Seattle Sounders MVP candidate Mauro Rosales has sprained his MCL, but the exact severity of the injury will not be known until he undergoes an MRI on Monday. Rosales was hurt on a Daniel Woolard tackle late in the Sounders' 3-0 win over DC United on Saturday.
Mauro Rosales Injury Update: MCL Sprained, What Seattle Sounders Do Next
“I was very frustrated with this because there was nothing to lose, nothing to win,” Rosales said. “The knee is usually a bad thing. If it’s something like an ankle it’s no problem, but the knee, I’m really worried about what’s going to happen.”
If Rosales’ worst fears are realized it would obviously be a blow for the Sounders. Prior to his injury on Saturday, Rosales had assisted on two goals and help set up the Sounders third in their 3-0 win over DC United. His 12 assists are the second most in the league and set a Sounders team record. The Sounders have gone 12-3-6 in the matches Rosales has started, while going 2-3-3 in games he did not start.
A limited absence would probably not be the end of the world for the Sounders, whose chances of catching the Los Angeles Galaxy for the Supporters' Shield were already thin. The most likely scenario would probably involve Lamar Neagle moving from Alvaro Fernandez's primary backup at left mid to starting right midfielder. Other possible replacement for Rosales include Erik Friberg or Brad Evans -- assuming both can remain healthy.
None of those options would come close to replacing Rosales’ playmaking ability. While Neagle has been very good in relatively limited minutes, it has largely been his ability to get on the end of Rosales’ passes than his ability to create for others that has made him effective. Friberg would offer an upgrade defensively and has some shown signs of having similar passing abilities, but has not produced at anywhere near Rosales’ level.
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