Chivas USA's Sacha Kljestan named to U.S. roster for World Cup qualifiers vs. Cuba, Trinidad & Tobag

Published on August 28, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


CARSON, Calif. (Thursday, August 28, 2008) - Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan has been named by head coach Bob Bradley to the United States National Team's 20-player roster for its upcoming matches against Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago in World Cup qualifying. The historic first match takes place in Havana, Cuba on Sept. 6, and the team returns to U.S. soil for its match against Trinidad and Tobago, to be played in Bridgeview, Ill., on Sept. 10. The matches are the USA's second and third of the semifinal round of qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, after taking a 1-0 win in Guatemala in the team's first match of this phase, on Aug. 20.

"It's always exciting to get called up to the National Team, especially for a World Cup qualifier," said Kljestan. "I've been lucky enough to have been part of every qualifier so far this year with the National Team ... I'm proud to represent my country and wear the Red, White and Blue any time I can."

Kljestan, who will join the U.S. squad on Aug. 31, one day after Chivas USA's game against Toronto FC at The Home Depot Center, will be with the team through the match on Sept. 10 in Chicago. It is the midfielder's second straight inclusion on the National Team, having joined the squad for the Guatemala match last week., where he was an unused sub. Kljestan started and played the full 90 minutes in the U.S.'s previous World Cup qualifier, a 1-0 road win over Barbados on June 22. He recently returned from serving on the U.S. Olympic Team, where he played 90 minutes in all three of the squad's matches, scoring two goals as the team went 1-1-1 and narrowly missed out on advancing to the quarterfinals. So far in 2008 with Chivas USA, Kljestan leads the team in both goals (5) and assists (4), having played 15 games, all as a starter.

In its history, the U.S. holds a 5-1-1 (W-L-T) record against Cuba, and has not faced the country in World Cup qualifying since 1949. Trinidad and Tobago is a more familiar opponent, as the U.S. holds a 13-1-3 record all-time against the island nation, including an undefeated 8-0-2 mark in World Cup qualifying.

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