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U.S. Eyes Big Night In Match Vs. Cuba
Oguchi Onyewu, right, and DeMarcus Beasley scrap at practice with the U.S. team, which would advance to the final stage of 2010 World Cup regional qualifying with a win over Cuba.
(By Manuel Balce Ceneta -- Associated Press)
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Amends were made, to an extent, three years later when a 6-0 victory over Panama locked up a berth in the final round of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup.
"It's a real cool atmosphere," goalkeeper Tim Howard, who performs regularly in England's landmark venues, said of RFK. "The fans jump up and down and the stand bounces like a mattress. It's a cool setting, a special setting."
The match will serve as a homecoming for Onyewu, who is from Olney and plays professionally in Belgium; for former D.C. United players Freddy Adu and Troy Perkins; for former Maryland Terrapins Maurice Edu and Danny Califf; for U.S. Coach Bradley, a onetime United assistant; and for former D.C. head coach and current U.S. assistant Peter Nowak.
Onyewu expects around 100 family and friends to be in attendance.
While Onyewu, Howard, Donovan and many other veterans are expected to start, a collection of young players are awaiting their turn. If the match turns in the U.S. team's favor, Bradley might introduce José Francisco Torres, a 20-year-old Mexican-American who committed to the U.S. program last week after resisting overtures from Mexico. Adu, 19, and Edu, 22, could also receive playing time -- if not tonight then Wednesday when the U.S. team's passage is already secure.
"The opportunity to get players experience, not only in camps but in games, for sure, is important," Bradley said. "First things first. We don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but certainly the thought process of using games now to move some other things along is there."
U.S. Notes: Jay DeMerit, an England-based defender, did not train all week because of a hamstring injury and will not be in uniform. Four others will be scratched before kickoff. . . . Cuban starting forward Roberto Linares received a red card in the previous game and is out. . . . Ticket sales were approaching 18,000 last night. . . . The field has been lengthened by two yards, to 110, to meet international standards. The width (75 yards) is the same.
