TUKWILA, Wash. — Seattle Sounders midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz will be unavailable for the team’s road match against FC Dallas on Sunday, according to interim head coach Brian Schmetzer.
The 32-year-old Austrian exited in the 16th minute of Seattle’s scoreless draw against the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night. An MRI revealed a right knee sprain and he is doubtful for the Sounders’ regular-season finale against Real Salt Lake on Oct. 23 as well.
An encouraging sign, though, is that Alvaro Fernandez was back training at full strength on Thursday. Fernandez exited early in the Sounders’ last match against the Vancouver Whitecaps because of a left hamstring strain and missed the match against the Dynamo.
The draw with Houston snapped Seattle’s four-match win streak and deferred the Sounders’ potential postseason berth. Sunday in Dallas won’t be easy either, especially with Osvaldo Alonso out as well. He was ejected in the second half on Wednesday for violent conduct on Houston’s Will Bruin.
The Sounders have been particularly injury-bit recently, so getting and staying healthy become all the more important as a probable playoff spot looms. The Sounders can clinch with a win at FC Dallas or if the Portland Timbers drop points vs. the Colorado Rapids on Sunday.
