CHESTER, Pa. – The Philadelphia Union’s first-ever win over Colorado on Sunday seemed improbable enough because of the unique circumstances surrounding the road trip and 24-hour postponement of the game.
Now, it seems even more unlikely.
During his weekly press conference from PPL Park on Wednesday, Union manager John Hackworth revealed that, on top of the injury to Conor Casey – who didn’t make the trip to Colorado to play his former team – key players Sébastien Le Toux, Gabriel Farfan and Danny Cruz also got injured either before or during the match.
According to Hackworth, Le Toux got cleated in the ankle, Farfan strained his hamstring during warmups and Cruz broke his nose.
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Le Toux and Farfan both weren’t able to play a full game, but Cruz managed to stay in for all 90 minutes – which Hackworth certainly appreciated.
“He gutted it out and went back into the game and that was very important to us,” the Union manager said.
Hackworth later added, with a smile, “Danny’s nose is fine. It just looks funny. That’s nothing new for Danny.”
Farfan, meanwhile, didn’t get the start and only came into the game midway through the second half, where Hackworth “moved him around and played him in three or four positions in the midfield, trying to find a place where he could help us.”
And Le Toux had to exit the contest into the 71st minute, marking the first time, in 64 starts with the Union, that the Frenchman has ever been taken out of a game.
But if f you saw his ankle, Hackworth said, you’d understand why the substitution was needed.
“He showed me his ankle before we took him out and he had three massive stud marks right in his ankle,” Hackworth said. “On top of that, he tweaked his back a little bit. But we had him out in training today, so we fully expect him to be back and ready.”
READ: Conor Casey's Colorado homecoming ruined by injury
Hackworth also expects his other veteran striker signed in the offseason – Casey – to return for Saturday’s game against New England at PPL Park (5 pm ET, MLS Live).
The former Rapids star, who’s been battling a hamstring injury, has played only six minutes through his first two games with Philly.
“Conor looks like he’s good,” Hackworth said. “We didn’t let him go 100 percent today but we talked before and after and he feels pretty good. He’s almost at full recovery.”
Dave Zeitlin covers the Union for MLSsoccer.com. Email him at djzeitlin@gmail.com.
