MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Goalkeeper David Ochoa Earns USMNT Call

Published on May 20, 2021 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


CHICAGO/SANDY, Utah - U.S. Men's National Team head coach Gregg Berhalter has called up Real Salt Lake goalkeeper David Ochoa among 27 players for the team's May training camp roster, presented by BioSteel. The USMNT will take on No. 13-ranked Switzerland on May 30 in St. Gallen as the USA prepares for its final match ahead of the Concacaf Nations League Final Four. ESPN, UniMás and TUDN will broadcast from kybunpark at 12 p.m. MT.

Fans will also be able to follow the match via Facebook, Twitter @USMNT, Instagram @USMNT and the official U.S. Soccer App.

Ochoa will be available to media to discuss the call-up at 12:30 p.m. MT via video conference. Media members seeking access to the availability are asked to please contact RSL Communications personnel Taran Meyer via email at tmeyer@rsl.com.

This marks Ochoa's first call-up to the senior national team after previously playing at the U-18, U-20 and U-23 levels. In four matches for Real Salt Lake this season, the 20-year-old RSL Academy product is 2-1-1 with one shutout and a 1.00 goals against average, good for eighth in MLS among keepers who have started at least four matches. In his first professional season, he helped the Real Monarchs to the USL Championship title, posting 1.15 goals against average in five playoff victories. In 22 career regular season matches with the Monarchs he is 9-9-4 with four shutouts and a 1.41 goals against average.

The match against Switzerland represents the sixth time the USMNT will face a Top 20 opponent since Berhalter became head coach in 2019. Led by Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka and Liverpool midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri, the Swiss are gearing up for the European Championship where they have been drawn into Group A with four-time World Cup champion Italy, Turkey and Wales.

The Switzerland encounter, combined with the Concacaf Nations League Final Four and the USMNT's match in Salt Lake City on June 9 against Costa Rica, presented by Allstate, will simulate a match cadence similar to what many players coming from Europe will experience during the upcoming three-match window during the World Cup Qualifying campaign which kicks off in September. As with numerous players in the pool during World Cup qualifying, the U.S. team will travel from Europe to North America for three matches, two in the Nations League in Denver and then Costa Rica in Utah.

Detailed Roster by Position (Club/Country; Caps/Goals):

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge/BEL; 4/0), Chituru Odunze (Leicester City/ENG; 0/0), David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake; 0/0)

DEFENDERS (10): John Brooks (Wolfsburg/GER; 40/3), Reggie Cannon (Boavista/POR; 14/0), Justin Che (Bayern Munich/GER; 0/0), Sergiño Dest (Barcelona/ESP; 7/1), Mark McKenzie (Genk/BEL; 2/0), Matt Miazga (Anderlecht/BEL; 21/1), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 42/1), Bryan Reynolds (Roma/ITA; 1/0), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 10/0), DeAndre Yedlin (Galatasaray/TUR; 62/0)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; 27/2), Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig/GER; 12/1), Julian Green (Greuther Fürth/GER; 15/4), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 20/6), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 21/6), Yunus Musah (Valencia/ESP; 4/0), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; 9/0)

FORWARDS: (7): Brenden Aaronson (Red Bull Salzburg/AUT; 4/2), Daryl Dike (Barnsley/ENG; 2/0), Matthew Hoppe (Schalke/GER; 0/0), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 4/2), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen/GER; 13/5), Jordan Siebatcheu (Young Boys/SUI; 2/0), Tim Weah (Lille/FRA; 10/1)

COMING SOON: CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE FINAL ROSTER

With the final 23-player roster for the Concacaf Nations League Final Four not due until May 24, the coaching staff still has the opportunity to make final evaluations. Thanks to at least one happy circumstance, not all the eligible players for the Nations League are available for the match against Switzerland as USMNT teammates Christian Pulisic and Zack Steffen will square off in the UEFA Champions League Final on May 29 in Porto, Portugal.

ALTITUDE ADJUSTMENT

With the arduous task of playing two matches in three days in the mile-high altitude of Denver, the USMNT will head to the Swiss Alps for training in order to acclimatize to the conditions. Players will begin reporting May 23, and the group will head to St. Gallen in time to watch the Champions League Final on May 29.

COMPETITION COMING UP

The May 30 encounter is a lead-in to three significant competitions in 2021, beginning with the Concacaf Nations League Final Four. Winners of League A's Group A, the USMNT takes on Honduras in one semifinal, while Mexico and Costa Rica will square off in the other, with the winners competing for the inaugural Nations League title.

The USA will have a chance to meet one of its closest Concacaf rivals on June 9 in the friendly against Costa Rica in Salt Lake City. Heading into this summer, the USMNT have a narrow 17-16-5 edge in the series through a rich history of 38 matches played since 1975.

The following month, the U.S. will compete in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup in search of its seventh confederation championship title. The USMNT has been drawn into Group A with Canada, Martinique and a third team to be determined through a qualifying tournament. The United States last lifted the trophy in 2017, when Jordan Morris netted the game-winner against Jamaica in the 2-1 victory.

Those games serve as prelude to the start of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying, which will feature an eight-team final round and commence in Sept. of 2021.

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