A third Sounder has been called to the World Cup qualification round. Midfielder Mario Martinez will join his native Honduras for three matches June 7-18. Martinez, 23, will join Honduras to play Costa Rica Friday, Jamaica June 11, and the U.S. June 18 in Sandy, UT. Martinez will miss Saturday’s home match against Vancouver.
Called earlier to the U.S. team were Eddie Johnson and Brad Evans, both of whom played in Sunday’s 4-3 friendly triumph over Germany, just four days after losing 4-2 in another friendly against Belgium. Evans was a starter at right back, and Johnson came in at forward in the 55th minute.
Martinez has five starts in nine appearances for the Sounders, logging 470 minutes and recording his first career MLS assist. He has 29 caps and three goals for Honduras in international play.
The Sounders roster has been in tumult all season. Besides national callups, injuries and a late assembly of the roster have kept coach Sigi Schmid from any lineup consistency. Yet they still have their second-best record, at 5-4-3, through 12 matches in the club’s five-year MLS history.