SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes defender Victor Bernardez and midfielder Marvin Chavez have been named to the Honduras national team for upcoming 2014 World Cup Qualifiers against Canada and Panama.
Los Catrachos will first travel to take on group leader Panama in Panama City on Friday, Oct. 12 followed by a key match against Canada in San Pedro, Honduras on Tuesday, Oct. 16. Honduras is second in Group C with seven points from four games, two behind Panama. Canada is third with seven points, trailing Los Catrachos by two in the goal differential tiebreaker.
Bernardez has been a mainstay during World Cup qualification for Honduras. The MLS Newcomer of the Year candidate has three goals in 56 caps. He has anchored the Quakes’ back line, suiting up in each of the club’s seven shutouts this season. The Supporters’ Shield leaders are 13-4-5 with Bernardez in the lineup.
Chavez has four goals in 30 appearances and has tallied in two of his last four games for Honduras. The speedy winger is fifth in MLS with 11 assists, three off the Earthquakes’ all-time single-season record. He also has two goals to his credit in 2012, including a blast in San Jose’s 4-1 win against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday; that effort is currently up for AT&T Goal of the Week honors on mlssoccer.com.
Honduras National Team Roster
GOALKEEPERS: Noel Valladares (CD Olimpia), Donis Escober (CD Olimpia), Jose Mendoza (CD Marathon)
DEFENDERS: Wilmer Crisanto (CD Victoria), Juan Carlos Garcia (CD Olimpia), Arnold Peralta (CDS Vida), Jhony Leveron (CD Motagua), Jose David Velasquez (CD Victoria), Osman Chavez (Wisla Krakow), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan Athletic FC), Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic FC), Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes)
MIDFIELDERS: Edder Delgado (Real Espana), Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo), Mario Martinez (Seattle Sounders FC), Jorge Claros (Hibernian FC), Marvin Chavez (San Jose Earthquake), Luis Garrido (CD Olimpia), Mario Barrios (CD Marathon)
FORWARDS: Jerry Bengston (New England Revolution), Roger Rojas (CD Olimpia), Georgie Welcome (CD Motagua), Mitchel Brown (CD Marathon), Junior Lacayo (CD Victoria), Carlo Costly (Veria FC)
