ORLANDO, Fla. (July 12, 2016) – Orlando City SC youngsters Tyler Turner and Harrison Heath have been selected by former United States Men’s National Team captain Landon Donovan to the 2016 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game. The team will face the Mexico Under-20 National Team on Wednesday, July 27 at 9 p.m. ET at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif.
City’s promising players receive their second call-up to join the MLS’ rising stars after being named to last year’s roster during their first Major League Soccer (MLS) campaign. The Lions will face one of CONCACAF’s most competitive young sides, as the Mexico U-20s have won 13 CONCACAF Championship titles, most recently in 2011, 2013 and 2015.
“I’m obviously delighted. I got called in last year but we played a friendly the week before and I got injured, so obviously delighted that I’m fit for this one. It’s nice to be called in for a second year in a row,” said Heath. “All it’s going in the right direction for me and I’m delighted with that. I’ve worked hard to get myself into this position and hopefully I can keep going now.”
“It’s a real big privilege to be called into the Homegrown Game again. I can’t wait to go out and represent myself, my family, the Club and and most importantly the City of Orlando, especially after the tragedies that happened over the past couple of months,” said Turner. “I would like to thank the coaching staff that has worked with me and Landon Donovan, whom I highly respect and admire, for selecting me again.”
Heath earns the selection following a strong first half of the season, showcasing his dominant passing ability that has resulted in consistent call-ups to the First Team this year. The midfielder has registered five MLS appearances, with his most recent against the Houston Dynamo on July 8. The 20-year-old has one goal in six games with Orlando City B (OCB), the Club’s United Soccer League (USL) affiliate. This will be Heath’s first Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game appearance after missing last year’s game due to injury.
Turner receives the honor after playing a full 90 minutes and scoring in the penalty shootout in last year’s match against the Club América U-20s. The 20-year old right-back made seven MLS appearances – five of them starts – in Orlando City’s inaugural 2015 MLS campaign. Additionally, Turner has made 14 appearances with OCB this season, scoring three goals and adding an assist. The Milford, Conn., native has also earned over 30 caps with the U.S. U-17, U-18, U-20 and U-23 Men’s National Teams.
The Homegrown Game is one of many All-Star week festivities and will be played the day before the 2016 AT&T MLS All-Star Game, in which the league’s best talents including Orlando City SC captain Kaká. The MLS All-Stars will face English Premier League side Arsenal FC at Avaya Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 28.
