Sporting Kansas City's quest to add another trophy this season has suffered a major setback.
Starting forward Teal Bunbury is out for the season after tearing his ACL and suffering LCL damage in his left knee in the club's 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls Sunday night. Bunbury suffered the injury in the fourth minute while setting up the club's goal and colliding with Red Bulls goalkeeper Bill Gaudette in the process.
Bunbury will undergo surgery on Friday and be out for 6-to-8 months, according to a Sporting KC press release, which means he could be back in time for the start of next season and Sporting KC's foray into the CONCACAF Champions League. The injury puts pressure on second-year forward C.J. Sapong and less-tested forwards Soony Saad and Dom Dwyer to pick up the slack while Bunbury recovers. Other options up top include Jacob Peterson and Bobby Convey, but both are currently injured. Sporting KC could also opt to find help in the form of a trade or a free agent forward ahead of the Sept. 15 roster freeze date.
Bunbury had cemented his place in the starting lineup, starting 13 of the last 16 games for Sporting KC after winning the job following an extended stay on the bench to begin the season. He scored five goals, and the assist Sunday night was his first of the season.
What do you think of this development? Do you think SKC's front line is good enough for the club to win MLS Cup?
Share your thoughts below.
Godspeed!
Right-then he changed his mind, which, seeing as he didn’t live in the country past the age of 2, isn’t that crazy. Maybe it made sense to him more in theory than in practice? Maybe he said that stuff because his dad played for Canada and he felt obligated to?
People are allowed to change their minds, believe it or not.
“I was born in Canada and I would love to play for the country I was born in. I think it would be an honour,” Bunbury said.
“For me, I was born in Canada, I have a lot of family members there, and it would feel wrong for me to play for the U.S. I feel a connection with Canada.”
– Teal Bunbury, 2010
What the hell does this have to do with a season ending injury, jackass?
Right, because people are never allowed to change their mind, right? I get what he said, he was also 19. Dude hasn’t lived in Canada since he was 2, has an American mom, lived in the US from 10-22 (now), etc. IF he wanted to play for Canada that’d be acceptable given his history, but he has a stronger case for being American than Canadian.
From all of Teal’s Canadian fans, we wish him a speedy recovery….
This sucks… Teal has greatly improved over last season and I was looking forward to his working his way back into the USMNT fold eventually.
Wow… clearly someone hasn’t seen Will Bruin play at all this year. His progression from last season is monumental.
He’s shown excellent technical ability this year, even during his recent dry spell. Go back to the HOU-CLB game and watch a few minutes before Gaven’s goal.
Bruin holds the ball up in traffic at the top of the box and executes a beautiful turn and shoot that unfortunately goes just wide of the post.
It will be a couple of years before he features with the Nats, if at all, but he’s certainly on track.
Stop making uniformed comments, please.
Get well soon, Teal. Good luck and best wishes for a full and speedy recovery, man.
Get this team a jersey sponsor. Nice kit, but too plain.
Bruin is not on that list. Poor technical ability and soccer awareness.
Bunbury has strong technical ability, good soccer IQ, and good work rate
I haven’t seen Wooten play but he’s 22 and still in Bundesliga 2. He should be on a Div 1 side by now.
Wondo hasn’t even started
Who-ten??? Please
Disagree…SKC has plenty of depth at Striker. Bad break for Bunbury, though.
What SKC needs is a central midfielder that can hold up the ball and orchestrate the attack. Julio Cesar should be playing Center Back.
I was hoping for a Seattle KC rematch in the MLS Championship game, would be better with Bunbury, obvi.
Amen
No kick collision – gaudette could have gotten hurt just as easily -sorry the guy got hurt
Gaudette was starting because Ryan Meara was injured in a similar collision. Happens both ways, to all teams.
Sucks man, I like Bunbury, anyone that chooses US over Canada is alright by me.
Awful news, get well soon Teal
You spelled Kamara wrong….
No, just no.
Altidore
Boyd
Wooten
Agudelo
Bruin
.
.
.
Bunbury
Then keep your syrup sucker mouth shut.
Get well soon,
He may be down the pecking order at the moment, but both Gomez and Wondo are on the tail end of their International careers. Gomez has shown well in the recient matches, but Wando, while good for club hasn’t done anything for country. Same for EJ.
Over the next 2 years I’d expect at least 2 of the 3 (Gomez, Wondo, EJ) to drop out of the picture. By 2014 the striker pool will likely be Jozy, Boyd, Agudelo, Wooten, Teal, and maybe Sapong. I’m sure there are others…but based on recient form and performances these are the likely choices.
They still have Kamara and Sapong.
Karma bitch..
Poor dude. But he’s way down on the pecking order for the Nats. Altidore, Gomez, Boyd, Wondo, Agudelo, EJ and then Teal
Sucks for him but I think KC is fine with Sapong. They are just as set to win the cup as anybody else in the top eight or nine.
It might be mean, but it is hard to feel sorry for the traitor Teal.
Hell, it seems to have worked for OG. Guy put those months to very good use.
I was surprised that didn’t earn Yellow on Gaudette for the kick. It was clear he was late getting to the ball and was taking it out on Teal.
Sucks for SKC, and him. He was actually coming into form, and now a long rehab. If CJ recovers last year’s form, all isn’t lost, but they’re going to need him to remember how to score. The forward line hasn’t been efficient with its chances this season as is. This is a team that is near the top of the league in shots, but middle of the pack in goal-scoring. Love the way they play, hate the way they finish.
When Clint Mathis suffered a torn ACL – that was terrible news for USMNT. Teal Bunbury? Not so much.
terrible news. One of the best forward prospects we have for USNT.
Tough break, I like Teal a lot and was looking forward to seeing him play in RBA. Do hope to see him in a USNT Jersey some day. Even though it seems we need more consistant players at other positions.
nevermind, GK actually sticks his leg out/kicks him… christ
ok, that wasnt fair, but he was in a horrible position and then just jumps in front for no reason
Teal is dangerous, CJ, unless its inside the 6 yard box, is the opposite of dangerous. CJ is a great target to play off of, but isnt what SKC really needs to score.
This sucks for SKC, kiss shield or cup goodby
i remember my first joke
“colliding with Red Bulls goalkeeper Bill Gaudette in the process.”
Guadette just ran through him, awkwardly, and for no reason
emile heskey? Someone from rangers who wants to leave in a jiffy?
you mean Sapong?
all is not lost, they still have the crappy-rapper……kei kamara
Different take, Bunbury’s biggest weakness it seems is movement off the ball and decision making, could an extended stay out injured force him to watch more games, start reading the game better and have him come back as a much better player for gaining the soccer intelligence? just a thought. Hope he has a speedy recovery and best of luck to him in the future.
From the matches I’ve seen this year (admittedly have been few of SKC), he and Sapong and 1a and 1b anyhow, yea?
Damn, sucks for dude. Hope he can get back for SKC (and eventually the USMNT.)