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Wednesday, August 30
Friedel, Victorine added to U.S. team
Associated Press
CHICAGO -- Goalkeeper Brad Friedel, the starter for the
United States at the 1992 Barcelona Games, was added Wednesday to
the Americans' roster for next month's Sydney Olympics.
Friedel, who becomes one of the Americans' three wild-card
players over the age limit of 23, has been with Liverpool of
England's Premier League for three seasons but hasn't played much
for the past year. He also is the No. 2 goalkeeper on the U.S.
national team behind Kasey Keller.
Friedel takes over as the Olympic starter from Adin Brown of the
Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer, cut Tuesday because of leg
injuries.
Midfielder Chris Armas, who sprained a ligament in his left knee
Aug. 16 as the United States beat Barbados 7-0 in a World Cup
qualifier, was cut from the Olympic team Wednesday to open a roster
spot for Friedel.
Armas, who plays for the Chicago Fire, had been one of the three
wild cards originally selected by U.S. Olympic coach Clive Charles,
along with D.C. United defender Jeff Agoos and Bayer Leverkusen
midfielder Frankie Hejduk.
Los Angeles Galaxy rookie midfielder Sasha Victorine was added
to the Olympic roster Wednesday to replace Brown, leaving the U.S.
team at the 18-man limit. Final rosters must be submitted Friday to
FIFA, soccer's governing body.
"Obviously, I'm very disappointed that Chris and Adin won't be
joining us in Sydney. I'm sorry for them, and I'm sorry for us,"
Charles said. "But we're bringing in a world-class keeper in Brad
and a versatile midfielder in Sasha."
Friedel, who has 66 international appearances, including the win
over Barbados, started all three games for the U.S. Olympic team at
the Barcelona games and was backup goalkeeper for the Americans at
the past two World Cups.
Victorine, like Friedel a star at UCLA, was part of the U.S.
team at last year's Pan American Games and has three goals and five
assists in 25 games this season for the Galaxy.
Friedel, the backup to Keller for Sunday's World Cup qualifier
against Guatemala at Washington, will join the Olympic team on
Monday in San Diego. The Americans, who have never advanced from
the first round at the Olympics, leave two days later for Australia
and open Sept. 13 against the Czech Republic at Canberra.
While women's soccer at the Olympics is open to national teams,
FIFA limits the men's tournament to under-23 teams so it won't
compete for attention with the World Cup.
Under pressure from the International Olympic Committee, allowed
the three wild cards starting with the 1996 Atlanta Games.
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