Mexico names U-23 squad for friendly vs. United States at StubHub Center

Marco Bueno

CARSON, Calif. – Mexico Under-23 national team head coach Raul Gutierrez has named his 20-man roster for Wednesday’s friendly against the U.S. Under-23 national team at StubHub Center



The friendly at StubHub Center will serve as preparation for the upcoming CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship which begins Oct. 1-13 in the United States.


The top two teams from the qualifying tournament will head to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero while the third place team will face off against a side from Colombia in a two-leg playoff next March. Mexico enter Olympic qualifying as reigning champions after taking home the gold medal in the 201 Olympic Games in London.


Due to club commitments, Mexico arrives in Southern California without expected contributors like forward Erick “Cubo” Torres or goalkeeper Richard Sanchez, but will boast six players from their 2011 U-17 World Cup championship squad. Gutierrez’s roster includes U-17 World Cup veterans Toluca forward Marco Bueno and Tigres midfielder Jonathan Espericueta, and former U.S. U-20 forward Uvaldo Luna.


A total of 11 Mexican sides are represented across the 20-player roster.


The complete Mexico roster can be found below.


GOALKEEPERS (2): Luis Cárdenas (Monterrey), Gibran Lajud (Tijuana on loan from Cruz Azul)


DEFENDERS (6): Gil Burón (Querétaro), Jorge Caballero (Monterrey), Fabián Guzmán (Atlas Guadalajara), Bernardo Hernández (Monterrey), Luis Solorio (Coras Tepic on loan from Chivas Guadalajara), Pedro Terán (Atlas Guadalajara)


MIDFIELDERS (7): Carlos Cisneros (Coras Tepic on loan from Chivas Guadalajara), Rosario Cota (Cruz Azul), Kevin Escamilla (Pumas UNAM), Jonathan Espericueta (Tigres UANL), Daniel Hernández (Atlas Guadalajara), Pedro Hernández (Tijuana), Michael Pérez (Coras Tepic on loan from Chivas Guadalajara)


FORWARDS (5): Marco Bueno (Toluca), Ángel Zaldívar (Coras Tepic on loan from Chivas Guadalajara), José Alberto García (Tijuana), Ulises Jaimes (Monarcas Morelia), Uvaldo Luna (Tigres UANL)


Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at www.LAGalaxy.com/insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.