U.S. Men's U-23 Olympic Qualifying Roster Set

Just a day away from the Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team coach Caleb Porter has finalized his 20-man squad. The U.S. opens up group play against Cuba tomorrow followed by games against Canada on the 24th and then El Salvador on the 26th. Nineteen of the twenty players on the roster were on the squad that defeated Mexico 3 weeks ago with only Philadelphia Union defender Sheanon Williams getting added.

Here's a look at the Olympic Qualifying Roster:

GOALKEEPERS (2): 

Bill Hamid (D.C. United) - The 21 year old D.C. United keeper made his Senior National Team debut in January and posted a 1-0 shutout win over Venezuela. Hamid started and played the first half in the U-23's 2-0 win over Mexico last month and made 7 saves in DC United's season opening 1-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City.

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Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire) - The 22 year old Johnson has appeared twice for the Senior National Team, most recently coming on for the second half of the U.S.'s 1-0 win over Panama back in January. Johnson also turned in a solid 45 minutes in net in last month's 2-0 win against Mexico. His 2012 MLS debut is on hold until after qualifying, but he had 7 shutouts in 2011 in 28 starts for the Fire.

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DEFENDERS (6): 

Perry Kitchen (D.C. United) - Kitchen turned 20 on the day of the Mexico game and turned in a solid 90 minutes on the backline. Kitchen is one of the most experienced youth national teamers on the squad having already logged over 40 caps between the U-17s, U-20s and U-23s dating back to 2007. Kitchen started and played a full 90 in D.C. United's season opener against Sporting Kansas City. He will be the U.S.'s vice captain during Olympic Qualifying.

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Ike Opara (San Jose Earthquakes) - The 23 year old 6'2" center back captained the U.S. to that 2-0 victory against Mexico last month. Opara is entering his third year with the San Jose Earthquakes, but has logged just 19 appearances and 15 starts.

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Kofi Sarkodie (Houston Dynamo) - Sarkoie made just 7 starts for the Dynamo in 2011, but started and played the full 90 minutes against Mexico last month. Sarkodie has appeared for the U.S. youth teams at the U-17, U-20 and U-23 levels.

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Zarek Valentin (Montreal Impact) - In his first year with the expansion Impact after spending his rookie season with Chivas USA, Valentin hasn't yet made his 2012 MLS debut. The 20 year old former Akron Zip did start and play a full 90 minutes against Mexico though.

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Jorge Villafaña (Chivas USA) - Just 22, Villafaña is already in his sixth season with Chivas USA. 2011 was his breakout year when he started a career high 24 games. You may remember him as Jorge Flores, but he legally changed his name and took his mother's maiden name last winter.

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Sheanon Williams (Philadelphia Union) - The one new addition to the U-23 National Team, the 22 year old Williams is in his third year with the Philadelphia Union. Williams was a late add to the squad after Josh Gatt was recalled to his club team in Norway due to a significant number of player injuries. Williams started all 32 of the Union's games last year and has started both of their games this year. The former North Carolina Tar Heel has previously appeared 8 times for the U.S. Youth National Teams dating back to 2007.

Photo Credit: phillysoccernews.com

MIDFIELDERS (6): 

Freddy Adu (Philadelphia Union) - By far the most experienced international player on the U.S. roster, and the only holdover from the 2008 Olympic team, the former child sensation has been a member of U.S. youth and senior National Teams since 2002 scoring 38 goals in 71 combined appearances over the years. Adu was a big factor in the win over Mexico earning an assist when his long range shot deflected off of Mix Diskerud for the second goal of the game. Adu will be the U.S. captain in the upcoming tournament.

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Joe Corona (Club Tijuana) - Corona wore the #10 jersey in last month's match against Mexico and played a full 90 minutes in the midfield. He has appeared in 9 matches for Tijuana during the 2012 Clausura in the Mexican Premier League scoring a goal in a 1-1 draw with Toluca late last month.

Photo Credit: soccerbyives.net

Mix Diskerud (Gent) - The Norwegian born Diskerud had a goal and an assist in the 2-0 win over Mexico turning in a solid 90 minutes in the midfield. Diskerud has appeared in a pair of matches for K.A.A. Gent in Belgium's Jupiler League since going on loan at the end of January from Norwegian club Stabæk.  

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Jared Jeffrey (Mainz) - The former captain of the USA U-17s signed a 3 year deal with Mainz 05 in Germany in 2010. Jeffrey has appeared in 39 games for Mainz's second team scoring a pair of goals.

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Amobi Okugo (Philadelphia Union) - Okugo has appeared in 26 games for the Union over the past two years and has appeared in 22 games for the U.S. youth national teams dating back to 2007. Okugo was a late substitute in the Mexico friendly and just turned 21 last week.

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Michael Stephens (LA Galaxy) - Stephens is starting his third season with the Galaxy for whom he's tallied a goal and dished out 9 assists. Stephens came on as a sub for the final 20 minutes in the Galaxy's season opening loss to Real Salt Lake.

Photo Credit: mlssoccer.com

FORWARDS (6): 

Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls) - Agudelo scored the opening goal and was named the Man of the Match in the U.S.'s win over Mexico. The Colombian born striker is still trying to find his niche with the Red Bulls, but did get the start up top alongside Thierry Henry in their season opener this year. Agudelo has 15 caps and a pair of goals for the Senior National Team. He is the youngest player in national team history to score in a senior game after scoring in his debut in 2010 against South Africa.

Photo Credit: mlssoccer.com

Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund) - Boyd was scheduled to play with the U-23s against Mexico, but injuries to the senior national team instead saw him get called up for the friendly against Italy. The Borussia Dortmund reserve received his first cap coming on a sub for the final eleven minutes of the U.S.'s historic win.

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Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City) - Son of Canadian great and former MLSer Alex Bunbury, Teal is in his third season with Sporting Kansas City for whom he's scored 14 regular season goals and two more in last year's playoffs. Bunbury scored his first international goal for the Senior National Team last January when he converted a penalty kick against Chile, and he picked up an assist on Sporting teammate Graham Zusi's goal in last month's 1-0 win against Panama. Bunbury came on as a second half substitute in the match against Mexico. 

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Joe Gyau (Hoffenheim) - The 19 year old from Silver Spring, Maryland made his debut in Germany last month for Hoffenheim during the German Cup. Gyau has 6 career goals for the U.S. youth National Teams including a hat trick against Canada in December of 2010 for the U-20s. He started up top alongside Agudelo in the win over Mexico.

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Brek Shea (FC Dallas) - Probably the biggest name on the roster next to Adu, Shea is coming off an MLS season in which he scored 11 times for FC Dallas while adding 4 assists. One of Klinsmann's favorites, Shea - like Boyd - was called up for Senior National Team duty on the day of the Mexico game and has started all three of the U.S.'s friendlies this year.

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Tony Taylor (Estoril Praia) - A member of the U.S. team at the  2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Taylor has been playing in Portugal since 2010 and is currently on loan to Atlético CP in Portugal's second division through this summer. Taylor has scored twice for CP since his arrival.

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