Soccer star Orozco Fiscal glad to be back in Philly

Michael Orozco Fiscal is happy to return to Philadelphia, although his original preference was never to leave.

Orozco Fiscal is among the 21 players on the U.S. men's national soccer team that will meet Mexico in Wednesday's 9:13 p.m. friendly at Lincoln Financial Field.

Last season, Orozco Fiscal played for the Union, starting 29 of 30 games and becoming a defensive leader and a crowd favorite.

He was on loan last season to the Union from San Luis, a first-division team in Mexico. According to Major League Soccer player union figures, Orozco Fiscal earned a guaranteed salary of $200,000 last season.

At the end of the season, all indications were that Orozco Fiscal would be brought back, but the Union decided not to extend the deal past the initial one-year term. There was a one-year loan with an option to buy and the Union decided to go another way.

The Union later signed defender Carlos Valdes, who has been the defensive leader, but the 25-year-old Orozco Fiscal has also prospered while returning to San Luis.

"Michael Orozco plays in a very good league," U.S. national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann said before Tuesday's workout at the NovaCare Complex.

Klinsmann, making his debut guiding the U.S. team, said earlier in the week that he liked players who competed against high competition and wanted to see how somebody like Orozco Fiscal would fare in this setting.

Orozco Fiscal is glad to be back, but he never thought he would have to uproot so quickly.

"I was very disappointed," he said about leaving the Union. "Things didn't work out contract[-wise] but now I am playing for San Luis, where I started."

Orozco Fiscal has continued to closely monitor his old team's progress. The Union are 8-5-9 and have won as many games as in their inaugural season, when they went 8-15-7.

"I always watch their games and always cheer for them," he said.

For now, he is intent on making a favorable impression on Klinsmann. At least he is familiar with the opponent.

"I have competed against those guys in Mexico," he said. "It's a great Mexico team and this will be a great test."

It will be a test against a Mexico team that beat the United States, 4-2, in the Gold Cup championship on June 25 at the Rose Bowl.

Orozco Fiscal is concentrating on attempting to elevate his status with the national team, where he has one career cap. He enjoys competing in Mexico, but hasn't closed the door on one day returning to Philadelphia.

"I love Philly, and if I had the chance to come back I would," he said.

Revised roster. There are two additions and three subtractions from the original U.S. roster. Zach Loyd replaced defender Timmy Chandler, and midfielder Robbie Rogers replaced Maurice Edu, who suffered a left calf strain over the weekend. Clarence Goodson was also forced to withdraw from the team with a hamstring strain but was not replaced.

U.S. Roster

GOALKEEPERS (2): Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Tim Howard (Everton).

DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (Saint-Etienne), Edgar Castillo (Club America), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Zach Loyd (FC Dallas), Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis), Heath Pearce (Chivas USA), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls).

MIDFIELDERS (7): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Jose Torres (Pachuca).

FORWARDS (5): Freddy Adu (Benfica), Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Edson Buddle (FC Ingolstadt), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy).

Listen to U.S. men's national soccer team coach Jurgen Klinsmann talk about Wednesday's friendly against Mexico at www.philly.com/tgkEndText