Photo by David Bernal/ISIphotos.com
By IVES GALARCEP
Just six weeks before the World Cup is not a good time to be picking up injuries, and that time frame might have been why U.S. national team centerback Omar Gonzalez was pulled from Saturday’s LA Galaxy-Colorado Rapids match at halftime.
Gonzalez left the match due to a knee injury, though the substitution was reported as a precautionary move.
“Omar, I think, is going to be fine,” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said after the match.
Projected to be a starter for the USMNT at the World Cup, Gonzalez has had his share of struggles in recent months, but was having a good game for the Galaxy against Colorado before being replaced by Kofi Opare at halftime.
The Rapids beat the Galaxy, 1-0, with Vicente Sanchez scoring the winning goal.
Gonzalez’s injury comes in the next to last match Gonzalez is scheduled to play with the Galaxy before joining the USMNT for training camp later this month. The national team’s pre-World Cup camp is set to begin on May 15th.