Tuesday, October 02, 2012

Union's Valdes, Gomez and Daniels called up for Intl. duty

Chester, Pa.– Philadelphia Union captain Carlos Valdes and midfielders Gabriel Gomez and Keon Daniel have been called up their respective national teams for upcoming World Cup and Gold Cup qualifying matches, the club announced today.  The trio will depart following the Union’s October 6's  match against New England and return in time for the club’s match at the Houston Dynamo on October 20.

Valdes and Colombia will face Paraguay on October 12 in a World Cup qualifying match and take on Cameroon in a friendly on October 16, while Panama will play Honduras in Panama City on October 12 and Cuba in Havana on October 16.  Daniel and Trinidad & Tobago will take on French Guyana, St. Kitts & Nevis and Anguilla in Gold Cup qualifying on October 10, 12 and 14, respectively.

Valdes has been capped six times by Colombia and has scored one goal since his first call-up to the senior squad in 2008.  Most recently, the center back played 90 minutes in his squad’s 4-0 thrashing of Uruguay on September 7.

Gomez made his debut with the Panamanian senior national team against El Salvador on February 9, 2003. Since then, he has been capped 77 times, notching eight goals. Gomez’s last five tallies with the Red Tide came in 2011, helping Panama reach the 2011 Gold Cup semifinals. Gomez was one of Panama's top players in the tournament, scoring a penalty kick goal against the US in a group stage upset.  Most recently, Gomez started in Panama’s 2-0 win over Canada in Panama City on September 11.

Daniel has made 52 appearances and scored nine goals for Trinidad and Tobago since making his debut in 2007.

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