USA vs. Ecuador 2014 [Watch Live Stream Free] - Match Preview & TV Schedule : Donovan to Start & Players to Watch
For those looking to get their soccer fix this weekend, look no further. The US men's national soccer team is taking on Ecuador tonight in their first match in the US since losing in last summer's World Cup tournament. The match will be special because Landon Donovan will will be playing for the USMNT in perhaps his final appearance for his country's club.
What: USA vs. Ecuador
When: Friday, Oct. 10, 2014, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT
Where: Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Conn.
Watch: ESPN, WatchESPN, UniMas
USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann arranged tonight's match with Ecuador, as well as next week's match with Honduras, as a means of evaluating some of his emerging young players. But since Donovan will be retiring after this MLS season, Sunil Gulati, president of the U.S. Soccer Federation, apparently made sure that Donovan would have one last chance to suit up and play for Team USA.
Fans will remember that Donovan was famously left off of this year's USMNT World Cup roster. That decision was ultimately made by Klinsmann, who will be on the sideline tonight when Donovan plays. Talk about awkward? You can bet Klinsmann doesn't want anything to do with Dovovan's farewell tour given that he didn't feel the MLS star was good enough to include on Klinsmann's final World Cup roster.
Team USA
The cloud of the Donovan-Klinsmann rift will surely hang over this game until it's over. Donovan claims that Klinsmann has yet to reach out to him since it was announced Donovan would be taking part in tonight's friendly with Ecuador. Klinsmann has confirmed, however, that Donovan will start tonight, and that he will wear the captain's armband. Yet, in spite of all the drama, Donovan remains up-beat and called the match the perfect final "ribbon on my career."
Players to Watch
USA - Miguel Ibarra's introduction to U.S. soccer was quite a shocker. Klinsmann called the youngster up from the NASL to the national team, a first for a player from that league. It remains to be seen if Ibarra can prove he belongs when he takes the pitch tonight. Look for him to see limited minutes as a substitute.
Ecuador - Enner Valencia isn't going to surprise anyone with future success. Everyone already knows he can play. He score three goals at this year's World Cup, including a game-winner against Honduras. He's now in the English Premier League playing for West ham and should ensure that--while he's on the pitch, at least--the match should be fun to watch.