VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed today that centre back Kendall Waston and striker Darren Mattocks have been called up to their respective national teams for upcoming international friendly matches.
Waston has been tabbed to join Costa Rica for two fixtures, first against South Africa on Thursday, October 8 at Estadio Nacional in San José, Costa Rica. The Ticos then play the United States on Tuesday, October 13 at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, the same day Mattocks and Jamaica will be facing South Korea at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
On the international stage, Waston was most recently called up for the Gold Cup quarter-final in July. The towering Whitecaps FC centre back has picked up two caps for the Costa Rican national side, playing in a 1-0 win over Canada in a friendly on May 28, 2013, as well as a CONCACAF 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match, a 1-0 win over Honduras on June 7, 2013.
Waston, 27, was also named to the Central American outfit’s provisional roster for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The Limon native previously featured for Costa Rica at the youth level, playing at both the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Cup and the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
This MLS season, Waston has started in all of his 26 appearances for Whitecaps FC, scoring one goal. He is among the league leaders in aerials won (third with 110), clearances (fifth with 178), and headed clearances (second with 123).
Mattocks will be looking to extend his goal-scoring streak for the Reggae Boyz in the October 13 fixture. The 2012 MLS SuperDraft pick has found the net in Jamaica's last four matches - the historic 2-1 CONCACAF Gold Cup win over the United States and the subsequent loss to Mexico in the tournament final, and each of the two legs in of the CONCACAF third round of World Cup qualifying versus Nicaragua. In total, the Portmore, Jamaica native has tallied 12 goals in 32 appearances in senior international play.
The speedy 25-year old striker is the career scoring leader among active Whitecaps FC players with 19 goals in 92 appearances. He has scored three goals in MLS play this season, including the April 18 match-winner at Real Salt Lake. Mattocks most recently found the net in the 2-2 draw at Montreal Impact in the first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship on August 12 and also assisted on the match-winner in the 1-0 win versus C.D. Olimpia in CONCACAF Champions League action on September 16.
Waston and Mattocks will each miss one match of the upcoming home-and-home series versus FC Dallas. Waston will not be available for the October 7 home game versus the Toros, while Mattocks will miss the October 14 visit to North Texas.
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