Matt Besler, Sacha Kljestan added to USMNT training camp roster
CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bruce Arena has called defender Matt Besler and attacker Sacha Kljestan to the team’s training camp in San Jose, California. Kljestan has been added as a replacement for the injured Bobby Wood (back), while Besler joins camp to bolster the MNT defense.
Besler and Kljestan will join the 25-player MNT roster as it convenes in San Jose ahead of USA-Honduras, presented by Volpi Foods, on March 24 at Avaya Stadium at 7:30 p.m. PT on FS1, UniMas and UDN. Four days later, the U.S. travels to take on Panama at Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City, live at 10 p.m. ET on beIN Sports, Telemundo and NBC Universo.
Besler was part of all four U.S. matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The Sporting Kansas City defender is also tested in the rigors of World Cup Qualifying, recording 10 caps and a goal during the course of two cycles.
Kljestan became just the second player in Major League Soccer history to record 20 assists in a season in 2016. Like Besler, the New York Red Bulls midfielder has a wealth of World Cup Qualifying experience, carrying 18 caps and two goals earned during three different cycles with him to San Jose.
Updated Roster by Position (Club; WCQ Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (3): David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids; 33/0), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (10): DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo; 33/6), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City; 10/1), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin/GER; 2/0) Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/ENG; 19/2), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/MEX; 12/0), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana/MEX; 6/1), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 2/0), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna/MEX; 0/0), Walker Zimmerman (FC Dallas; 0/0), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City; 15/3)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; 1/0), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union; 6/0), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 31/5), Jermaine Jones (LA Galaxy; 16/0), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls; 18/2), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 0/0), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers; 3/0), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 5/2)
FORWARDS (3): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 33/16), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC; 36/13), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 3/0)
