COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Another week, another important injury suffered by the Colorado Rapids.
This time, Rapids striker Deshorn Brown, the league’s second-ranked rookie according to MLSsoccer.com rankings this week, will miss approximately 1-2 weeks with a thigh injury suffered in training on Friday, adding on to the laundry list of injuries suffered by Colorado in the early goings of the 2013 season.
The Jamaican rookie will not play in Saturday’s home matchup against the Seattle Sounders at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (6 pm ET, MLS Live) due to the injury, MLSsoccer.com has learned.
Brown leads the Rapids with two goals in his first seven MLS games, while leading the team with 28 shots on goal – nearly double the amount of shots of Colorado’s second-leading shot-taker, Atiba Harris, who has only 15 shots so far this season. Brown has made a quick impression on his new team and league with a combination of pace and skill through his opening six weeks of MLS play.
The 22-year-old’s thigh injury only adds to Colorado’s string of misfortune regarding injuries so far this season. The Rapids are already without team captain Pablo Mastroeni, center back Diego Calderon, midfielders Martin Rivero, Kevin Harbottle and Jaime Castrillon and goalkeeper Matt Pickens due to various injuries, and Brown’s injury will almost certainly create another lineup headache for head coach Oscar Pareja.
Colorado is already thin up front, following the losses of Castrillon during the preseason and new acquisition Harbottle last month. Second-year midfielder/forward Tony Cascio and reserve midfielder/forward Kamani Hill are options to take Brown’s spot in the lineup.
The Rapids are seeking their third straight victory on Saturday following back-to-back 1-0 triumphs, including last Saturday’s win against Chivas USA.
But if the Rapids hope to collect three points this time, they’ll have to do it without their dynamic rookie.
Chris Bianchi covers the Colorado Rapids for MLSsoccer.com.
