10813_isi_orozcomichael_usmnthcs071613526 Howard C. Smith/isiphotos.com
The Hexagonal

Michael Orozco Replaces Omar Gonzalez for U.S.

Forced to come off at halftime of Sunday's Los Angeles Galaxy—Chivas USA match, starting center back Omar Gonzalez will now miss the two October World Cup qualifiers.
BY John Godfrey Posted
October 08, 2013
11:29 AM
YOU CAN ADD OMAR GONZALEZ' name to the injury list.

The six-foot-five central defender was named to Jurgen Klinsmann's 20-man roster for the two October World Cup qualifiers, but will now miss both matches as he nurses a left hip strain. To replace Gonzalez, Klinsmann has called in Puebla defender Michael Orozco.

Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, and Fabian Johnson are already missing the matches due to injury concerns.

Since the games are largely meaningless for the United States, which has already qualified for the 2014 World Cup, there is little cause for concern. But when you look at the team's defensive corps for these two matches, one cannot help but wonder about the squad's depth across the back line.

DaMarcus Beasley, Matt Besler, Geoff Cameron, Edgar Castillo, Brad Evans, and Michael Orozco are the only defenders on the roster. Beasley, Castillo, and Evans are midfielders rather than true defenders, and Castillo has said he's not a good defender.

Besler is very solid, but he took a massive blow to the head in his last Major League Soccer match. And Cameron is a player in search of a position with the national team. (Klinsmann likes Evans at right back, so does that mean Cameron plays in the middle alongside Besler?)

Meanwhile, Amobi Okugo, Eric Lichaj, Chris Klute, George John, and others have been left off the team, and will have to wait until a later date to show Klinsmann what they can do.

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