Columbus Crew SC today announced that midfielder Cristian Martinez has earned an international call-up from the Panama Under-20 National Team. Martinez joins Panama's U-20s for a pair of friendly matches, both against Peru. The first match takes place on June 7, followed by a second contest on June 9. Both matches are slated to be held at the Estadio Maracana in Panama City.
The Black & Gold rookie recently became the youngest player to ever score for Crew SC by tallying in second-half stoppage time against the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, June 1. Martinez was 19 years, 116 days old when he registered that goal. He has earned two senior caps for Panama all-time, both earlier this year in friendlies against El Salvador (February 18) and Nicaragua (March 16).
Of the 25 players currently on the Black & Gold active roster, 14 have received a senior National Team call-up throughout their careers (Harrison Afful, Corey Ashe, Conor Casey, Ethan Finlay, Waylon Francis, Ola Kamara, Emil Larsen, Cedrick Mabwati, Martinez, Justin Meram, Michael Parkhurst, Rodrigo Saravia, Tony Tchani, Wil Trapp).
The Black & Gold return to action with a Fourth Round match against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium next Wednesday, June 15 (7:00 p.m. ET / broadcast information to be announced).
