HOUSTON – Dynamo defender Mike Chabala didn’t travel with the team to New York on Tuesday and will miss his first start of the season against the Red Bulls with a hamstring injury.
Chabala suffered the injury during the Dynamo’s 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Union last Saturday (WATCH: Houston vs. Philadelphia match highlights). He said he’s hopeful to return to the lineup for Houston’s match against the unbeaten Los Angeles Galaxy at the Home Depot Center on Saturday.
“I am out [for Wednesday],” Chabala said. “I was running today and doing more than I was doing before, but I am not 100 percent, and it is best that I stay behind and try to get ready for the LA game.”
“If I pushed it tomorrow, I might give myself an injury even worse than before,” Chabala added. “We have two weeks after this, and so I wanted to push it. It’s disappointing, but we’ve got guys who can step in and do the job.”
Defender Eddie Robinson, meanwhile, will be a game time situation for the Dynamo’s match against the Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena. Robinson said he suffered what he thinks was a concussion against the Union during a play when he got pushed hard in the upper back or neck.
“There was one ball that came through and I just couldn’t focus on it,” Robinson said. “So I just humped it down the field, took a knee and told the ref I had to get off the field. I went home and watched the game and there was a seven- or eight-minute period that I don’t remember.”
Robinson has a prior history with concussions, and had some memory issues Saturday night, along with some problems with both his equilibrium and vision.
“We will see how things go [Wednesday],” Robinson said. “It will all come down to me and making sure that when the first ball comes tomorrow and I need to head it, that I am going to head it 40 yards down the field without giving it a second thought.”
Dwain Capodice is a contributor to MLSsoccer.com. Questions or Comments can be sent via email to dwaincapodice@gmail.com.
