By FRANCO PANIZO
The Colorado Rapids have received the result from Vicente Sanchez’s MRI scan, and it is not good.
Sanchez is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a sprained left knee that he sustained in Saturday’s 1-0 victory over the Galaxy. The Rapids’ leading scorer picked up the knock early in the match, but played through it and scored a beautiful game-winning chip before being replaced at halftime by Edson Buddle.
The 34-year-old Uruguayan striker does not need surgery on his knee, but his lengthy layoff now means the Rapids have to find a way to replace his scoring exploits. Sanchez has a team-high five goals on the year.
The Rapids play the San Jose Earthquakes at Buck Shaw Stadium on Wednesday night.
Here are more notes from around MLS:
KREIS REPORTEDLY SCOUTING TEENAGE STRIKER DONYOH
Jason Kreis’ continued search for talent for New York City FC most recently took him to Sweden.
According to a report from Fotbollskanalen.se, Kreis attended Falkenberg’s 1-1 draw with Gefle on Monday to scout Manchester City loanee Godsway Donyoh. The 19-year-old Ghanaian forward had just returned from a month-long injury layoff, and Kreis told the Swedish outlet that he was indeed in attendance to scout Donyoh.
MLS rules allow New York City FC, which is owned by Manchester City and the New York Yankees, to take up to four players on loan from Man City.
Kreis has said in the past that he has seen some youth players that he thinks will be able to help NYCFC in their first season in MLS in 2015.
RED BULLS WEIGHING WHEN TO RELEASE MILLER, CAHILL
Tim Cahill and Roy Miller are all but guaranteed to play in this summer’s World Cup, but the New York Red Bulls first need to decide when to release the international duo.
Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke told reporters Tuesday that both Costa Rica and Australia have asked the club to release Miller and Cahill, respectively, after Saturday’s game vs. the Chicago Fire. But FIFA rules do not require New York to release them until later in the month, which means Cahill and Miller could stick around for the match vs. Toronto FC on May 17 before heading to their international teams.
While Petke does have the club in mind, he is also not trying to hinder his players’ chances of seeing the field for their countries.
“It’s a tricky situation, especially with Costa Rica” said Petke. “They usually are very adamant about wanting Roy now and there’s no questions asked. When it’s a friendly game two years out from the World Cup, there’s a lot of wiggle room and you could talk. But if we refuse Roy to go (so he can stay) for one more game against Toronto and if that jeopardizes in any way him playing in the World Cup or making it to the World Cup or something like that, I would be a very sad and angry person.
“We are monitoring the situation. We are allowed to have both of them through the Toronto game. … We’re going to figure out what’s best for us and the team, but also the players.”
MLS DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE FINES ROB FRIEND
Rob Friend’s deceiving dive may have earned the LA Galaxy a penalty kick this past weekend, but it also earned him a sanction.
The MLS Disciplinary Committee announced on Tuesday that it has fined Friend an undisclosed amount for embellishment in the 61st minute of the Galaxy’s 1-0 defeat of the Rapids this past Saturday. You can see video of the play here.
Friend won his side a penalty kick when he pretended to get hit in the face by Colorado defender Drew Moor in the penalty area. Unfortunately for Friend and LA, Robbie Keane missed the ensuing spot kick to keep the Rapids out in front.
MLS PLAYERS UNION DONATE LEAGUE FINES TO CHARITY
If you were wondering where the money collected from MLS fines go, you now have an answer.
It was announced on Tuesday that the MLS Players Union, per its Collective Bargaining Agreement with MLS, donates all the money collected from fines to charities. The Executive Board of the Union chose One Fund Boston following the Boston Marathon Bombings in 2013, but on Tuesday it selected five more charities to receive a portion of the 2013 fine money.
Those five charities to receive the balance of the 2013 sum are The Kuykenstrong Foundation, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the Kirk Urso Memorial Fund, the US Soccer Foundation and You Can Play.
—–
How do you see the Rapids faring without Sanchez? Think NYCFC would be wise to bring Donyoh on board? When should the Red Bulls release Miller, Cahill to their international teams?
Share your thoughts below.