SAN ANTONIO—Perry Kitchen was quickly rewarded for Saturday’s two-goal burst. 

The D.C. United defensive midfielder, who scored a brace in a 2-2 draw with the New York Red Bulls this weekend, was a late addition to the United States national team’s roster for Wednesday’s friendly against Mexico. He replaces Michael Orozco who, according to U.S. Soccer, “did not travel to San Antonio following discussions with his club.”

Kitchen, 23, has helped United post three shutouts in five games this season after being MLS's stingiest defense last year. He got his first national team call-up in January and made his debut for the U.S. when he came on in the 72^nd minute of Feb. 8’s 2-0 win over Panama.

In this camp he will be competing with Michael Bradley, Kyle Beckerman, Mix Diskerud, and Lee Nguyen for playing time in central midfield. 

U.S. Soccer did not respond to inquiries for more specifics about Orozco’s late withdrawal from the roster. Last year, his club team, Puebla, refused to release Orozco and then-teammate DaMarcus Beasley for April’s friendly with Mexico, something that U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said then made him “very, very angry.”

Like last year’s game, this year’s friendly will not be played on a FIFA match day and as such clubs are not required to release players for national team duty.

Orozco’s exclusion from the roster comes as he was gaining momentum within the national team. While the 29-year old has 15 caps for the national team and has never been a preferred starter for either Klinsmann or former U.S. coach Bob Bradley, he started at center back in both of the recent U. S. friendlies against Denmark and Switzerland. He was arguably the best American defender in each match and was playing his highest level of soccer at the national team level.

With Orozco unavailable, it increases the odds of Klinsmann reuniting the Los Angeles Galaxy’s Omar Gonzalez and Sporting Kansas City’s Matt Besler at center back. The pair of former MLS defenders of the year had a strong showing when paired together in World Cup qualifying and in last summer’s World Cup.

The other center back on the roster is Club America’s Ventura Alvarado, who earned his first two caps off the bench against Denmark and Switzerland. Kitchen also played center back early in his career and with various U.S. youth national teams and Seattle’s Brad Evans, who has usually played midfield or right back for the U.S., has been playing central defense for the Sounders this season. 

Brooke Tunstall is an American Soccer Now contributing editor and ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter.