PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson and defender Vytas have been called up by their respective national teams, it was announced today.
Gleeson joins New Zealand for a pair of international friendlies against Mexico and the United States, while Vytas joins Lithuania for back-to-back qualifying matches for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Gleeson and the All Whites will play a pair of international friendlies in the United States, first taking on Mexico at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday, Oct. 8, before heading to Washington, D.C., to face the U.S. Men’s National Team at RFK Stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 11. New Zealand’s match against Mexico is set to kick off at 3 p.m. (Pacific), while the contest against the U.S. Men’s National Team will begin at 5 p.m. (Pacific).
Gleeson, 26, has made eight appearances for New Zealand since 2011 and was included on the 2012 London Olympics squad. Most recently, Gleeson started in back-to-back matches for New Zealand in international friendlies, featuring against China and Thailand during the 2014 campaign. Appearing in 26 games (25 starts) with the Timbers during the 2016 MLS campaign, Gleeson ranks first in the league for saves made (112), despite playing five games fewer than Columbus Crew SC goalkeeper Steve Clark, who ranks second in MLS for saves. Additionally, Gleeson has recorded five clean sheets with the Timbers this season.
Vytas, 25, will join the Lithuanian National Team for a pair of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, facing Scotland at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, on Oct. 8, before returning to Lithuania to play host to Malta at LFF Stadium on Oct. 11. Vytas has earned 23 caps with Lithuania, including six starts during 2016 UEFA Euro Qualifying against teams such as Euro 2016 finalists England, Switzerland and Russia. In nine games MLS games played, Vytas has made eight starts, helping the Timbers produce four wins over that stretch.
