WASHINGTON, August 29, 2011—Jurgen Klinsmann, the U.S. men’s national team coach, has added D.C. United's Chris Pontius and Birmingham City's Jonathan Spector to the roster for the exhibition game against Costa Rica on Sept. 2 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The two players replace FC Dallas defender Zach Loyd and Chivas USA defender Heath Pearce, who have both withdrawn due to injury.
Pontius, who has scored a career-high seven goals this season, is making his second appearance in a U.S. national team camp after participating in the January camp in 2010. The third-year United midfielder will be looking to earn his first cap. Pontius has played the most minutes for United this season (2,401) and the most games (24). He also leads the team ins shots (52) and shots on goal (20).
Spector has appeared 31 times for the United States and is a veteran of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He moved to Birmingham City of the English League Championship this summer following five seasons at West Ham United.
Loyd has been nursing a right hamstring strain and did not play this past Saturday when FC Dallas won 3-2 at Sporting Kansas City. Pearce suffered a hamstring strain in Chivas' 1-0 loss to Real Salt Lake.
Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey will remain in London to receive treatment for back spasms. Dempsey will join the team in Brussels on Sunday in advance of the match against Belgium on Sept. 6 at King Badouin Stadium.
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