CARSON, Calif. – Chivas USA midfielder Daniel Antunez suffered torn meniscus and sprained ligaments in his left knee in last weekend’s 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids, a club spokesman told MLSsoccer.com on Tuesday.
An MRI exam on Monday revealed the tear, as well as the sprained anterior collateral ligament and medial collateral ligament. Antunez, 27, is out indefinitely.
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“It just popped,” a somber Antunez told MLSsoccer.com in the locker room on Saturday.
Antunez was making his first career MLS start when he fell to the ground in the first half. It was a non-contact injury, and he was carried off the field on a backboard. Antunez later left the Home Depot Center on crutches as visibly upset players looked on in the locker room.
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“He had been playing really well for us,” defender Bobby Burling said. “It’s a bummer, but as teammates we’re here by his side.”
With the latest injury, the holding position in Chivas USA’s 3-5-2 formation becomes even blurrier.
Antunez, a native of nearby Santa Ana, had seen his playing time increase recently when Oswaldo Minda was sidelined with a quad injury. Midfielder Marvin Iraheta, 20, figures to be the leading candidate to fill the void.
