The Colorado Rapids are going to have to defend their MLS Cup title without their leading scorer.
The club announced on Tuesday that forward Conor Casey will miss the rest of the 2011 season after results from an MRI conducted Monday showed he suffered a torn left Achilles tendon during last weekend’s match in Seattle.
Surgery is already scheduled for Wednesday in Denver and the 29-year-old Denver native will be out up to eight months.
Casey, who had already missed six matches due to a hamstring strain, suffered the injury while attempting to control a ball near midfield at CenturyLink Field in the 36th minute of a 4-3 loss against Sounders FC.
Offseason acquisition Caleb Folan will be expected to assume Casey’s role at target forward although Macoumba Kandji is also closing in on full fitness after a knee injury suffered during MLS Cup 2010. Quincy Amarikwa and Andre Akpan have also filled in at forward throughout an injury-riddled season for the Rapids’ striker corps.
The Rapids have two home matches this week against the New York Red Bulls (Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET; watch LIVE online) and the New England Revolution (Saturday at 9 p.m. ET; watch LIVE online).
