporting KC’s 2-1 win at the LA Galaxy. Though he didn’t know much about it, Besler was credited with the assist on Ike Opara’s highlight-reel bicycle kick in the 35th minute.
WATCH: Besler Assists on Opara Golazo
Meanwhile in Chicago, Dax McCarty went the full 90 minutes in midfield to help the Fire defeat Orlando City SC 4-0, extending the club’s unbeaten run to 10 matches across all competitions.
In total, 15 of the 16 domestic-based players on the final Gold Cup roster were in action this past week. The one exception was goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who is ineligible to play for Atlanta United FC until the summer transfer window opens next month. While he couldn’t play, Guzan did take in his first home match at Bobby Dodd Stadium:
And while he’s not on the final Gold Cup roster, MNT forward Jozy Altidore continued to find the back of the net for Toronto FC, tallying a 30th minute equalizer in the Reds 1-1 draw with Montreal Impact in the first leg of the Canadian Cup Final on Wednesday.
WATCH: Altidore Tallies in Canadian Cup Final
On Sunday, Clint Dempsey scored a dramatic 94th minute equalizer to pull out a 2-2 draw against Portland Timbers in a Cascadia Cup clash at Providence Park.
Here’s a look at how the MNT’s domestic player pool performed this weekend (italics denote players that are not on the Gold Cup roster):
Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas) – 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Houston Dynamo (June 23)
Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution) – 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Toronto FC (June 23)
Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC) – 90 minutes, GOAL in 1-1 Canadian Cup draw at Montreal Impact (June 21); 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. New England Revolution (June 23)
Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union) – 90 minutes, ASSIST in 1-0 win vs. D.C. United (June 24)
Matt Besler (Sporting KC) – 90 minutes, ASSIST in 2-1 win at LA Galaxy (June 24)
Michael Bradley (Toronto FC) – 90 minutes in 1-1 Canadian Cup draw at Montreal Impact (June 21); Suspended; Not in 18 for 2-0 win vs. New England Revolution (June 23)
Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC) – 89 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Orlando City SC; 90 minutes, GOAL in 2-2 draw at Portland Timbers (June 25)
Dom Dwyer (Sporting KC) – 89 minutes in 2-1 win at LA Galaxy (June 24)
Bill Hamid (D.C. United) – 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Atlanta United FC (June 21); 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Philadelphia Union (June 24)
Matt Hedges (FC Dallas) – 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Houston Dynamo (June 23)
Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids) – 90 minutes in 3-1 loss vs. LA Galaxy (June 21); 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Atlanta United FC (June 24)
Sean Johnson (New York City FC) – 90 minutes in 2-0 win at New York Red Bulls (June 24)
Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire) – 90 minutes in 4-0 win vs. Orlando City SC (June 24)
Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC) – 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Orlando City SC (June 21); 54 minutes in 2-2 draw at Portland Timbers (June 25)
Justin Morrow (Toronto FC) – CCC 6/21 ;90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. New England Revolution (June 23)
Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers) – 90 minutes in 3-2 loss at Minnesota United FC (June 21); 72 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. Seattle Sounders FC (June 25)
Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake) – 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at San Jose Earthquakes (June 24)
Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC) – 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Orlando City SC (June 24); 90 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. Portland Timbers (June 25)
Kelyn Rowe (New England Revolution) – 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Toronto FC (June 23)
Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy) – 90 minutes in 3-1 win at Colorado Rapids (June 21); 77 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Sporting KC (June 24)
Graham Zusi (Sporting KC) – 90 minutes in 2-1 win at LA Galaxy (June 24)