U.S. to go with veteran players

Arena adds six to roster ahead of quarterfinal match.

Forward Clint Dempsey, midfielder Michael Bradley and goalkeeper Tim Howard are among six additions to the U.S. roster for the knockout phase of the CONCACAF Gold Cup as coach Bruce Arena added some of his most experienced players.

Arena also added forward Jozy Altidore, midfielder Darlington Nagbe and goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez, the U.S. Soccer Federation said Sunday.

Gonzalez’s application to change affiliation from Mexico to the U.S. was approved by FIFA last month, after the deadline for setting the 23-man roster for the group phase.

The U.S. team plays its quarterfinal Wednesday in Philadelphia against a thirdplace team from another group, likely Honduras or El Salvador. The opponent was to be determined Sunday night.

Using a mostly junior varsity group, the Americans finished 2-0-1 in Group B and clinched first place with a 3-0 victory over Nicaragua on Saturday night. Matt Miazga’s close-range header in the 88th minute from Graham Zusi’s free kick gave the Americans the third goal they needed to leapfrog Panama for the group lead.

Midfielder Alejandro Bedoya earlier set up goals by Joe Corona and Kelyn Rowe. Bedoya was dropped from the roster Sunday because he is expecting the birth of his second child next week.

“It’s tough, but this is something we have talked about,” Bedoya said. “As much as I would have loved to stay, we’re welcoming a new life.”

Arena said in a USSF video interview that his less-experienced players “came through with passing grades, all of them.”

“We were fortunate to start 22 players in group play, which is kind of remarkable . ... Dom and Cristian and Kelyn did very well for us, and I told them that, and they’re players we’re obviously going to continue to keep an eye on and continue obviously to have them in the program.”

Arena was speaking of midfielders Cristian Roldan and Rowe and forward Dom Dwyer, who were dropped along with Bedoya and goalkeepers Brad Guzan and Sean Johnson. Arena had planned in advance of the tournament to replace Guzan, Johnson and Bedoya.

Each team is allowed to make up to six changes in the 24 hours after finishing the group stage, and the additions must come from the 40-man preliminary roster submitted in early June.

“The players we bring in now give us a little bit more experience,” Arena said.

Dempsey has 56 international goals, one shy of Landon Donovan’s American record. Dempsey, Bradley, Howard and Altidore all are regular starters when the full national team player pool is called in, and Nagbe appeared in the first seven U.S. matches this year after Arena replaced Jurgen Klinsmann and started his second stint as coach.

The U.S. improved to 32-1-4 during the group stage of the Gold Cup and 6-0-5 since Arena returned.