COLUMBUS — Columbus Crew striker Jairo Arrieta has been called-up for National Team duty ahead of ahead of three of Costa Rica’s upcoming matches in the Hexagonal Round of 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying. Under Head Coach Jorge Luis Pinto, Costa Rica is scheduled to host Honduras on Friday, June 7, travel to Mexico on Monday, June 10 and then host Honduras on Tuesday, June 18.
Arrieta is set to depart today following the Crew’s 1-1 draw with MLS Eastern Conference rival Houston on Saturday night at Crew Stadium.
While with Costa Rica, Arrieta will miss two MLS matches – at Philadelphia on June 5 and against Montreal on June 15 – as well as the club’s Fourth Round clash in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at the Chicago Fire on Wednesday, June 12.
Coming off of a two-match suspension in MLS play, the Crew forward remained sharp during his most recent international call-up for Costa Rica against Canada in a friendly in Edmonton on Tuesday, May 28. Arrieta converted a 16th-minute penalty kick to give the Ticos a 1-0 win in his 10th cap with Costa Rica dating back to 2011. The goal was his third goal for La Sele after scoring twice during the 2013 Copa Centroamericana earlier this year.
The 29-year-old has recorded one goal and two assists – both game-winning helpers – for the Crew in nine appearances, including six starts, in 2013.
