Chivas USA Defender Steven Purdy Called up by El Salvador’s National Team
Purdy and La Selecta Kick off 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup participation on July 8
CARSON, Calif. (Monday, June 17, 2013) – Chivas USA defender Steven Purdy has been called up to represent El Salvador’s National Team in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, as they kick of their journey on Monday, July 8, facing Trinidad & Tobago. The match is set to start at 4 p.m. (PT) at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ.
Purdy will be released to join La Selecta on June 19, following Wednesday’s Major League Soccer match between Chivas USA and Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place. The defender will first travel to El Salvador prior to the team’s trip to New Jersey, which will serve as host site for the Gold Cup’s Group B play at the beginning of July.
“Every time I get a chance to represent El Salvador is amazing, especially in a big tournament like the Gold Cup,” said Purdy. “It’s a good opportunity for us to show ourselves in our region, prove ourselves and hopefully make it far in the tournament.”
Born to an American father and a Salvadorian mother, the 28-year-old was last called up to represent El Salvador’s National Team in a 2-1 loss to Venezuela on May 22, 2013 at Ciudad de Mérida. Purdy played 90 minutes of the preparation match ahead of the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where El Salvador scored the initial goal, but two penalty kicks by Venezuela shattered their winning hopes.
The first-year Chivas USA player has been called-up 13 times by the National Team, and on Oct. 11, 2011 he recorded his first goal and assist in a 4-0 victory over the Caiman Islands at El Salvador’s Estadio de Cuscatlan. Purdy was a member of El Salvador’s group that participated in the 2011 Gold Cup. In that edition of the tournament, La Selecta fell in the Quarterfinal Round to Panama in penalty kicks. Purdy will try to contribute to the National Team when they face Trinidad & Tobago, Honduras and Haiti as part of Group B in the tournament.
El Noticiero de Alvarez Galloso 