Rafael Marquez, every American's favorite Mexican national team player, is set to miss the rest of the European season after suffering a knee injury on Wednesday.
Marquez, who made headlines back in February for once again drawing a red card vs. the United States, suffered a torn meniscus during Barcelona's 0-0 tie vs. Chelseain their Champions League semifinal first-leg match-up.
The injury puts Marquez's availability for upcoming World Cup qualifiers for Mexico in serious doubt. He had already served his two-match suspension for the red card earned for kicking U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard, but now may not be available for Mexico's upcoming qualifiers vs. El Salvador (June 6th) and Trinidad & Tobago (June 10th).
The injury also means Marquez will miss the highly-anticipated La Liga clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid on Saturday. He joins Real Madrid defender and MMA wannabe Pepe on the suspended list for that match.
Here are some other stories from this morning and Tuesday to get your day going
Orozco's San Luis advances in Libertadores
Mexican club San Luis reached the knockout round of Copa Libertadores after beating Paraguayan side Libertad, 2-0, on Tuesday. U.S. national team defender Michael Orozco started and played 90 minutes for San Luis.
Vela back from Swine Flu quarantine
Arsenal striker and Mexican international Carlos Vela returned to the Gunners on Tuesday, a day ahead of their Champions League semifinal vs. Manchester United, and a day after being kept in quarantine follow a visit from friends from Mexico. Concerns over the swine flu epidemic led Arsenal officials to keep Vela away from the team until he was cleard medically to return.
Vela is a good bet to play a key role in today's Champions League semifinal, with both Robin Van Persie and Eduardo sidelined by injury and Andrei Arshavin cup-tied to Zenit St. Petersburg.
Sounders down RSL in U.S. Open Cup
Sebastian LeToux recorded two goals and two assists to lead the Seattle Sounders to a 4-1 rout of Real Salt Lake in a U.S. Open Cup play-in match on Tuesday in the Seattle suburb of Tukwila, Washington.
In a match-up of Western Conference powers which both rested key regulars, the Sounders proved too tough as LeToux, Sanna Nyassi and Stephen King all scored for Seattle. Will Johnson provided Real Salt Lake's lone goal.
The Sounders will now face the Colorado Rapids in the next play-in round of the U.S. Open Cup.
FC Dallas makes pair of deals
FC Dallas added yet another young prospect to a squad that is resembling a college team more and more each week after acquiring central defender Kyle Davies from Real Salt Lake for a second-round draft pick in 2010. To make room for Davies on its rosters, FC Dallas dealt veteran defender Aaron Pitchkolan to San Jose for a conditional draft pick.
Dallas adds Davies, the U.S. Under-20 national team captain, to a roster already loaded with five Generation adidas players. No word on whether FC Dallas will go from paying salaries to providing scholarships.
The Pitchkolan deal gives the Earthquakes a veteran defender to help offset the loss of Ryan Cochrane, who is set to moss up to three months after ankle surgery.
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What do you think of these stories? Think Marquez's injury was karmik payback for his karate kick on Tim Howard? Think Vela will make an impact vs. Manchester United? Can you see the Sounders winning U.S. Open Cup? Trying to figure out how many U-21 players Schellas Hyndman will add before he realizes he's not at SMU anymore?
Share your thoughts below.