ASN Injury Report
Steve Cherundolo Retires; Timothy Chandler Hobbled
A storied soccer career will come to an end this year as Hannover 96 and U.S. national team right back Steve Cherundolo is ready to hang up his boots. Cherundolo played in three World Cups for the U.S.
BY
Nick Kariuki
Posted
March 19, 2014
12:24 PM
Steve Cherundolo announced his retirement this afternoon in a press conference. The 35-year-old right back began his senior career at Hannover, then a second division team, in 1999. He remained a one-club man, earning a Hannover-record 302 starts in the Bundesliga and was named captain of the side in 2010.
The Rockford, Ill. native took part in the last three World Cups for the United States, and he also played in three Gold Cups and a Confederations Cup. He earned a total of 87 caps in his national career.
Cherundolo has been hampered by knee problems all season, managing just two appearances this campaign.
In comments to Nordbayern yesterday, Nürnberg manager Gertjan Verbeek stated that right back Timothy Chandler is unlikely to play again this season. Chandler tore the lateral meniscus of his left knee in February against Bayern Munich. The German-born defender was previously set for a mid-April return but this new assessment puts his World Cup chances in serious doubt.
Stuart Holden co-hosted Soccer Morning yesterday, discussing his latest injury and his determination to get back to playing next season. Last week Holden underwent surgery on the ligaments he re-injured in his right knee, putting him out of action for the next six to nine months. Here’s how Holden described his current condition: "I'm just getting on the mend. The first part's pretty slow—I'm on crutches for another week. Once I'm off those it starts flying by.”
On Thursday Nottingham Forest announced that Eric Lichaj will undergo a double hernia operation. Forest can’t set an accurate return date for the right back yet.
Danny Williams didn’t feature in Reading’s 0-0 draw against Derby County on Saturday because of his swollen knee.
Nick Rimando played the majority of Salt Lake’s draw with a lower back injury. The goalkeeper picked up the injury in the 22nd minute and had to manage with back spasms for the rest of the game. After the match Rimando stated that he expects to have tests and therapy to assess the injury.
Teammate Chris Schuler is nearing full fitness as he recovers from his off-season foot surgery.
In the Seattle Sounders 1-2 loss to Toronto FC on Saturday, Brad Evans had to be subbed off in the 29th minute with what turned out to be a calf contusion. Head Coach Sigi Schmid told reporters this on Monday: “It’s better today than it was yesterday. We’ll have to see. If it can improve at the same steady pace we got a possibility for this weekend.” Seattle next faces Montreal away on Saturday.
The Sounders-Toronto game also saw Michael Bradley’s return from his minor foot injury. He certainly didn’t appear to be hobbled, bursting forward on aggressive runs throughout the contest. Toronto hosts D.C. United this Saturday.
Philadelphia Union defender Austin Berry strained his hamstring and was switched out in the 54th minute of the Union’s 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution.
The Union were also without Sheanon Williams, who is recovering from a quad injury.
Lee Nguyen and Andrew Farrell both made their returns in the Rev’s loss against Philadelphia. Farrell played in center back for the first time in his professional career.
Revs teammate Kelyn Rowe was kept on the bench for the match due to hamstring tightness.
Clarence Goodson played no part in the San Jose Earthquakes’ 3-3 tie with Real Salt Lake on Saturday because of a right groin strain. The injury-riddled Quakes face Liga MX side Toluca in the second leg of its CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal tonight. This week Goodson has participated in the team’s training to prepare for the venue's 8,750-foot altitude. Manager Mark Watson spoke to SFBay.ca about his side’s injuries: “It’s not an ideal situation but we’ll figure out who’s healthy to play and we’ll put something together for the game Wednesday night.”
Another on-field casualty this weekend was Chris Klute. In the Colorado Rapids’ 1-1 draw at New York the defender was subbed off with a right hamstring strain. Rapids Head coach Pablo Mastroeni said in a press conference yesterday that the injury will keep Klute out for a few weeks.
Dillon Powers was fit enough to start in the Rapids' game but, like Klute, he also had to come off with an injury. The reigning Rookie of the Year had to be subbed off in the 65th minute after a collision between his head and a Red Bull player’s elbow resulted in a gash on his face. The head wound has been stapled up and Powers has not experienced concussion symptoms from the collision. Mastroeni had this to say about Powers: “We’ll take it day-to-day, and see if there’s any response. We had a session today, and I think he feels good and he’s excited to keep it going.” The Rapids next host the Portland Timbers this Saturday.
On Monday D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper told the Washington Post that Chris Pontius’ return “is still a little ways away.” Setbacks in the preseason have hampered Pontius’ recovery from his off-season hamstring surgery and he has yet to return to full-training.
Finally, Los Angeles Galaxy left back Todd Dunivant played for the first time since his preseason hamstring injury. Dunivant subbed on at halftime as the Galaxy lost 4-2 to Tijuana in the two sides’ Champions League quarterfinal. Tijuana advance to the semifinals, with the final score at 4-3 in the Mexican side’s favor after two legs.
Nick Kariuki writes his ASN Injury Report every week. Follow him on Twitter.
