Union’s Andre Blake Called to Jamaican National Team

Chester, Pa.  – Philadelphia Union announced today goalkeeper Andre Blake has been called up to the Jamaican National Team for upcoming qualifying matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Jamaica will play a two-leg series on Sept. 4 and 8 against Nicaragua in CONCACAF’s third round of qualification. Blake will return to first team duties for the Union on Wednesday, Sept. 9.

A second-year player out of the University of Connecticut, Blake has started each of the Union’s last two MLS matches against Montreal Impact and New England Revolution, his first action in 2015 after suffering two separate knee injuries. The No. 1 pick of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft has made nine saves, while allowing just one goal in his two appearances. He kept a clean sheet in the Union’s 1-0 win over Montreal Impact, their first-ever win in Montreal.

Blake’s Jamaican call-up will be his second this year. He was also a member of the Reggae Boyz for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where Jamaica finished as runners-up. He’s made eight 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.

The Philadelphia Union return to action on Saturday, Sept. 5 when they travel to San Jose, Calif. to take on the Earthquakes. Kick-off is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time and will be televised on The Comcast Network.