Roldan makes US debut against Martinique among 8 changes
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Midfielder Cristian Roldan made his U.S. debut against Martinique in the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Wednesday night and defender Justin Morrow his first international appearance in 4+ years.
Coach Bruce Arena made eight changes from the lineup that opened with a disappointing 1-1 tie against Panama last weekend.
Roldan, 22, is in his third season with Seattle. Morrow, 29, plays for Toronto and made his only previous appearance in an exhibition against Canada in January 2013.
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan, defender Omar Gonzalez and midfielder Kellyn Acosta were the only holdovers.
Eric Lichaj was at right back, Gonzalez and Matt Hedges in central defense and Morrow at left back. Roldan and Acosta were joined in the midfield of the 4-4-2 formation by Paul Arriola and Gyasi Zardes. Jordan Morris and Juan Agudelo headed the attack.
Lichaj had not played for the national team since an exhibition at Puerto Rico in May 2016, and Zardes had not started since the third-place game of the Copa America the following month.
Among the starters against Panama who were on the bench were defenders Matt Besler, Graham Zusi and Jorge Villafana; midfielders Dax McCarty, Kelyn Rowe, Joe Corona and Alejandro Bedoya; and forward Dom Dwyer.
Dwyer scored in his first two games for the U.S., an exhibition against Ghana and the draw against Panama on Saturday,
The U.S. had played Martinique just once before, winning 2-0 in the group stage of the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The Americans had won their previous 13 Gold Cup openers before last weekend's tie, which dropped them to 30-1-4 during the tournament's group stage.
