TUKWILA, Wash. — The Colorado Rapids lost stalwart goalkeeper Tim Howard for the remainder of the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs when the team announced on Sunday he would undergo surgery to repair a fractured adductor longus. Backup Zac MacMath will likely start in net for Colorado.
Howard injured himself in the United States’ 2-1 loss to Mexico last Friday in CONCACAF 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying and is expected to miss four months of action. Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni also told reporters on Tuesday that Shkelzen Gashi, who scored Colorado’s equalizer in its conference semifinals win over the LA Galaxy, is doubtful for the first leg of the Western Conference Championship against the Seattle Sounders on Tuesday, Nov. 22 (7 p.m. PT; FS1/KIRO Radio 97.3 FM,/El Rey 1360AM).
Howard is a finalist for Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year and Gashi recently won AT&T Goal of the Year, but don’t expect the Sounders to feel too much sympathy for the Rapids.
“It’s too bad because Timmy is a fantastic player,” said Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer. “It’s bad for the U.S. team and it’s bad for Colorado. I look at it pretty even-keeled though because we lost our best player. That’s just part of the game.”
Schmetzer is referencing the loss of forward and Howard’s U.S. teammate Clint Dempsey, who has been shut down for the year as he receives treatment for an irregular heartbeat.
Several other Sounders are recovering from injuries and working toward full fitness ahead of the impending two-leg series next week. Jordan Morris is battling a hamstring strain that kept him from returning for the second half of the Sounders’ second leg in the Western Conference Semifinals against FC Dallas. Andreas Ivanschitz (knee), Roman Torres (hamstring) and Alvaro Fernandez (hamstring) are all in recovery mode as well.
“Every day, baby steps,” Schmetzer said of Morris’ status. “Hopefully those baby steps translate into playing … Ivanschitz continues to look better, he was in full training. Flaco is the same as Jordan.
“We’re trying to do everything humanly possible to get them on the field.”
