Union Goalie Blake Called Up For International Play

Report From Philadelphia Union

CHESTER, Pa. – Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake has been called up to the Jamaican National Team for international friendly matches against the United States Men’s National Team in Chattanooga, Tennessee on Feb. 3 and Honduras in Houston, Texas on Feb 16.

Blake, 26, just completed his third professional season in MLS after being selected No. 1 overall by the Union in the 2014 SuperDraft. He is the only player in MLS history to be selected No. 1 overall as a goalkeeper. Blake was awarded the 2016 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award after earning 10 wins with six shutouts. Blake has started 39 career MLS matches and already amassed 132 saves. He also broke the franchise’s single-game record for saves (with 10 against New England Revolution on Sept. 26, 2015) and secured the franchise’s first ever win, both in Montreal (keeping a clean sheet over the Impact on Aug. 22, 2015), and Columbus (a 2-1 win on March 12, 2016). During his 2016 campaign, Blake was the starting goalkeeper in the 2016 MLS All-Star Game in San Jose, where he earned Sportscenter’s No. 1 play of the night with a save against English Premier League power Arsenal.

Blake served as the starting goalkeeper in all three matches for Jamaica in the 2016 Copa America Centenario. He was a member of the Reggae Boyz for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where Jamaica finished as runners-up, as well as making his World Cup debut in 2018 qualifiers in September as Jamaica advanced over Nicaragua. He’s made 22 career appearances on the senior team with his first coming on March 2, 2014 against Barbados where he kept a clean sheet during a 2-0 win. Blake also backboned the team to the 2014 CONCACAF Caribbean Cup championship where they defeated Trinidad and Tobago in the finals.

Bethlehem Steel’s Cory Burke will also join Blake with Team Jamaica.