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MLS Ticker: Glauber suffers torn ACL; Bengtson returns to Revolution; and more

GlauberCrew1 (Getty)

By DAN KARELL

The U.S. Open Cup hasn’t been kind to the Columbus Crew this season.

An MRI confirmed that starting center back Glauber suffered a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in his left knee early in the Crew’s 2-1 U.S. Open Cup defeat to the Chicago Fire on Thursday. It’s the second round in a row that the Crew have lost a starter to a torn ACL as midfielder Eddie Gaven went down with the injury on May 29.

The Crew now lose two starters for the rest of the season and head coach Robert Warzycha will look for one of Tyson Wahl, Josh Williams, Eric Gehrig, or Kevan George to fill in in the center of defense.

Glauber, who suffered the injury in just the sixth minute of Thursday’s loss, had started all 15 matches in all competitions he played in for the Crew, going the full 90 in all but one of them.

Here are some more stories to catch you up around the league:

BENGTSON LEAVES HONDURAS SQUAD, LEVERON CALLED UP

New England Revolution Jerry Bengtson has left the Honduras national team after an act of defiance towards his manager, and returned back to his home in the Boston area.

According to reports out of Honduras, Bengtson had an argument with head coach Luis Fernando Suarez over a lack of playing time. Bengtson didn’t appear in the 2-0 victory on Tuesday over Jamaica at home. The reports state that when the team flew into Houston, Bengtson took a different flight to Boston while the rest of the team went to a short training camp in San Jose, California.

Suarez reportedly sent Bengtson home as discipline for speaking out over the manager’s selection choices, leaving the now injury-ravaged and suspended Honduras team without another dependable forward to put with Carlo Costly. Bengtson has had a torrid time in MLS this season, scoring just once in 11 matches played.

With both central defenders unavailable for Tuesday’s match against the U.S., Suarez has recalled Vancouver Whitecaps defender Johnny Leveron to the Honduras squad.

RED BULLS ANNOUNCE FRIENDLY VS. LYON IN JULY

Two former Lyon players will get to face their old club when the New York Red Bulls host Ligue 1 club Lyon on July 16 in a friendly match at Red Bull Arena.

Red Bulls midfielder Juninho spent eight seasons at the French club between 2001-2009, leading them to Ligue 1 titles in seven of those eight years, as well as a French Cup in 2008. Forward Peguy Luyindula played with Lyon from January of 2002 until June of 2004, winning three titles and scoring 46 goals in all competitions.

“We are proud to host Olympique Lyonnais at Red Bull Arena,” said Red Bulls General Manager Jérôme de Bontin in a statement. “Lyon has a storied history in France and has featured a number of top international players, including our own Juninho and Peguy Luyindula, while playing a distinct brand of soccer. They have been an example to many European clubs of how to build a solid soccer organization over many years, with a strong vision and goals that are reflected by their consistent success and seven-straight Lique 1 championships. We look forward to welcoming Lyon and expect a very entertaining match at Red Bull Arena that will please Red Bulls fans and soccer enthusiasts across the tri-state area.”

Lyon has never played the Red Bulls, though the French team did play at Red Bull Arena last summer, defeating Montpellier, 4-2, in the Trophee des Champions, the French version of a Supercup between the winners of the cup and league title the year before.

D.C. UNITED CUT RAPHAEL AUGUSTO

On Friday afternoon, D.C. United announced that they had parted ways by mutual decision with Brazilian midfielder Raphael Augusto.

“We would like to thank Raphael for his time at D.C. United, and we wish him all the best in the future,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper in a statement.

The 22-year-old midfielder on-loan from Brazilian club Fluminense had made just seven appearances this season with no goals scored. Augusto was originally acquired by D.C. United in the summer of 2012.

ZAVALETA LOANED TO SAN ANTONIO, ZAKUANI SURGERY SUCCESSFUL

In moves that were overshadowed by the United States Men’s National Team’s visit to Seattle this week, the Seattle Sounders sent rookie forward Eriq Zavaleta on-loan to the San Antonio Scorpions while winger Steve Zakuani underwent successful hernia surgery.

The 20-year-old Indiana product will spend the next two weeks at the NASL club in Texas, getting some more matches under his belt as opportunities at Century Link field have been scarce this season. Zavaleta, who is due back in Seattle on June 23, has played just once in MLS play this season, though has started five reserve league matches.

Struggling with injuries this season, Zakuani will now be forced to miss another six-to-eight weeks after undergoing successful hernia surgery at a clinic in Philadelphia. The 25-year-old has played just six times in MLS play for the Sounders this year, and was substituted in all but one of them, having scored no goals this year.

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What do you make of these reports? Who do you see filling in for Glauber? What do you think of the Bengtson situation? Do you agree with D.C. United’s decision to cut Augusto?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Torrid. I do not believe you know what that word means. (Hint: the word you’re looking for is “horrid.”)

    Reply
    • Maybe Bengston is on a ‘torrid’ hot seat in NE, in danger of losing his job to the Revs’ in-form strikers who have done quite well in his absence. Or maybe Dan doesn’t know what the word means.

      Reply
      • I’m thinking there’s double sarcasm built into slowleftarm’s post in that – a) the Revs are on the Up and b) this is touching on Petke’s sour grapes comment.

  2. Haha D.C. keeps cutting all of their talented players. There better be some serious signings coming up in the summer transfer window, or this could finish really badly for them.

    Reply

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