Timbers Steve Purdy called up by El Salvador National Team

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Timbers today announced that defender Steve Purdy has been called up by the El Salvador National Team for international friendlies against Moldova (May 26) and Honduras (June 2) as well as 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica (June 8) and Mexico (June 12).

Purdy, 27, joins the El Salvador National Team today in Texas, where the team is preparing to face the Moldova National Team in a friendly on Saturday at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas. El Salvador then concludes an extended training camp with a friendly against the Honduras National Team on Saturday, June 2, at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

On Friday, June 8, El Salvador begins the third round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup against the Costa Rica National Team in San José, Costa Rica. El Salvador will then play host to Mexico on Tuesday, June 12 in San Salvador.

While on national team duty, Purdy, who has been cleared by the Timbers’ medical staff following a recent concussion, will miss the Timbers’ league match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday and the team’s third-round U.S. Open Cup match on May 30. He is expected to rejoin the Timbers on Wednesday, June 13.

Purdy, who has family ties to El Salvador, made his debut for the El Salvador National Team on June 19, 2011, against Panama in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal. He was a key contributor to El Salvador’s advancement in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying last fall, starting three matches in CONCACAF qualifying. Purdy, who has five caps and has scored a goal for El Salvador, was recently recalled for a friendly against Estonia in Los Angeles on Feb. 29.