USMNT Practices Monday at Ohiri Field

Members of the United States men’s national soccer team practiced at Ohiri Field on Monday in the first of three days of training at Harvard’s facilities. The team will hold practices at 4:00 on both Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon before it heads to Hartford, Conn. for an exhibition match Friday against Ecuador.

Twelve players, including forward Jozy Altidore, midfielder Julian Greene, and defender Omar Gonzalez, participated in light drills for a little over an hour. Focusing on ball-handling and footwork, the players performed a keep-away drill and then played a five-on-five half-field game. Goalkeepers Brad Guzan and Nick Rimando went through a series of reflex drills on the other half of the field before joining the team for the five-on-five scrimmage.

The Harvard men’s and women’s varsity and club soccer teams were among the only spectators allowed into the complex to watch the closed practice.

Tonight, eight of the remaining players on the full 21-man squad, including defender John Brooks, midfielder Alejandro Bedoya, and defender DeAndre Yedlin will join the team at its Boston hotel.

Forward Landon Donovan will join the team on Thursday. This will be the former national team star’s first appearance for the team since being controversially left off the World Cup roster in May and it will mark his final appearance in a USMNT jersey. Donovan is first in U.S. history in goals (57), assists (58), and World Cup goals (five).

Among the team’s stars who will neither be participating in practices nor competing in the exhibition are forward Clint Dempsey and goalkeeper Tim Howard, who is taking a year-long absence from the team.