USA vs. T&T: Live Blog from Bridgeview

5:54 p.m. - Hey all! We're sitting here in the press box at the stadium and we're heading towards the 7 p.m. CT kickoff for the USA vs. T&T.

5:55 p.m. - We'll be here through all the pre-game buildup with the lineup, some pictures and also some help from a special guest! That's right, Blog all-star Amy will be helping us all the way until game time.


6:00 p.m. - One hour before, and that means lineup time! Here's how the U.S. will start tonight's game against T&T:
-----------------------Howard---------------------
Cherundolo---Onyewu--Bocanegra(c)---Pearce
---------------Kljestan----------Bradley---------
----Dempsey---------Donovan---------------Beasley
--------------------------Ching----------------------

6:02 p.m. - Woo! Here's Amy: What's up everyone? The coaches are walking around and checking out the condition of the pitch. And the sprinklers have just come on to wet the field a bit.

6:05 pm. - For those of you familiar with Toyota Park, notice anything different about the layout of the field in this shot?
6:07 p.m. - What a view! Not many stadiums have a view like that! I guess Soldier Field has a pretty good view too. Only in Chicago!
6:09 p.m. - "Eye of the Tiger" is playing. You better believe the Blog is really psyched up!

6:11 p.m. - Hey Geoff! Thanks for the support, but to be a Blog All-Star you have to start answering all the trivia questions correctly! And within five minutes of them being posted.

6:12 p.m. - Says the MNT Blog: "Oooh, zzzzzing!" And just as we're all high-fiving eachother in the booth some of the players are out. Well, only Michael Bradley is out. He looks lonely.

6:17 p.m. - Hey Joel, those are some ok opinions, but you should channel that energy into supporting the team instead! :-p

6:19 p.m. - The weather is gorgeous. No sign of rain!

6:20 p.m. - My wonderful, beautiful, talented, intelligent sister Katie is here too. She was varsity soccer in high school. Go Parker Vikings!

6:22 p.m. - (ed. note: The MNT Blog also has a wonderful, beautiful, talented and intelligent sister too. The WNT Blog! Woot! Achieve Your Gold!)

6:23 p.m. - There seemed to be a pretty good contingent of T&T fans in the parking lot earlier this evening. I'm sure the Soca Warriors will be inspired by their presence.

6:26 p.m. - This song is now playing:
Just as the U.S. team enters the field! How can you not be excited?


6:30 p.m. - "Don't Tread On This" by Clint Dempsey is playing now and I will admit that I know all the words. I have it on my iPod.

6:33 p.m. - (ed. note: In case you need some more reading material, you can read some game previews here and here.)

6:35 p.m. - I'm glad it has only taken us two years to get a game at Toyota Park, but I am very glad that they are here. I got my tickets the first day of the pre-sale.

6:38 p.m. - The Blog is jealous now that it knows I'm going to the Old Firm game on December 27th at Ibrox. I'm bringing my big American flag and if anybody says anything, I'll just mention the last time Scotland qualified for a major tournament.

6:42 p.m. - (ed. note: That would be 1998, for those scoring at home. Also for those scoring at home, that's Amy 1, Scotland 0)

6:44 p.m. - Soon I'll be covered completely with the giant "Don't Tread On Me" banner, joining the rest of Sam's Army in Section 8.

6:45 p.m. - A little tidbit: as you heard in the podcast with Maurice Edu, he was happy to have been serenaded by the visiting Rangers fans at Celtic Park the first time he was on the gameday roster. What he may not know is that the Rangers fans had looked him up on YouTube and found video of the Toronto FC fans singing to him. They happily adopted it for their new signing.

6:53 p.m. - Those are the starting lineups for both teams, which means it is time for me to head down to Section 8. I want to thank the Blog for letting me take it over. It was fun! For now, GO USA!!