Preview: Besler, Zusi and U.S. MNT face Espinoza and Honduras in huge World Cup qualifier

As many as three Sporting Kansas City players could take the field Friday when a pair of CONCACAF rivals aim for a pivotal World Cup qualifying victory in the Hexagonal.

Matt Besler, Graham Zusi and the United States Men’s National Team will battle Roger Espinoza and Honduras at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California, with national television coverage on FS1, UniMas and UDN. No Other Pub in the Power & Light District will host a watch party for the match, featuring $6 Till Vodka cocktails, $5 Boulevard drafts and 16-oz corona cans, and $4 Bud Light drafts.

• Watch Party: Join the Club & Country celebration Friday at No Other Pub

For the U.S. MNT, Friday’s showdown against Honduras has a “must-win” fee to it. Two losses last November to open the Hex have put the Americans behind the eight-ball and prompted U.S. Soccer to appoint Bruce Arena as its new head coach. With a successful January Camp under his belt, Arena sets out to collect all three points in his first competitive match in charge of the MNT since 2006.

Honduras, meanwhile, has started the Hex 1-1-0 after splitting a pair of home games in November. Espinoza earned his 50th cap for Los Catrachos in a 3-1 triumph over Trinidad and Tobago, a much-needed result that came just four days after a 1-0 defeat to Panama in which he didn’t play.

HEXAGONAL STANDINGS

Though the U.S. will enter Friday with a sense of urgency to #Get3, Arena’s men won’t be pushing the panic button just yet. Eight Hexagonal matches remain between now and October, with the top three finishers qualifying automatically for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and the fourth-place team facing an Asian country in a two-legged playoff in November.

When the U.S. roster was first announced last Wednesday, neither Besler nor Zusi was selected to the 24-man squad. But the door opened when Zusi replaced the injured Fabian Johnson on Friday and Besler was added to bolster the defense two days later.

Zusi’s right back responsibilities for the U.S. began at January Camp, when he contributed to a pair of shutouts against Serbia and Jamaica, respectively. The 30-year-old donned the captain’s armband for the first time in the 1-0 victory over Jamaica, the same game in which his club teammate Benny Feilhaber tallied the game-winning assist. Besler missed January Camp while recovering from ankle surgery, but started each of the Yanks’ first two Hexagonal matches late last year.

In central defense, Besler is joined by the likes of John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, Omar Gonzalez and Walker Zimmerman, making for plenty of competition in that part of the field. However, the Overland Park native has also shown competence at left back, having played there in the 2016 Copa America. The right back spot appears to be up in the air: Zusi has settled into the position well over the past two months, and Cameron and Michael Orozco are the only other players who come close to fitting the mold of a conventional right back.

Led by head coach Jorge Luis Pinto, Honduras is seeking a third straight World Cup appearance. Espinoza was involved in both the 2010 and 2014 tournaments and also represented his country at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Los Catrachos enjoyed a successful month of January, going 4-0-1 en route to the country’s fourth Copa Centroamericana title, although several players in the current squad — including Espinoza — weren’t involved.

Espinoza is joined by four other MLS players on the Honduras roster: Maynor Figueroa (FC Dallas), Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo), Romell Quioto (Houston Dynamo) and Alberth Elis (Houston). In addition, Anderlecht midfielder Andy Najar began his career as a D.C. United Homegrown signing, while defender Ever Alvarado spent the latter half of 2016 with Sporting KC and the Swope Park Rangers.

The U.S. has historically performed well against Honduras, going 15-4-4 all-time and 12-2-3 on American soil. In four previous matches played in San Jose, the MNT has gone 2-0-2 with three shutouts.

U.S. MNT Roster by Position (Club; WCQ Caps/Goals):

GOALKEEPERS (3): David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids; 33/0), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake; 0/0)

DEFENDERS (10): DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo; 33/6), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City; 10/1), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin/GER; 2/0) Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/ENG; 19/2), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/MEX; 12/0), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana/MEX; 6/1), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 2/0), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna/MEX; 0/0), Walker Zimmerman (FC Dallas; 0/0), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City; 15/3)

MIDFIELDERS (9): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; 1/0), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union; 6/0, Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 31/5), Jermaine Jones (LA Galaxy; 16/0), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls; 18/2), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 0/0), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers; 3/0), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 5/2)

FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 33/16), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC; 36/13), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 3/0), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0)

Honduras Roster by Position (Club)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ricardo Canales (Vida), Donis Escober (Olimpia), Luis Lopez (Real España)

DEFENDERS (8): Ever Alvarado (Olimpia), Brayan Beckeles (Necaxa/MEX),  Felix Crisianto (Motagua), Henry Figueroa (Motagua), Maynor Figueroa (FC Dallas/USA),  Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic/SCO),  Cesar Oseguera (Real España), Allans Vargas (Real España)

MIDFIELDERS (10): Brayan Acosta (Real España),  Erick Andino (Motagua), Jorge Claros (Real España), Carlos Disuca (Motagua), Roger Espinoza (Sporting Kansas City/USA), Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo/USA), Mario Martinez (Enppi; EGY), Oliver Morazan (Juticalpa FC), Andy Najar (Anderlecht/BEL), Romell Quioto (Houston Dynamo/USA)

FORWARDS (5): Rubilio Castillo (Motagua), Michael Chirinos (Olimpia/HON), Alberth Elis (Houston Dynamo/USA), Eddie Hernandez (Tolima/COL), Anthony Lozano (Tenerife/ESP)

Hexagonal Schedule