Timbers' Ryan Johnson, Donovan Ricketts called up by Jamaica National Team

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced that forward Ryan Johnson and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts have been called up by the Jamaica National Team as it begins the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, Feb. 6, against Mexico.

Ricketts and Johnson will join the Jamaica National Team on Sunday in Mexico City, where they will face the Mexico National Team on Wednesday at Estadio Azteca; kickoff is 6:30 p.m. (Pacific).

The two Jamaican internationals join Timbers teammate Rodney Wallace (Costa Rica) on national team duty for upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Wallace has remained with the Costa Rica National Team since it won the 2013 Copa Centroamericana on Jan. 27; Costa Rica plays Panama on Feb. 6.

All three Portland players are scheduled to rejoin the club for preseason training following their international matches on Feb. 6.

Johnson, 28, has earned 23 caps and scored eight goals for the Jamaica National Team, making his team debut April 11, 2006, against the United States. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Johnson has appeared in all six of the Reggae Boyz’s previous 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, scoring a goal in a 2-1 win over Guatemala on June 8, 2012. He recently represented his country during the 2012 Caribbean Cup last December and was Jamaica’s second-leading scorer during the 2011 Gold Cup.

Ricketts, 35, has been a longtime member of the Jamaica National Team, earning 89 caps for the Reggae Boyz since making his team debut in 2000. From Montego Bay, Jamaica, Ricketts has featured in Jamaica’s qualifying bids for the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups and was a member of the country’s 1998 World Cup squad. Additionally, he played in the 2009 and 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cups. Ricketts, who has served as a vice captain for his country, last played for Jamaica in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Guatemala on June 8, 2012.

Wallace, 24, and Costa Rica take on Panama at Estadio Rommel Fernández in Panama City on Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. (Pacific). Born in San José, Costa Rica, Wallace has been in camp with the national team since Jan. 7, and played in all five of Costa Rica’s matches during the Copa Centroamericana tournament, scoring the game-winning goal against El Salvador in the semifinal. He has 14 caps with Costa Rica and has appeared in three of its last four 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Jamaica and Costa Rica are two of six remaining countries competing in CONCACAF’s final round of qualifying for a berth in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.