Lions’ Bendik, Spector left off Gold Cup roster
Orlando City goalkeeper Joe Bendik and defender Jonathan Spector will have to wait for another opportunity to compete for the U.S. men’s national team.
The Lions, who were in the extended 40-man pool for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup, did not make the final roster of 23 players announced Sunday by U.S. coach Bruce Arena.
The coach was expected to shake up his lineup, resting some players who were taxed by European competition and World Cup qualifiers.
While the Lions fell short of making the roster, Kansas City forward Dom Dwyer was called up for the first time. Dwyer was loaned to Orlando City during its USL days and helped the Lions win a title before their move up to MLS.
Winter Park native Dax McCarty, a midfielder with the Chicago Fire; Longwood product Graham Zusi, a defender with Sporting Kansas City; and former UCF standout Sean Johnson, a goalkeeper with New York City FC, also made the Gold Cup roster.
Midfielders Kenny Saief of Gent, Cristian Roldan of Seattle and Kelyn Rowe of New England were picked and could join Dwyer making their national-team debuts.
Defenders Matt Miazga of Chelsea and Eric Lichaj of Nottingham Forest also were among the 23 players selected Arena.
Sixteen players come from Major League Soccer and four from Mexican clubs: defenders Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca) and Jorge Villafana (Santos Laguna), and midfielders of Paul Arriola and Joe Corona of Tijuana.
Thirteen of the players have eight or fewer international appearances.
“They have an opportunity to make a statement,” Arena said. “We have a large number of domestic players because our European-based players need a break. They had long seasons plus the June World Cup qualifiers, so they needed a break and then they need to start their preseasons in July.”
Saief played for Israel’s Under-19 and Under-21 teams, and his approval to switch to the U.S. was approved by FIFA in the past week. Dwyer, born in England, became a U.S. citizen in March.
Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez, who has played for Mexico’s Under-20 and Under-23 teams, was on the 40-man preliminary roster announced June 3, but his request for change in association has not yet been approved by FIFA and Arena did not save him a roster spot.
The U.S. opens camp today in Nashville and has an exhibition against Ghana on Saturday at East Hartford, Conn. The Americans’ group stage includes matches against Panama on July 8 in Nashville, Martinique on July 12 in Tampa and Nicaragua on July 15 in Cleveland.
The bad news for Bendik and Spector could be a blessing for the Lions, who would have lost the starters for the next two games at a time when Orlando City is in great need of wins.
Teams advancing to the knockout stage can change six players, but the pool is limited to those on the 40-man roster.
The pool substitute possibilities include Toronto midfielder Michael Bradley and forward Jozy Altidore, Portland midfielder Darlington Nagbe and Seattle forward Clint Dempsey.
The full 23-man U.S. roster:
Brad Guzan (Atlanta), Bill Hamid (D.C.), Sean Johnson (New York City)
Matt Besler (Kansas City), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca, Mexico), Matt Hedges (Dallas), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest, England), Matt Miazga (Chelsea, England), Justin Morrow (Toronto), Jorge Villafana (Santos Laguna, Mexico), Graham Zusi (Kansas City)
Kellyn Acosta (Dallas), Paul Arriola (Tijuana, Mexico), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia), Joe Corona (Tijuana, Mexico), Dax McCarty (Chicago), Cristian Roldan (Seattle), Kelyn Rowe (New England), Kenny Saief (Gent, Belgium), Gyasi Zardes (LA)
Juan Agudelo (New England), Dom Dwyer (Kansas City), Jordan Morris (Seattle)