HANOVER, N.J. – Tim Cahill is unlikely to have a significant role in the New York Red Bulls home showdown Wednesday against D.C. United (8 pm ET; ESPN2) – if he has any role at all.
The 34-year-old Australian international started each of the Socceroos’ two recent friendlies, playing 72 minutes in Thursday’s 2-0 road loss to Belgium and scoring a goal while lasting until the 69th minute in a 3-2 win over Saudi Arabia in London on Monday. And given the fact that Cahill is expected to return to New York sometime Tuesday, Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke didn’t sound overly optimistic that the Designated Player would be ready for the mid-week match against the Eastern Conference leaders at Red Bull Arena.
“I have not made the decision yet, but he’s played two games and flying all day,” Petke told MLSsoccer.com. “He hasn’t practiced with the team. I don’t know, I definitely have to sit back before I throw my 18 out there to figure that out.”
Two players with apparently better odds of being included in New York’s 18-man game-day roster are starting center back Ibrahim Sekagya and reserve fullback Kosuke Kimura. Sekagya left this weekend’s 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City with an ankle knock in the 65th minute, and Kimura was recently dealing with a hamstring strain. Both are healthy enough to go if called upon, Petke said.
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“I think [Kimura] is able to play. He’s been going full [in training] the last couple of days, so he’s able to play,” said Petke before touching on Sekagya’s early departure this past weekend. “That was precautionary. He felt a little something, but he’s fine. He’s absolutely fine.”
Franco Panizo covers the New York Red Bulls for MLSsoccer.com. He can be reached by email at Franco8813@gmail.com.
