Parkhurst On U.S. Roster for Mexico Game

Joins Former Teamates Noonan, Dempsey

February 3, 2008

Seven players on the roster were on the field when the teams last met in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup final. In front of more than 60,000 fans in Chicago, goals by Landon Donovan and Benny Feilhaber lifted the U.S. to a 2-1 victory and their second consecutive Gold Cup title.

The Revolution's Michael Parkhurst was one of 22 players called for U.S. National Team duty. (Photo credit: Joyce Furia)

"With the match falling on an international fixture date, this is an excellent opportunity to get the nucleus of our team together as we continue to prepare for World Cup qualifying," said Bradley, who has collected a 13-5-1 record since becoming head coach last year. “The special nature of a USA-Mexico match provides a great test for our players, and it is something that as players and coaches we all look forward to. The experience can only benefit our group as we attempt to build a team that will help us achieve to goal of competing in South Africa in 2010.”

Bradley has called on a dozen players from European-based clubs, including the Fulham duo of Dempsey and Carlos Bocanegra. Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard joins the U.S. fold after a stellar year in 2007, appearing in a career-high 10 matches and earning eight victories. Everton are currently in fourth place in the English Premier League table. SC Heerenveen midfielder Michael Bradley enters the camp in fine form in league play, having scored six goals in his team’s last five matches to help elevate Heerenveen into second place in the Dutch Eredivisie.

On the domestic front, nine players from the recently completed training camp at The Home Depot Center are traveling to Houston. The two-time MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo contributes four players, including Eddie Robinson, who scored the game-winning goal in the USA’s 2-0 win against Sweden in his first-ever appearance with the national team. He is joined by Ricardo Clark, who appeared in both of the USA’s victories against Mexico last year, Brad Davis and Stuart Holden. Along with Holden, two other players are being called up from the U-23 Men’s National Team that has just closed camp in Bradenton, Fla. New York Red Bulls forward Jozy Altidore will be looking for his third cap, while Toronto FC midfielder and reining MLS Rookie of the Year Maurice Edu has started in the last three matches for the full team.

Landon Donovan is the leading capwinner on the squad, the 25-year-old having earned 97appearances. With his goal against Sweden last month, he claimed the top spot on the USA’s all-time scoring list with 35 career goals. Donovan has been a particular nemesis to El Tri, having scored four times in his career against Mexico, highlighted by the goal in 2-0 win in the Round of 16 of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He scored in both meetings last year, notching the game-tying goal in the Gold Cup final.

Full U.S. Roster By Position

GOALKEEPERS (2):Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Tim Howard (Everton FC)

DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC), Ramiro Corrales (SK Brann), Drew Moor (FC Dallas), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock), Eddie Robinson (Houston Dynamo)

MIDFIELDERS (9): Freddy Adu (SL Benfica), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Bobby Convey (Reading FC), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Benny Feilhaber (Derby County), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Eddie Lewis (Derby County)

FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (New York Red Bulls), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Pat Noonan (Aalesund FK)

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