U.S. men's national team call-up Miguel Ibarra headlines NASL Best XI
Minnesota United midfielder Miguel Ibarra headlines the North American Soccer League's 2014 Best XI, which the league announced on Thursday.
Ibarra is the only repeat member of the Best XI from 2013. He played 26 matches this season, tallying seven goals and five assists.
The 24-year-old scored in Minnesota United's Nov. 8 playoff match against Fort Lauderdale, but the Strikers leveled the score in stoppage time and won the match on penalty kicks to advance to the NASL Championship Final.
The rest of the roster includes six Americans and four international players.
Ibarra was called up for U.S. men's national team duty for the team's two October friendlies, becoming the first second-division player to receive a call-up since 2005. He earned his first cap against Honduras on Oct. 14.
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The midfielder has also been called up for the USMNT's friendly matches against Colombia on Friday and Ireland next week.
Fort Lauderdale will meet the San Antonio Scorpions this Saturday in the NASL's championship game.
The full roster is below:
Goalkeeper: Jimmy Maurer (New York Cosmos)
Defenders: Tiago Calvano (Minnesota United), Justin Davis (Minnesota United), Darnell King (Fort Lauderdale Strikers), Carlos Mendes (New York Cosmos)
Midfielders: Miguel Ibarra (Minnesota United), Rafael Castillo (San Antonio Scorpions), Walter Restrepo (San Antonio Scorpions), Lance Laing (FC Edmonton)
Forwards Fafa Picault (Fort Lauderdale Strikers), Christian Ramirez (Minnesota United)
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- Phil Watson
