A scan of Alonso's knee revealed a slight sprain, but the Sounders midfielder is expected to recover in time for the MLS Cup final on Dec. 10.
An MRI scan on Osvaldo Alonso’s left knee revealed a slight sprain, but the Sounders midfielder is expected to recover in time for the MLS Cup final on Dec. 10.
“I expect him to play,” Seattle coach Brian Schmetzer said Wednesday in the video above. “He has waited for this for a long time. I don’t think much could keep him from playing in that game.”
The sight of Clint Dempsey jogging around the Starfire Sports practice fields has inspired hope within the most optimistic segment of the fan base, but no, the star forward will not be participating in the league championship game. Dempsey has been out since late August with an irregular heartbeat, having been shut down for the season a month later.
Schmetzer acknowledged the impulse behind the question — “Clint’s a good storyline because he’s the greatest field player this country has produced,” the coach said — before providing a clear-cut answer.
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“No,” Schmetzer said. “We would love to have him, but no.”
Explained second-year midfielder Cristian Roldan: “It’s his heart. It’s something more serious than just an ankle injury.”
Jordan Morris had a wrap around his right knee at practice on Wednesday morning. The rookie has a nasty gash on his leg from the collision with Rapids goalkeeper Zac MacMath on Sunday in Commerce City but the injury concern isn’t any more serious than that. Erik Friberg and Brad Evans, both of whom were last-second scratches from Leg 2 of the Western Conference finals, should be considered somewhere between questionable and probable for MLS Cup.
“They are doing everything humanly possible to get on the field and play,” Schmetzer said.