Panama manager Hernan "Bolillo" Gomez has called the squad he will use to start the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualification. Los Canelros open the Hex with a trip to Honduras on Nov. 11 before returning home to face Mexico on Nov. 15.
Among the names is Tony Taylor, who represented the United States youth teams but had his one-time switch approved by FIFA this month and is set to represent Panama. Five other MLS-based players are on the roster as Gomez looks to lead Panama to the World Cup finals for the first time in the country's history.
Convocados a Fase Hexagonal partidos ante Honduras y México. ¡Vamos guerreros, vamos Panamá! #JuntosEnElHexagonal pic.twitter.com/klNG7lvsxx
— FEPAFUT (@fepafut) October 26, 2016
Seattle Sounders center back Roman Torres and Vancouver Whitecaps forward Blas Perez are two veterans who are back in the team after Gomez called an alternate lineup for an October friendly against Mexico. San Jose Earthquakes midfield duo Anibal Godoy and Alberto Quintero are also back in the team, as is Toronto FC midfielder Armando Cooper, who played in the 1-0 defeat to El Tri.
Gomez also has called other familiar veterans like former LA Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo, the likely No. 1, former Liga MX center back Felipe Baloy, former Colorado Rapids striker Gabriel Torres and rumored Premier League target Rolando Blackburn, who currently plays in Costa Rica with Saprissa.
The group will begin working together Oct. 31.
Full roster:
Goalkeepers: Jaime Penedo (Dinamo Bucharest, Romania), Jose Calderon (Platense, Honduras)
Defenders: Adolfo Machado (Saprissa, Costa Rica), Felipe Baloy (Rionegro Aguilas, Colombia), Roman Torres (Seattle Sounders, MLS), Luis Ovalle (Zamora, Venezuela), Eric Davis (Dunajska Streda, Slovakia), Amir Murillo (San Francisco FC, Panama), Fidel Escobar (Sporting B, Portugal), Harold Cummings (Alajuelense, Costa Rica), Rodrick Miller (Atletico Nacional, Colombia)
Midfielders: Gabriel Gomez (Tolima, Venezuela), Amilcar Henriquez (Arabe Unido), Edgar Barcenas (Arabe Unido), Armando Cooper (Toronto FC, MLS), Anibal Godoy (San Jose Earthquakes, MLS), Alberto Quintero (San Jose Earthquakes, MLS), Ricardo Buitrago (Juan Aurich, Peru)
Forwards: Abdiel Arroyo (Tolima, Venezuela), Gabriel Torres (Lausanne, Switzerland), Blas Perez (Vancouver Whitecaps, MLS), Tony Taylor (New York City FC, MLS), Luis Tejada (Juan Aurich, Peru), Roberto Nurse (Mineros de Zacatecas, Mexico, Rolando Blackburn (Sparissa, Costa Rica)
