D.C. United today announced that homegrown goalkeeper Bill Hamid and forward Eddie Johnson have been named to the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) roster for its upcoming match against Mexico on Wed., April 2. Both players will report to Phoenix, Ariz., on March 30 for training and will return to D.C. on Thursday, April 3.
This is the second time Hamid has been called into a USMNT camp in 2014, as he was a member of the squad that traveled to Los Angeles and Sau Paulo during a three week stint that finished its camp with a friendly against Korea Republic on Feb. 1.The homegrown keeper was also a member of the 2013 U.S. Men’s National Team that won gold at the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Hamid also appeared on the 18-man roster against Canada on Jan. 29 and against Germany on June 2, a game played at Hamid’s home grounds of RFK Stadium. The goalkeeper earned his first cap with the senior U.S. Men’s National Team two years ago when he recorded a clean sheet in the side’s 1-0 win over Venezuela on Jan. 21, 2012 in Glendale, Ariz.
In his fourth season with D.C. United, Hamid started 25 games and recorded four shutouts with a 1.56 GAA, including a shutout against Real Salt Lake on Oct. 1 helping lead the Black-and-Red to the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title. On Sept. 2, 2009, Hamid became the first D.C. United Academy player to sign directly with the First Team. The goalkeeper made history on May 5, 2010 when he became the youngest goalkeeper to win an MLS contest at 19 years and 161 days old, besting the previous record held by Tim Howard.
Johnson, also a member of the squad that traveled to Los Angeles and Sau Paulo, appeared in 17 matches for the USMNT during the 2013 season and found the back of the net five times through both of the USMNT’s triumphant journeys through World Cup Qualifying, seeing Johnson tally against Panama and Mexico, and the Gold Cup, where Johnson tallied in both the quarter final and semi final rounds. He also scored in a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Earlier this year, Johnson came on as a sub and played 31 minutes in a friendly against Korea Republic. In total, Johnson has made 62 appearances for the senior squad since 2004, netting 19 goals.
The Fla., native was acquired by the Black-and-Red on Dec. 17, 2013, via trade with the Seattle Sounders. In two seasons with Seattle, Johnson featured in 28 games (24 starts) and found the back of the next 14 times while recording three assists. In 2013, he made 21 appearances (20 starts) and netted nine goals. The proven goal-scorer began his career with MLS in 2001 after signing a Nike-Project 40 contract and was selected 19th overall in the MLS SuperDraft by the Dallas Burn. After being traded to the then-Kansas City Wizards in 2006, Johnson transferred to Fulham F.C. for the 2007-2008 season before also playing for Cardiff City and Aris FC before he made his way back to MLS in 2012.
