US defender Oguchi Onyewu could make his first start for his new European side at the Herbalife World Football Challenge after he was included in Sporting Clube de Portugal’s 25-man roster that will travel to face Juventus FC on Saturday in Toronto (7 p.m. ET, ESPN Deportes).
Onyewu, who made his debut with the Leões on Monday playing the final 22 minutes in a preseason victory in the Netherlands, is one of eight defenders on the squad that will meet Juventus at BMO Field, home of Toronto FC.
The US national team central defender will be looking to make a good impression on new coach Domingos Paciência, who takes over after lead Sporting Braga to a surprise run to the 2010-11 Europa League final.
Sporting beat Ankaraguçu 3-0 in a Monday exhibition on a goal by forward Hélder Postiga and penalty-kick conversions by Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Diego Rubio. It was the third match of their preseason leg in Holland, where they are refining a 4-1-3-2 system.
The team returned to Lisbon before departing destination Toronto.
SPORTING CLUB DE PORTUGAL ROSTER
Goalkeepers (4): Rui Patrício (POR), Marcelo Boeck (BRA), Tiago Ferreira (POR), Vítor Golas (BRA)
Defenders (8): Atila Turan (FRA), Daniel Carriço (POR), Ânderson Polga (BRA), Oguchi Onyewu (USA), Evaldo Fabiano (BRA), João Pereira (POR), Ricardo Esgaio (POR), Edgar Ié (POR)
Midfielders (7): Stijn Schaars (NED), Fabián Rinaudo (ARG), Luis Aguiar (URU), Bruno Pereirinha (POR), André Santos (POR), André Martins (POR), Zézinho (GNB)
Forwards (6): Valeri Bojinov (BUL), Ricky van Wolfswinkel (NED), Marat Izmailov (RUS), Yannick Djaló (POR), Hélder Postiga (POR), Diego Rubio (CHI)
Manager: Domingos Paciência
