TORONTO — Toronto FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei has played every MLS match for the Reds this season, but he will likely miss Saturday’s game against Real Salt Lake at BMO Field (7 pm ET, watch LIVE online).
Frei suffered a leg injury during training this week and did not participate in Friday’s training session.
“He got a kick in his leg, but it is nothing that is going to take weeks,” head coach and technical director Aron Winter said after Friday’s training at BMO Field. “But tomorrow? Probably not. We’re going to try to let him play tomorrow, but the possibility is big that he’s not going to get it.”
That would leave the starting assignment to Milos Kocic, who started both matches against Real Esteli in the preliminary round of the CONCACAF Champions League July 27 and August 2. Toronto won both games 2-1 to advance to Group C.
Winter said the injury could keep Frei out for about a week, which would include Saturday’s match and the first Group C match against Tauro FC in Panama City next week. Toronto then play in Chicago on August 21.
“Milos is a good second goalkeeper and he showed that in the two CONCACAF games against Real Estelí,” Winter said. “We've got all the confidence in Milos.”
Kocic, 26, played in two MLS matches for Toronto last season, starting in one. Overall, he has a 2-2-2 career record in league play over two seasons, which included four appearances for D.C. United in 2009. When not playing, however, Kocic continues to work hard. He also said that he has a good working relationship with Frei, which helps when he gets surprise calls such as this weekend.
“We always talk,” Kocic said. "It’s always good to have someone like Stef who can be my support as well. ... We always help each other.”
He said his approach if he starts Saturday will be to avoid “crazy stuff.”
In the first game against Real Estelí at BMO Field he accidentally rolled over the ball in the 80th minute and allowed the visitors an easy goal. In the second game in Nicaragua, the goal he allowed was on a penalty.
“It was a huge, huge experience playing there, the whole environment was crazy,” Kocic said. “That was a huge experience, especially pulling out the victory there and going to the next round of CONCACAF. Definitely, I was excited to start the second game.”
