Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad and defender Andrew Hainault were called up by the Canadian national team for its May 24 friendly against Argentina in Buenos Aires, the Canadian Soccer Association announced today. Onstad and Hainault will leave on Monday and are expected to miss the Dynamo’s May 22 game against D.C. United.
The match for Canada against Argentina will be the first between the two countries and will be played in Estadio Monumental, home of famed club power River Plate.
Onstad, 42, has made 56 international appearances for Canada but has not played for the national team since August 2008. He was called into a Canadian camp earlier this year but missed the January 31 match against Jamaica due to back spasms. If he misses the D.C. United match, it will break a streak of 51 consecutive starts for the Dynamo in Major League Soccer play, dating back to September 7, 2008, which he also missed due to national team duty.
Hainault, 23, has made 16 appearances for Canada, including the match against Jamaica earlier this year. He is in his second year with the Dynamo after establishing himself as a starter in 2009.
The Dynamo, currently tied for second place in the Western Conference, will return to action on Saturday, May 22, hosting D.C. United at Robertson Stadium at 7 p.m. Their final home game before the league breaks for the FIFA World Cup will be held on Saturday, May 29, when Houston hosts the expansion Philadelphia Union. Special 4-packs featuring two free soccer balls are available at HoustonDynamo.com.
