MLS Sporting Kansas City

Midfielder Roger Espinoza Joins Honduras National Team for Upcoming World Cup Qualifiers

Published on March 25, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


Kansas City Wizards midfielder Roger Espinoza will rejoin the Honduras National Team for upcoming World Cup Qualifiers against Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico. Honduras faces Trinidad and Tobago Saturday, March 28 in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Los Catrachos then host regional powerhouse Mexico Wednesday, April 1 at their home stadium in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Espinoza started the MLS season well for Kansas City, registering an assist after entering as a halftime substitute Saturday against Toronto FC. Espinoza is already with the Honduras team and will rejoin the Wizards following the Mexico match next Wednesday.

Espinoza earned his first appearance for his birth nation Jan. 22 in Honduras' first game of the 2009 UNCAF (Central American Football Union) Nations Cup. Espinoza appeared three times during the five-game tournament, scoring his first goal in the 3rd place match to give Honduras a 1-0 win. Espinoza stayed with the National Team for a World Cup Qualifying loss to Costa Rica Feb. 11 but did not make the game roster.

Espinoza will become the 5th current Wizards player with World Cup Qualifying experience should he enter either upcoming match. Defender Jimmy Conrad, midfielder Davy Arnaud and forward Josh Wolff have all appeared in at least one qualifier for the United States. Striker Claudio Lopez has appeared in qualifiers for Argentina. Conrad, Lopez and Wolff also have World Cup experience.

Kansas City selected Espinoza with the 11th overall selection in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft after he signed with MLS as a member of the Generation adidas program. As part of the program, adidas pays for him to continue his education while playing in the League. During his first year with the Wizards, Espinoza scored one goal and added three assists in 22 games (12 starts). He was among the rookie leaders in games played, minutes played and assists.

Honduras Roster for World Cup Qualifiers 3/28 and 4/1:

Goalkeepers: Noel Valladares (Olimpia), Ricardo Canales (Motagua).

Defenders: Osman Chávez (Motagua), Emilio Izaguirre (Motagua), Samuel Caballero (Shen Hua, China), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan), Edgar Alvarez (Pisa), Oscar Bonie García (Olimpia), Nery Medina (Real España).

Midfielders: Ramón Núñez (Puebla), Amado Guevara (Toronto FC, MLS), Roger Espinoza (Kansas City Wizards, MLS), Wilson Palacios (West Ham), Hendry Thomas (Olimpia), Julio César de León (Parma), Marvin Chávez (Marathon), Junior Morales (Real Juventud), Erin Morales (Marathon), Mario Rodríguez (Real España), Danilo Turcios (Olimpia).

Forwards: Carlos Pavón (Necaxa), Carlo Costly (Birmingham), Saúl Martínez (Marathon).

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 25, 2009


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