Toronto FC defenders Ty Harden and Nick Garcia had games to forget amid their team’s victory over the Montreal Impact last Wednesday.
Both suffered serious injuries in the first half of a physical game between the two rivals, but the two received news Monday that should help the healing process.
The Canadian Soccer Association announced that Harden received credit for Toronto’s first goal in the Reds’ 2-0 win in the opener of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship.
Harden suffered a gruesome leg laceration during a loose-ball scramble in the goalmouth that led to Toronto’s first goal. At first glance, Dwayne De Rosario appeared to strike the ball with his left leg while on the ground, but Harden got his first goal in a Toronto FC uniform since signing with Toronto during preseason training.
“At the moment, it is difficult to walk around on it," Harden told TorontoFC.ca. "I just come into the stadium to get some treatment, clean the wound and change the bandages. Whenever I am walking around, it hurts so I have to go home and keep my leg up all day. I am hoping to be back in training in two or three weeks and then after that I will have to see how it feels before I can put a time on returning to games.”
Earlier in the day, the CSA suspended Montreal striker Roberto Brown for two games and fined him $1,500 (Canadian) for violent conduct against Garcia. The suspension will force the Panamanian to miss Montreal’s next two NCC games, including Wednesday’s match at Vancouver and then the return tilt against Toronto FC at Montreal on May 12.
Brown coldcocked Garcia with a punch in the penalty area during the run of play and received an immediate red card. The veteran center back lay unconscious for a few minutes before walking off the pitch on his own strength.
The healing process for both defenders, however, is still ongoing. Harden and Garcia both missed Toronto’s 2-1 loss to defending MLS champion Real Salt Lake last Saturday and are expected to be out at least for Toronto’s next game at home Saturday against the Chicago Fire.
