CHESTER, PA. (AP) - FC Dallas midfielder Brek Shea was given his U.S. national team debut against Colombia on Tuesday night, and defender Oguchi Onyewu captained the Americans for the first time while AC Milan teammate Mario Yepes captained the visitors.
U.S. coach Bob Bradley kept just six starters from Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Poland in Chicago: Onyewu; midfielders Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones and Stuart Holden; forward Jozy Altidore; and Maurice Edu, who moved from central defender back to his regular defensive midfield position in a 4-5-1.
Onyewu, still coming back from knee surgery last October, has not even dressed for AC Milan this season. Saturday’s appearance was his first game action since he was benched following the first-round World Cup match against Slovenia.
Jones, a Schalke regular, made his U.S. debut Saturday after switching nationalities from Germany.
Brad Guzan took over from Tim Howard in goal; Jonathan Spector replaced Steve Cherundolo at right back; Clarence Goodson started at central defender; Heath Pearce replaced captain Carlos Bocanegra at left back; and the 20-year-old Shea started in midfield while Clint Dempsey and Benny Feilhaber moved to the bench.
Spector, who has fallen into disfavor at West Ham under manager Avram Grant, was making his first game appearance since the Hammers’ 3-0 loss to Manchester United on Aug. 28.
Aston Villa defender Eric Lichaj remained on the bench, awaiting a possible debut. Howard, defender Michael Parkhurst, midfielder Alejandro Bedoya and forward Eddie Johnson also were among the substitutes.
Colombia coach Hernan Dario Gomez gave goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon his first appearance for the national team since the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup against Panama. The 39-year-old, who plays for Cologne in the German Bundesliga, was Colombia’s starter in the 1998 World Cup.
Aquivaldo Mosquera, Juan David Valencia, Juan Camilo Zuniga started with the 34-year-old Yepes on the back line. Victor Ibarbo, Jhon Viarfara, Adrian Ramos and John Javier Restrepo were in the midfield, and Radamel Falcao Garcia and Giovanni Moreno at forward.
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