Cristian Roldan’s first match under new United States national team manager Gregg Berhalter could not have gone any better.
The Seattle Sounders midfielder started and played all 90 minutes in a 3-0 friendly win over Panama on Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. He finished with 92 percent passing, eight recoveries and two interceptions and was instrumental as a two-way player in Berhalter’s new game philosophy, one that is tailor-made for Roldan’s style of play.
“The energy has been fantastic since Day 1,” said Roldan on Wednesday ahead of the United States’ final friendly against Costa Rica on Saturday at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif.