Omar Gonzalez Added to U.S. National Team Roster for Brazil Friendly

LA Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez has been added to the U.S. National Team roster for their friendly against Brazil at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on Tuesday, August 10. Gonzalez was added to the U.S. squad in place of Columbus Crew center back Chad Marshall, who has withdrawn from the roster. He will be available for the Galaxy on Saturday night at the Rose Bowl when the club takes on Real Madrid, before flying to New York on Sunday morning ahead of the game on Tuesday.

The reigning MLS Rookie of the Year, Gonzalez has appeared in 17 regular season games for the Galaxy this season, scoring once and helping the club keep nine clean sheets in 19 regular season games. In two years with the Galaxy, Gonzalez has started 48 of the club’s 49 regular season games, playing the full 90 minutes in all but one of those while also starting all four of the club’s postseason games in 2009.

A 21-year-old native of Dallas, Gonzalez was called into camp with the National Team in January ahead of the U.S. game against Honduras and then again a month later ahead of the game against El Salvador, but he did not play in either game. Gonzalez joins Edson Buddle and Landon Donovan in the 18-man team, which was originally announced on Wednesday.