Three MLS players were included in Panama’s 21-man roster, announced Thursday, that will face the US national team in a Feb. 8 friendly at StubHub Center.
LA Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo, Colorado Rapids forward Gabriel Torres and FC Dallas forward Blas Perez were taped by Colombian head coach Hernan Dario Gomez.
Penedo is coming off a MLS Cup championship in his first full season as the Galaxy starter, appearing in 29 games and making 81 saves. Perez scored 11 goals and recorded six assists for FCD last season. And Torres had three goals and an assist in his first full season with Colorado last year.
Also included in the squad are six players that featured for Los Canaleros in the recent CONCACAF U-20 Championship, in which Panama finished runners-up after shootout loss to Mexico in the title game.
The matchup of CONCACAF teams could also provide a handful of showdowns between club teammates with the Rapids Dillon Serna, Galaxy's Gyasi Zardes and FCD’s Matt Hedges all making the USMNT roster in their Wednesday loss to Chile.
Complete Panama roster for Feb. 8 friendly vs. USMNT:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Jaime Penedo (LA Galaxy, USA), Jose Calderon (Deportivo Coatepeque, GUA)
DEFENDERS (7): Leonel Parris (Tauro FC), Fidel Escobar (Sporting San Miguelito), Harold Cummings (Santa Fe, COL), Luis Ovalle (Zamora FC , VEN), Eric Davis (Sporting San Miguelito), Chin Hormechea (Arabe Unido), Michael Murillo (San Francisco FC).
MIDFIELDERS (6): Anibal Godoy (Budapest Honved FC, HUN), Marco Sanchez (Táchira, VEN), Jhamal Rodríguez ( Chorrillo FC), Luis Pereira (Arabe Unido), Ricardo Buitrago (Plaza Amador), Hécgar Murillo (Tauro FC).
FORWARDS (6): Blas Perez (FC Dallas, USA), Gabriel Torres (Colorado Rapids, USA), Rolando Blackburn (Communications, GUA), Ismael Diaz (Tauro FC), Alfredo Stephens (Chorrillo FC), Jairo Glaize (Sportin San Miguelito).
