PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced that midfielder Lovel Palmer (Jamaica) and defenders Steve Purdy (El Salvador) and Rodney Wallace (Costa Rica) have been recalled by their respective national teams for upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
All three players will depart following the Timbers’ match against the Colorado Rapids on Friday to join their national teams and are scheduled to return on Sept. 12. While on national team duty, Palmer, Purdy and Wallace will miss the club’s road match against the Rapids on Wednesday, Sept. 5.
Palmer, 27, and the Jamaica National Team face the United States on Friday, Sept. 7, at Independence Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, and then on Tuesday, Sept. 11, at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Jamaica and the United States are currently tied at the top of Group A in CONCACAF qualifying with four points. The matchup on Sept. 11 will be nationally televised on ESPN2.
A native of Mandeville, Jamaica, Palmer was recently called up for a friendly against El Salvador on Aug. 15. He played in the two previous World Cup qualifiers for the Reggae Boyz, starting in a 2-1 win over Guatemala on June 8 and in a scoreless draw against Antigua & Barbuda on June 12. In total, Palmer has 22 caps with the Jamaica National Team since making his international debut in 2005.
Purdy, 27, and the El Salvador National Team play host to Guyana on Sept. 7, at Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador, El Salvador, before traveling to face Guyana on Sept. 11. El Salvador is currently in third place in Group B of CONCACAF qualifying behind Mexico and Costa Rica.
With family ties to El Salvador, Purdy has eight caps with the El Salvador National Team. He recently appeared in a pair of international friendlies against Guatemala and Jamaica in August. Purdy has been a key contributor in El Salvador’s advancement in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying, appearing in five qualification matches and scoring a goal in a 4-0 win over the Cayman Islands on Nov. 10, 2011.
Wallace, 24, and the Costa Rica National Team take on Mexico in a pair of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The two countries will play in San José, Costa Rica, on Sept. 7, before meeting at famed venue Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Sept. 11. Costa Rica trails first-place Mexico in CONCACAF Group B by two points.
From San José, Costa Rica, Wallace has six caps with the Costa Rica National Team and has scored two international goals. He notched the game-winner in a 1-0 win over the United States in his international debut on Sept. 2, 2011. Wallace’s last international appearance was June 1 in a friendly against Guatemala.
