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The send-off series for the US in the final weeks before the World Cup saw several USL players play key roles in their preparation for Germany. The two most known USL alumni, Brian Ching and Brian McBride, each tallied goals.
Bobby Convey set up Ching with a fantastic run to the left corner in the 36th minute of the second match against Venezuela in Cleveland before sending a pinpoint cross to the near post for a floating toe-poke volley by the former Seattle Sounder and Spokane Shadow forward en route to a 2-0 win.
USL Hall of Famer Brian McBride, recovered from a collision of heads that left him with a knot the rest of the night to score the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over Latvia in the final game in East Hartford, Connecticut. The former Milwaukee Rampage forward headed home a cross from Steve Cherundolo two minutes before the break.
The US fell 1-0 to Morocco in the series opener in Nashville.
Three former USL players have been named to the 2006 FIFA World Cup roster for Trinidad & Tobago.
Veteran USL First Division defender Brent Sancho, currently with Gillingham in England, was a member of the Charleston Battery in 2000 before spending two seasons with the Portland Timbers.
Superstart striker Stern John is also a USL product, earning USL First Division Rookie of the Year honors in 1997 after registering 16 goals and five assists for the New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers. John went on to a stint in MLS the following year and is now playing for Coventry in England.
Forward Evans Wise spent some time in the USL First Division playing for US Project-40 in 1998.
John scored the squad’s lone goal for T&T in their World Cup tuneup against Wales in Austria May 27, a 2-1 loss.
Twelve former United Soccer Leagues players were among the official roster of 23 players for the FIFA World Cup named by head coach Bruce Arena Tuesday. Eight USL players were also named as alternates for the tournament being held in Germany beginning June 9.
USL Hall of Fame inductee Brian McBride heads the list of former USL players. McBride is the only player in U.S. history to score goals in multiple World Cups, his three career goals include the game-winners in the 3-2 opening match victory against Portugal in the 2002 World Cup and the 2-0 win against Mexico in the Round of 16. Just one shy of the USA’s all-time leader in World Cup goals, his 29 international strikes also put him in second place on the all-time U.S. list.continue >>
