SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes midfielders Anibal Godoy and Cordell Cato have been called to the Panama National Team and the Trinidad and Tobago National Team, respectively, for Copa America Centenario play-in games on January 8, 2016. A doubleheader – T&T vs. Haiti (2:30 p.m. PT) and Panama vs. Cuba (5:30 p.m. PT) – will be played back-to-back at Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City. The four teams earned a spot in the play-in matches by reaching the quarterfinals of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, with Panama selected as the host by advancing the furthest in the tournament. The winners of the matches will earn the final two spots in the prestigious Copa America Centenario, hosted by the United States in the summer of 2016.
Godoy, 25, has earned 60 total caps for Panama since his international debut in 2010, scoring one goal. He has represented Panama at each of the last three CONCACAF Gold Cups, leading them to a fourth place, second place, and third place finish in the three tournaments, respectively. He was most recently called up for World Cup Qualifying matches against Jamaica and Costa Rica in November. He led the Quakes to a 6-1-3 record during his 10 appearances in the club’s starting XI after joining the team midseason.
Cato, 23, has earned 14 caps for T&T, scoring two goals. He most recently competed in a scoreless draw against the United States at Hasley Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad on November 17. Cato set career highs in appearances (28) and starts (18) for the Earthquakes in 2015, while tallying three goals and two assists. He also scored the first game-winning goal of his career on August 19 against Sporting Kansas City.
