Evans and Johnson to Join USMNT for Two Qualifiers
RENTON, Wash. - Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Brad Evans and forward Eddie Johnson have been called into the U.S. National Team for 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Jamaica and Panama.
Both players will join the USMNT following Saturday's match in Colorado and will miss Seattle's matches against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC on October 9 and the Portland Timbers on October 13.
The USMNT hosts Jamaica on October 11 at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. PT on ESPN, WatchESPN and UniMas. The team then visits Panama on October 15 at Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. PT on beIN Sport.
Evans, 27, has 13 caps and one goal for the United States. He has earned seven caps and six starts in 2013, and scored the latest game-winner in USMNT qualifying history at Jamaica on June 7.
Johnson, 29, has 59 caps and 19 goals for the United States, including the game-winner against Mexico on September 10 to send the USMNT to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He has scored five goals with one assist this year. Johnson leads all USMNT players with 15 caps in 2013, and his 12 goals in World Cup Qualifying ranks third all-time for the United States.
The USMNT currently sits in first place in the Final Round of qualifying, collecting 16 points from eight matches. The top three teams in the Hexagonal automatically advance to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, while the fourth-place finisher will contest a two-game playoff against Oceania region winner New Zealand.
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (6): DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City) Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders FC)
