Fresh off his second goal of the season in Saturday's 3-2 loss at Sporting Kansas City, Crew striker Jairo Arrieta has been called to represent Costa Rica in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Arrieta won the Golden Boot in the Copa Centroamericana this past winter with two goals to help La Sele qualify for the Gold Cup.
Arrieta joins fellow MLS players Álvaro Saborío, Roy Miller and Rodney Wallace on Costa Rica's roster as the Ticos hope to capture their first CONCACAF championship in 24 years.
"It's a great tournament," Arrieta said last week. "We want to win it. We will work hard to win it. Hopefully with my help and everyone else's help, we can reach that goal."
Arrieta has only made 12 appearances through the first half of the 2013 MLS Season, thanks in-part to representing Costa Rica in its 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying efforts. Despite the hectic schedule, Arrieta has yet to feel fatigue this season with his focus on helping the Black & Gold reach the MLS Cup Playoffs.
"All the traveling I'm doing, so far I'm feeling okay," Arrieta said. "It's not affecting my performance. My goal is to always try to perform for the Crew.
"My thought is always perform here, do my best here and have good games with the Crew. If I do that, I will have the chance with the National Team. But always, my focus is performing with the Crew first."
Arrieta and Costa Rica open 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup play on July 9 against Cuba at JELD-WEN Field in Portland.
