By Mike Woitalla
In its first international game since the 2002 World Cup, Coach Bruce Arena's U.S. squad will face a very young El Salvador squad on Sunday at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. (3 pm ET, live on ESPN).
Comprised of under-22 players, the Salvadorans arrive with a team preparing for the Central American & Caribbean Games hosted by El Salvador Nov. 23-Dec. 7. El Salvador's last full international was a 4-0 loss to the USA in the Gold Cup last January.
Included in the Salvadoran roster is San Francisco, Calif.-born Carlos Menjivar Jr., who signed with FAS last March. The 21-year-old defensive midfielder, who played for San Diego State in 2000, had trials with the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Colorado Rapids.
His father, Carlos Menjivar Sr., immigrated to the United States from El Salvador three decades ago. He served as a U.S. Soccer staff coach from 1997 until last August.
Menjivar Jr., began seeing consistent playing time off the bench for FAS, the 2002 Clausura champ, during the current Apertura championship. FAS is currently in first place.
''It took a little while to get used to the rhythm of the game here,'' said Menjivar, who grew up in Northern California. ''It was an adjustment from college soccer, but they seem to like the way I play.''
Menjivar first caught the attention of El Salvador national team boss Juan Ramon while Ramon was coaching Alianza, with which Menjivar trained upon his arrival in El Salvador. After failing to come to contract terms with Alianza, Menjivar signed with FAS.
EL SALVADOR ROSTER:
GOALKEEPERS: Juan Gomez, Fidel Mondragon.
DEFENDERS: Ramiro Carballo, Julio Castro, Marvin Gonzlaez, Carlos Menjivar Jr., Alfredo Pacheco, Mauricio Quintanilla, William Torres, Victor Manuel Velasquez.
MIDFIELDERS: Selvin Gonzalez, Gilberto Murgas, Roberto Vasquez;
FORWARDS: Rudis Corrales, Francisco Fuentes, Josue Galdamez, Diego Mejia, Jose Mejia.