Chris Pontius replaces Kenny Saief on USMNT CONCACAF Gold Cup roster
CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bruce Arena has called up Philadelphia Union midfielder Chris Pontius as an injury replacement for Gent midfielder Kenny Saief for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Having made his U.S. MNT debut in Saturday’s 2-1 friendly win against Ghana, Saief has been sidelined with a groin injury that rules him out of the confederation championship.
Per tournament rules, pending CONCACAF approval, a team may replace an injured player on the roster up to 24 hours prior to its first match due to injury. The player must come from the 40-man preliminary roster , which was announced on June 3.
Having earned his first two caps earlier this year against Serbia (Jan. 29) and Jamaica (Feb. 5), Pontius has recorded six assists in 17 appearances for the Philadelphia Union this season. He will join the U.S. MNT in Nashville on Friday following the Union’s match against Sporting Kansas City on Thursday, July 6.
The U.S. begins its quest for a sixth regional title when they open play in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup against Panama on Saturday, July 8 in Nashville (3:30 p.m. CT; FOX, Univision, Univision Deportes Network).
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (Club; Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC; 55/0), Bill Hamid (D.C. United; 2/0), Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 5/0)
DEFENDERS (8): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City; 40/1), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/MEX; 40/1), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas; 3/0), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 11/0), Matt Miazga (Chelsea/ENG; 2/0), Justin Morrow (Toronto FC/CAN; 1/0), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna, MEX; 7/0), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City; 49/5)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; 9/1), Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana/MEX; 6/2), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union; 61/2), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana/MEX; 18/2), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire; 7/0), Chris Pontius (Philadelphia Union; 2/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 0/0), Kelyn Rowe (New England Revolution; 1/0), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy; 32/6)
FORWARDS (3): Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution; 23/3),Dom Dwyer (Sporting Kansas City; 1/1), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 16/2)
