U.S. Men's National Team goalkeeper Brad Friedel and Los Angeles Galaxy rookie midfielder Sasha Victorine have been added to the final 18-man roster as replacements for injured players Adin Brown
(Colorado Rapids, MLS) and Chris Armas (Chicago Fire, MLS). The announcement came after it was ruled that Armas would be unfit to compete in the Sydney 2000 Games after a medical evaluation earlier
this week. Coming on the heels of Adin Brown's withdrawal from the team yesterday due to leg injuries, the Armas decision left two open spots one Under-23 and one "over-age" on the final 18-man
roster, which must be submitted by the Sept. 1 deadline. "Obviously, I'm very disappointed that Chris (Armas) and Adin (Brown) won't be joining us in Sydney. I'm sorry for them, and I'm sorry for
us," said U.S. U-23 Head Coach Clive Charles. "But we're bringing in a world-class keeper in Brad (Friedel) and a versatile midfielder in Sasha (Victorine)." Armas, arguably the best defensive
midfielder in the country, suffered a Grade 2 sprain of the MCL in his left knee while helping the U.S. Men's National Team defeat Barbados 7-0 in an important World Cup qualifying match on Aug. 16 at
Foxboro Stadium. The injury, which came on a vicious tackle from behind in the midfield, was similar to an MCL sprain that he suffered last year on the same knee. To fill the third and final
"over-age" spot and likely take Brown's spot in the starting lineup, Charles called on the experienced Friedel, the second most-capped goalkeeper in U.S. Men's National Team history with 66
international appearances. The 6'4" Friedel started all three first round games of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics as an Under-23 player and is a two-time U.S. World Cup veteran from USA' 94 and
France'98. The Bay Village, Ohio, native has spent the last three seasons in the highly rated English Premier League with Liverpool, one of England's most heralded clubs. Prior to his stint in
England, Friedel was considered the top goalkeeper in Major League Soccer over the league's first two seasons (1996 and 1997), where he competed for the Columbus Crew and earned MLS Goalkeeper of the
Year honors in' 97. A three-time All-American at UCLA, Friedel first made a name for himself on the pro level with famed Turkish club Galatasaray, where he spent the 1995 season. Also a UCLA
almnus, midfielder Sasha Victorine has earned six caps with the U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team and was on the bronze medal-winning Pan Am Games team last summer. A groin injury kept him off the
U-23 squad that qualified back in April, but he has gone on to have a stellar rookie season with the Los Angeles Galaxy, where he has registered three goals and five assists in 25 games. A standout
collegiate player for the Bruins, the Carmichael, Calif., native was selected in the first round (11th pick overall) of the MLS SuperDraft 2000 shortly after he was named the 1999 Missouri Athletic
Club Player of the Year for his senior season. With the addition of Friedel and Victorine to the squad, the final 18-player U.S. Men's Olympic Soccer Team roster features four alums from UCLA, the
most of any college, and three players from the Los Angeles Galaxy, the most of any MLS team.
