Wil Trapp, Rodrigo Saravia and Harrison Afful all earned caps and went the full 90 for their respective countries this week. Competing in different parts of the world, the Crew SC trio earned positive results across different competitions.
Trapp served as captain of the United States Under-23 National Team in the first leg of the Olympics playoff series with Colombia on Friday. The Stars and Stripes played to a 1-1 draw in Barranquilla, Colombia, earning a crucial away goal.
Luis Gil scored the goal that could make all the difference for the U.S. in the sixth minute. Juan Quintero equalized from the penalty spot in the 68th, setting an up exciting second leg at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas on March 29. Thanks to the away goal rule, the United States can clinch a berth in the 2016 Summer Olympics with a win or a 0-0 draw. Should the match end 1-1 after 90 minutes, it will go into extra time where away goals will count as well.
While the Under-23s came away with a respectable result in Colombia, the U.S. Men’s National Team was shocked by Guatemala in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying. Guatemala defeated the U.S. 2-0 behind early goals from Rafael Morales (7th) and Carlos Ruiz (15th).
Midfielder Ethan Finlay did not see action in Guatemala City on Friday night, but his Crew SC teammate Rodrigo Saravia started for the hosts. Saravia delivered a solid performance in defensive midfield, helping his team defend the 2-0 lead for 75 minutes. The appearance was Saravia’s second cap and his second going the full 90 for his country.
Saravia will get the chance for his third cap when Guatemala and the U.S. meet again on Tuesday, March 29, this time at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus. The match is set to kick off at 7 p.m. Tickets are still available here.
While Saravia and Finlay are competing in World Cup qualifiers, their teammate Harrison Afful is currently pursuing qualification for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana. The defender earned positive reviews in the Black Stars’ 3-1 defeat of Mozambique in Accra Thursday. Ghana currently sits atop Group H after wins over Mauritius, Rwanda and Mozambique. It will face Os Mambas again in Maputo on Sunday.
The fifth Crew SC player currently on international duty is Tony Tchani. The midfielder has been called up by Cameroon’s national team, which hosts South Africa in Limbe on Saturday before traveling to Durban for the rematch on March 29. The Indomitable Lions are currently atop their group with a 2-0-0 record.
Tchani was previously called-up by Cameroon last year but was unable to join the side due to injury. He made his first international appearance on January 31 after accepting a call-up by the United States for the Stars & Stripes' annual January camp this year. Eligible for a one-time switch as his appearance on January 31 was in a friendly match, Tchani is not cap tied by either Cameroon or the United States at this point in his career. He would be cap tied by Cameroon should he make an appearance against South Africa.
