BY MITCHELL NORTHAM
Outside of scoring his first goal of the Major League Soccer season against the Montreal Impact over the weekend, it sure has been a rough going lately for DC United forward Eddie Johnson.
After being left off Jurgen Klinnsman’s 2014 World Cup roster last week, MLS suspended Johnson on Tuesday for what MLS called a “reckless challenge” against Montreal goal keeper Troy Perkins. Johnson was also fined an undisclosed amount and will serve his one-game suspension this week, missing out on DC United’s Wednesday match-up against the Houston Dynamo.
Johnson had been on a cold-streak since signing with DC in the off-season, but scored his first goal with the club on Saturday in the 84th minute to give the Black and Red a 1-1 tie against Montreal. The play for which Johnson will be suspended for came in the 60th minute of the game.
The MLS players union appealed the suspension on Johnson’s behalf, but it was denied on Tuesday. Johnson was also fined an undisclosed amount for a second time after making contact with the face of Montreal defender Wandrille Lefevre in the same game.
Here are the other MLS suspensions this week:
MLS also suspended Portland Timbers defender Alvas Powell for one additional game this week for a foul play on Columbus Crew defender Chad Barson. The foul occurred in the 34th minute of the Timbers’ game against the Crew on Saturday and Powell was issued a red card immediately.
That game ended in a 3-3 draw and MLS also issued fines to the Crew and head coach Greg Berhalter for breaking the league’s mass confrontation policy in the 85th minute.
Also suspended this week for issued red cards are Erik Palmer-Brown of Sporting Kansas City and Philadelphia Union midfielder Cristian Maidana. Chivas USA’s Oswaldo Minda will also miss a game due to yellow card accumulation.
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What do you think of Johnson’s suspension? Was it fair? Thinks DC United can stand against the Dynamo without him?
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