USMNT Watch: Besler, Altidore Prepare for CONCACAF Cup with Strong Games

United States men's national team boss Jurgen Klinsmann made his 23-man roster for October 10's CONCACAF Cup with Mexico official on Saturday night. 

The roster saw John Brooks, Aron Johannsson and others miss out due to injury, but overall it is a strong squad that is stacked with experience. 

A few of those experienced players impressed in their final club games before the one-game playoff for the CONCACAF Confederations Cup berth. 

Outside of the USMNT regulars, a few young prospects proved their worth at the club level as well and the U23s kicked off Olympic qualifying. 

We'll have all that and more below in our latest USMNT Watch.

Matt Besler, Jozy Altidore Among Standout Performers in MLS 

The two biggest areas of concern for the USMNT recently have been center back and forward. Matt Besler and Jozy Altidore tried their best to calm the concerns about the struggles at the positions with strong showings in Major League Soccer on Saturday.

Besler, who was fresh off a win in penalties in the U.S. Open Cup final on Wednesday, starred in Sporting Kansas City's 1-0 win over Portland at Providence Park. Sporting KC boss Peter Vermes went out of his way to praise the play of the defender after the match: 

With John Brooks out injured and Ventura Alvarado seeing very little playing time at Club America, Besler should be the favorite to start at one center back spot for the Yanks against Mexico. One would have to assume Stoke City's Geoff Cameron would be his potential partner based on form. 

Altidore continued to score for Toronto FC on Saturday as he pulled down a cross in the box with a deft first touch before finding the back of the net in the 63rd minute of the Reds' 3-1 victory over Philadelphia. The top forward on the USMNT depth chart has scored in each of his last two games and has five strikes in his last seven league contests.

Elsewhere in MLS, Chris Wondolowski, who could play a role off the bench versus Mexico, scored for San Jose in its 1-1 draw with Vancouver on Saturday. 

Harry Shipp, who should get a call-up for the annual January camp, earned a goal and an assist in Chicago's 3-1 home win over New England. 

Dax McCarty, Sacha Kljestan, Perry Kitchen, Bill Hamid, Brek Shea, Jermaine Jones, Lee Nguyen, Juan Agudelo, Michael Bradley and Benny Feilhaber all started for their respective sides in Week 31. 

Ethan Horvath Makes Europa League Team of the Week

USMNT U23 goalkeeper Ethan Horvath dazzled in between the pipes on Thursday in Molde's UEFA Europa League draw with Ajax. 

The young netminder made 10 saves against the Dutch side to help Molde claim first place in Group A. Thanks to his stellar performance, Horvath was named to the Europa League Team of the Week: 

Horvath is scheduled to join up with the Olympic qualifying squad on Monday after Molde take on Tromso in the Tippeligaen on Sunday. 

Olympic Qualifying Begins with a Pair of Victories

So far, the USMNT U23 squad is making sure the heartbreak of the 2012 Olympic qualifying campaign was a one-time thing. 

In the opening match on Thursday, Stanford University product Jordan Morris netted a pair of tallies, including one in the first minute to power the Yanks to a 3-1 win over Canada. Luis Gil also scored a late penalty in the contest at Sporting Park. 

Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

The Yanks took care of business on Saturday as they pounded Cuba 6-1 behind goals from Cameron Carter-Vickers, Matt Miazga, Jerome Kiesewetter, Emerson Hyndman and Alonso Hernandez. 

With one game left in Group A against Panama on Tuesday, the Yanks lead Canada by three points. A win over Panama would advance them to the four-team knockout round as group winners. The two teams that make the final qualify for the Olympics, while the third-place side heads to a playoff against Colombia. 

Danny Williams Scores Fast, DeAndre Yedlin Earns First Start

Two defensive-minded outfield players in the CONCACAF Cup squad were on display in England on Saturday as Danny Williams scored a quick goal for Reading and DeAndre Yedlin picked up a late start for Sunderland. 

Williams netted a goal 15 seconds into Reading's 2-0 win over Middlesbrough at the Madejski Stadium in Championship action.

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Yedlin earned his starting nod on short notice as Patrick van Aanholt picked up a knock during pregame warm-ups for Sunderland's clash with West Ham United at the Stadium of Light. 

One thing to watch in the coming weeks is Yedlin's club situation. Dick Advocaat left the Black Cats on Sunday. A new manager could either help or hurt Yedlin's development on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

Brad Guzan made four saves for Aston Villa in his final tune-up for the showdown with Mexico. Eric Lichaj started for Nottingham Forest, while Jonathan Spector came off the bench for Birmingham City down in the Championship on Saturday.

News and Notes: Andrew Wooten Picks up Assists for Sandhausen

Andrew Wooten's rapid start to the 2. Bundesliga campaign continued on Saturday as he played the role of provider on two occasions in Sandhausen's 3-1 road win over St. Pauli.

In the flight above him in Germany, Fabian Johnson earned another start for Borussia Monchengladbach, while Alfredo Morales came off the bench for Ingolstadt. 

Edgar Castillo played 90 minutes for Monterrey on Saturday night. Alvarado, Miguel Ibarra, William Yarbrough and Jose Torres all sat on the bench for their respective sides. 

Rubio Rubin made a late cameo for Utrecht in their 1-0 loss to Excelsior in the Eredivisie on Saturday.

Joe Tansey covers U.S. Soccer for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter, @JTansey90.