USMNT v. VENEZUELA
Rio Tinto Stadium is set to host a friendly between the U.S.Men’s Nation Team and the Venezuela nation team on Saturday June 3rd, 2017. The match is a warm up prior to the World Cup Qualifiers against Trinidad & Tabago on June 8th and Mexico on June 11, 2017.
The Saturday friendly will have local flair as Real Salat Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando was called in for the U.S. and forward Jefferson Savarino will make his first appearance on the senior Venezuelan team. For the veteran Rimando, his inclusion on the U.S. National Team is nothing new for the MLS record leader. The 17-year MLS veteran has 22 career caps for the U.S. and has five shutouts on the international stage, including one against Serbia during this year’s January camp.
RSL Goalkeeper Nick Rimando (Photo Rob Gray)
Nick Rimando was honored during a recent match as the 37 year old added another accolade to the long list of records. Nick is the Major League Soccer’s all-time leader in games played (434), games started (434), minutes played (39,181), wins (187), shutouts (132) and saves (1,487).
Savarino is in his rookie season with Real Salt Lake and is on loan from Zulia in his native Venezuela. Jefferson has been a regular member of the Venezuela U-20 and U-21 teams he has yet to appear for the full national team and may have his chance in the friendly at Rio Tinto Stadium Saturday.
Jefferson Savario
This will be the fourth appearance of a USMNT in either friendlies or World Cup Qualifying. Real Salt Lake in addition to Nick and Jefferson have seen current roster players Kyle Beckerman and Tony Beltran playing in Salt Lake. The USWNT has also had success here at the RioT as locals call Rio Tinto Stadium as well as the U.S. Olympic teams.
U.S. MNT Roster By Position (Club; WCQ Caps/Goals):
GOALKEEPERS (4): Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC; 13/0), Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge/BEL; 0/0), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids; 35/0), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (11): DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo; 33/6), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City; 11/1), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin/GER; 3/0), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/ENG; 20/2), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER; 3/0), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/MEX; 14/0), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas; 0/0), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 4/0), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna/MEX; 2/0), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United/ENG; 6/0), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City; 17/3)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; 2/0), Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana/MEX; 2/1), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union; 8/0), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 33/6), Fabian
Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 15/1), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers; 5/0), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 38/18)
FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 36/16), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC; 38/18), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 3/0), Bobby Wood (Hamburg/GER; 8/4)