Photo by Bill Barrett/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
Sporting Kansas City’s defensive depth has taken a big hit, as center back Ike Opara has been lost for the season.
Sporting KC announced on Thursday that Opara will undergo surgery on April 16 to repair damaged cartilage in his right ankle and is expected to miss the rest of the 2014 campaign. Opara suffered the injury when he tried to clear a ball in the penalty area but made contact with Jared Watts’ leg in the second half of Sporting KC’s 3-2 win over the Colorado Rapids on March 29. Opara was called for a foul on the play and Colorado earned a penalty kick that Vicente Sanchez converted.
Opara was primed for a chunk of playing time with the defending MLS Cup champions due to starting center back Matt Besler’s likely inclusion in the U.S. Men’s National Team’s World Cup roster.
The 25-year-old Opara, who has had injury issues in the past, started in two of the three league games he played in this season and also saw time in the CONCACAF Champions League last month.
What do you make of Sporting KC losing Opara for the season? How big of a loss is it for the club? Has center back now become an area of concern for Sporting KC?
Share your thoughts below.