Chris Pontius added to United States Gold Cup roster

Alejandro Bedoya will have some company at the Gold Cup, after all.

Philadelphia Union midfielder Chris Pontius was added to the United States Men’s National Team roster on Wednesday as an injury replacement for Gent midfielder Kenny Saief.

Gold Cup teams are allowed to replace an injured player on the roster up to 24 hours prior to its first match due to injury as long as the player was on the 40-man provisional roster. Both Pontius, who is second on the Union in assists with six, and leading goal-scorer CJ Sapong were on head coach Bruce Arena’s 40-man roster.

Pontius earned his first USMNT cap on January 29th in a friendly against Serbia in San Diego, Calif. when he replaced Bedoya off the bench. He earned his second cap and first start in a friendly against Jamaica on February 2nd.

The 30-year-old midfielder will be available for Thursday’s game against Sporting Kansas City and is expected to join the U.S. team in Nashville on Friday ahead of their Group B opener against Panama Saturday at 4:30 p.m. They play Martinique on July 12th in Panama and close the group stage against Nicaragua in Cleveland on July 15th.

Union goalkeeper Andre Blake and Jamaica open Group C play on Sunday against Curaçao.