Jamaica names Wizards' Stephenson to squad

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) -- Jamaican soccer officials named Khari Stephenson of the Kansas City Wizards to a 21-member squad for a friendly international against Guatemala on Saturday in Florida.

The midfielder is set to earn his first cap for the Reggae Boyz, who will use the match as preparation for their crucial CONCACAF World Cup qualifier against Panama on Oct. 9.

Stephenson is one of several players without international experience named by coach Carl Brown on Wednesday. The squad is without key players, including England-based striker Marlon King, who scored two goals in Jamaica's 3-0 victory over El Salvador on Sept. 8.

Jamaica is in second place on goal difference in Group One of the CONCACAF qualifier, ahead of Panama, which beat Jamaica 2-1 when the teams met in Kingston in their first match Sept. 4.

Both teams have four points and trail the United States, which has five points from three matches.

Guatemala, with seven points, holds a two-point lead over Honduras in Group Two of the CONCACAF qualifier. The team has won two of its three matches and drawn the other.