Altidore, Chandler, Gatt start for U.S. at Russia

Jozy Altidore makes his second start for the U.S. since February.

Francesco Pecoraro/Icon SMI

(AP) -- Jozy Altidore and Timmy Chandler returned to the U.S. starting lineup for Wednesday's exhibition game against Russia and Josh Gatt has been given his national team debut.

Altidore was dropped from the roster for last month's World Cup qualifiers after poor performances against Jamaica in September. Chandler had not played for the Americans since last November, uncertain whether he wanted to commit to the U.S. program.

Tim Howard started in goal for the game at Krasnodar, with Chandler at right back, Geoff Cameron and captain Carlos Bocanegra in central defense and Fabian Johnson at left back. Gatt, a 21-year-old from Plymouth, Mich., who plays for Norwegian champion Molde, was joined in the midfield by Danny Williams, Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley. Altidore was paired at forward with Herculez Gomez.

The U.S. bench included goalkeeper Nick Rimando; defenders Clarence Goodson and Maurice Edu; midfierlders Sacha Kljestan and Mix Diskerud; and forwards Terrence Boyd and Juan Agudelo.

Not dressing were goalkeeper Sean Johnson and midfielder Joe Gyau.

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