Venezuela without key players for U.S. clash

• by Soccer America , Mar 26, 2003

Venezuela coach Richard Paez has named four foreign-based players to his 17-man roster for Saturday's friendly against the USA (4 pm ET/1 pm PT in Seattle, live on ESPN2).

Three foreign-based players -- Alejandro Cichero (Cerro/Uruguay), Juan Arango (Pachuca/Mexico), Hector Gonzalez (Olimpo/Argentina) -- will not travel to Seattle but will join Venezuela for its April 2 home game against Jamaica in Caracas.

Also not in the squad is Ruberth Moran, Venezuela's leading scoring during its unsuccessful qualifying campaign for the 2002 World Cup with four goals.

The four foreign-based players on the roster are defenders Jose Manuel Rey and Jorge Rojas of Emelec (Ecuador), goalkeeper Manuel Sanhouse (Club Espoli/Ecuador) and Gabriel Urdaneta (Lugano/Switzerland).

GOALKEEPERS
Gilberto Angelucci (Deportivo Tachira)
Manuel Sanhouse (Club Espoli/Ecuador)

DEFENDERS
Wilfredo Alvarado (ItalChacao)
Luis Vallenilla Pacheco (Caracas FC)
Jose Manuel Rey (Emelec/Ecuador)
Jorge Rojas (Emelec/Ecuador)
Leonel Vielma (Maracaibo)
Javier Villafraz (Estudiantes)

MIDFIELDERS
Leopoldo Jimenez (ItalChacao)
Ricardo David Paez (Caracas FC)
Giovanny Perez (Estudiantes)
Gabriel Urdaneta (Lugano/Switzerland)
Luis Vera (Caracas FC)

FORWARDS
Cristian Casseres (Deportivo ItalChacao)
Juan Garcia (Mineros)
Wilfredo Moreno (Mineros)
Daniel Noriega (Deportivo ItalChacao)