SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes defender Victor Bernardez and midfielder Marvin Chavez were among 20 named to the Honduras national team roster ahead of a Wednesday, Aug. 15 friendly with Boca Juniors in Miami, Fla. The duo will still be available for selection in Saturday’s match against Seattle Sounders FC as well as the Earthquakes’ road trip to Montreal on Aug. 18.
The Honduran duo joined the Earthquakes during the 2012 offseason and have since become fixtures in a lineup that has helped San Jose to its best start in club history. The Earthquakes are 13-5-5 and stand atop the Western Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings with 11 games remaining.
Bernardez’s call up is his second in 2012. He featured in World Cup Qualifiers against Canada and Panama in June, upping his career cap total to 53. Bernardez has been a key piece on the Quakes’ back line this season. The club is 9-3-3 with the center back in their starting lineup. He has been on the field for each of San Jose’s five shutouts and scored a pivotal goal just before halftime to spark a memorable 4-3 comeback win against the LA Galaxy on June 30 at Stanford Stadium.
Chavez has 27 career caps with Honduras and would make his first appearance since 2011. The speedy winger is tied for No. 2 in MLS with nine assists in his first season with the club. He scored his first goal with San Jose in a 2-1 win against FC Dallas on July 18. Chavez joined the Earthquakes on Dec. 16, 2011 after a trade with FC Dallas for allocation money.
Honduras will face Boca Juniors on Wednesday, Aug. 15 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami at 4 p.m. PT.
Honduras National Team Roster
GOALKEEPERS (2): Noel Valladares (Olimpia), José Mendoza (Marathón).
DEFENDERS (8): Mauricio Sabillón (Marathón), Arnold Peralta (Vida), Mario Berríos (Marathón), Osman Chávez (Wisla Krakow), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan Athletic), Víctor Bernárdez (San José Earthquakes), Juan Carlos García (Olimpia), José Velásquez Colón (Victoria).
MIDFIELDERS (7): Edder Delgado (Real España), Mario Martínez (Seattle Sounders FC), Luis Garrido (Olimpia), Marvin Chávez (San Jose Earthquakes), Boniek García (Houston Dynamo), Wilson Palacios (Stoke City), Roger Espinoza (Sporting Kansas City).
FORWARDS (3): Jerry Bengtson (New England Revolution), Georgie Welcome (Motagua), Juan Ramón Mejía (Olimpia).
