Mondragon in Colombia squad after 5-year absence

Posted Friday, October 01, 2010 by YAHOO Sport

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP)—Veteran goalkeeper Farid Mondragon returned to the Colombian squad on Thursday for friendlies against Ecuador and the United States after a five-year absence.

The 39-year-old Cologne player was selected by coach Hernan Dario Gomez having last played for Colombia in the 2005 Gold Cup. He also played at the 1998 World Cup in France.

Aquivaldo Mosquera, a defender with Mexican club America, also returns to the squad after being overlooked by former coach Jorge Luis Pinto in the unsuccessful qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup.

Colombia plays Ecuador at Red Bull stadium in New Jersey on Oct. 8 and against the Americans four days later in Pennsylvania.

Creative forward Giovanni Hernandez was again left out by coach Gomez.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Farid Mondragon (Cologne), David Ospina (Nice) and Breiner Castillo (Independiente Medellin).

Defenders: Juan David Valencia (Independiente Medellin), Luis Amaranto Perea (Atletico Madrid), Aquivaldo Mosquera (America, Mexico), Mario Yepes (AC Milan), Ivan Cordoba (Inter Milan), Pablo Armero (Udinese) and Camilo Zuniga (Napoli).

Midfielders: Juan Cuadrado (Udinese), John Valencia (Once Caldas), John Javier Restrepo (Independiente Medellin), Victor Ibarbo (Atletico Nacional) and John Viafara (La Equidad).

Forwards: Giovani Moreno (Racing Club, Argentina), Falcao Garcia (FC Porto), Adrian Ramos (Hertha Berlin), Teofilo Gutierrez (Trabzonspor) and Darwin Quintero (Santos, Mexico).