October 15, 2009 SIDELINED Gooch out for at least 3-4 months
Oguchi Onyewu will be out at least 3-4 months Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The United States' comeback in its 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw with Costa Rica was not without its down moments at RFK Stadium Wednesday night.
Central defender Oguchi Onyewu tore the patella tendon in his left knee and will be sidelined at least three or four months.
Gooch, as he is nicknamed, could return to action in February by those estimates. But he hasn't seen any action with his new team, A.C. Milan, whose lineup is difficult to break into.
"He's young, he's healthy, our doctors are good, and he's someone, for sure, is going to get back," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "Nonetheless, it is another setback for us."
Onyewu was the second starter lost to injury this week. Forward Charlie Davies will be sidelined six-to-12 months with broken bones and a ruptured bladder after he was a passenger in a fatal car accident in northern Virginia Tuesday morning.
"We’ve had two days of tough news," Bradley said. "Gooch has been such an important part of our team."
Prior to the game, Bradley visited Davies at the hospital.
“It’s a tough time," he said. "Our players would have all been there with me, but it is not possible at the moment. I made sure that Charlie and his family knew that every player on our team, every coach, everybody involved with U.S. Soccer is thinking about him and we have the faith that he’s going to be back with us pretty fast.”
