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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, February 4, 2010

Brian Ching added to US soccer training camp


Associated Press

CHICAGO — Forward Brian Ching of Hawaii and defender Michael Orozco have been added to the 23-man roster U.S. roster for a training camp ahead of a Feb. 24 World Cup warmup against El Salvador at Tampa, Fla.

The all-Major League Soccer roster includes 21 of the 30 players, and 10 of the starting 11, invited to last month's training camp ahead of a 3-1 exhibition loss to Honduras on Jan. 23. Players will gather Feb. 10 in Carson, Calif., and travel to Florida on Feb. 21.

Ching, a member of the 2006 World Cup roster and a Kamehameha Schools alum from Haleiwa, decided to skip the January camp to concentrate on individual workouts ahead of the Houston Dynamo training. He is the veteran on the roster with 10 goals in 43 international appearances.

Orozco was acquired by the expansion Philadelphia Union on Jan. 29 from the Mexican club San Luis.

"These are important opportunities for these players as we continue to formulate our plans for the roster for the World Cup," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "This camp and the game against El Salvador provide a chance for the coaching staff to get one more long look at this group."

Three players who had been in the January camp were dropped by Bradley: Kansas City goalkeeper Kevin Hartman (Kansas City), San Jose defender Brandon McDonald (San Jose) and Chivas USA forward Justin Braun.

Kansas City defender Jimmy Conrad was ejected from the Honduras match and likely will be suspended for the El Salvador game.

New England midfielder Jeff Larentowicz and Aalborg forward Marcus Tracy left the January camp early because of knee injuries.

Three of the players who had been with the national team returned to their teams in Scandinavia: IK Start defender Clarence Goodson, Orebro midfielder Alejandro Bedoya and Aarhus midfielder Benny Feilhaber.

Europe-based players will be called in for a March 3 exhibition at the Netherlands, the last match before Bradley selects his 23-man World Cup roster.

The Americans plan two exhibitions in the Northeast before heading to South Africa., They open their sixth straight World Cup appearance against England on June 12, play Slovenia six days later and close the first round on June 23 against Algeria.

THE TRAINING CAMP ROSTER:

Goalkeepers: Troy Perkins (D.C.), Nick Rimando (Salt Lake), Zach Thornton (Chivas USA)

Defenders: Kevin Alston (New England), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles), Chad Marshall (Columbus), Michael Orozco (Philadelphia), Heath Pearce (Dallas), Marvell Wynne (Toronto)

Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Salt Lake), Geoff Cameron (Houston), Brad Davis (Houston), Brad Evans (Seattle), Eddie Gaven (Columbus), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas), Dax McCarty (Dallas), Chris Pontius (D.C.), Robbie Rogers (Columbus)

Forwards: Conor Casey (Colorado), Brian Ching (Houston), Jeff Cunningham (Dallas), Robbie Findley (Salt Lake)