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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 8:35 a.m., Friday, March 20, 2009

Haleiwa's Ching named to U.S. team for World Cup soccer qualifiers

Associated Press

CHICAGO — Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley headlined a 22-man roster announced today for the U.S. World Cup qualifiers at El Salvador on March 28 and against Trinidad and Tobago on April 1 in Nashville, Tenn.

Forward Brian Ching, a Kamehameha Schools alum from Haleiwa, was also named to the squad.

All 11 players on the roster started the match against Mexico on Feb. 11, which opened the final round of qualifying in the North and Central American and Caribbean region. Bradley scored twice in the U.S. team's 2-0 win.

Goalkeeper Tim Howard is suspended for the match at El Salvador because of an accumulation of yellow cards. The roster includes goalkeepers Brad Guzan and Marcus Hahnemann, who hasn't played for the national team since 2007.

Midfielder Pablo Mastroeni is back after a suspension caused by yellow cards, and defenders Jay DeMerit and Jonathan Spector return from injuries. Eddie Johnson, who hasn't played for the national team since Sept. 10 against Trinidad, also was selected.

Defender Steve Cherundolo, recovering from a strained right hip, is still not back to full strength and did not make the roster.

Sixteen of the 22 players are with European clubs, including six in England, two apiece in Germany and Scotland, and one each in Belgium, Denmark, France, Monaco, Spain and Wales. Five are with MLS clubs and one in Mexico.

The team gathers Sunday and Monday in Miami, before leaving for El Salvador on Thursday.

The roster:

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, England), Tim Howard (Everton, England), Marcus Hahnemann (Reading, England)

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes, Frances), Danny Califf (Midtjylland, Denmark), Jay DeMerit (Watford, England), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege, Belgium), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock, Germany), Jonathan Spector (West Ham, England)

Midfielders: Freddy Adu (AS Monaco), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado), Jose Francisco Torres (Pachuca, Mexico)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Xerez, Spain), Brian Ching (Houston), Clint Dempsey (Fulham, England), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles), Eddie Johnson (Cardiff City, Wales)