CARSON, Calif. – Chivas USA will be without team leader Alejandro Moreno this weekend after the veteran suffered a concussion in last Saturday’s loss to the Philadelphia Union.
Moreno, who has scored one goal in four appearances for the team this season, suffered the concussion during the 88th minute of the loss last weekend. While fighting for a ball that Juan Pablo Ángel played in the air, Moreno was turned around due to a collision with defender Carlos Valdés and fell onto the field face first.
Even for a player who has specialized in physical play, the injury is a new one for Moreno, who has not dealt with a concussion throughout his 10-year career in MLS. He’ll skip the team’s road match at the Colorado Rapids on Saturday (9 pm ET, watch LIVE online).
“I’ve never had one of these, that is why it was difficult for me to make sense of it all and that’s why I checked in with the trainers and the doctors because they know more about these things than I do,” Moreno told MLSsoccer.com on Thursday. “I’m very vigilant about things going on around me and if things aren’t right then I’ll be the first one to mention so we can minimize the time that I’m out and maximize the recovery time.”
Moreno took part in the club’s final training session before traveling to Colorado this week, training with the team during warm-ups before taking part in training off to the side during full-scale drills.
“I started [MLS concussion protocol] Tuesday and we’ve done light action and so far so good,” Moreno said. “I took a few tests [on Wednesday] and I passed them all. Now I’m hoping that this week goes well for me and I’m ready to go next week.”
Lahoud set to return
Midfielder Michael Lahoud, a fleet-footed winger who was arguably the club’s MVP during the preseason, appears ready to return from injury and is expected to be included in the club’s traveling squad against Colorado.
Since suffering a hamstring strain just days before the club’s season opener, Lahoud has battled hard to return to action. After a recent injury setback delayed his return further, the 25-year-old midfielder is ready to take the field.
“I’m feeling pretty good, it’s three days in a row being back in full training,” Lahoud told MLSsoccer.com on Thursday. “It feels good to feel tired. Physiologically, I’m there. It’s just getting that psychological edge back and that only comes from training and building confidence there then getting my body and my soccer ability back, you got to play.”
His recovery now nearing its end, Lahoud admits that he has just one focus: returning to the stellar form that made him one of the club’s most dangerous players this preseason.
Correa to arrive in LA on Friday
Chivas USA head coach Robin Fraser confirmed on Thursday that new signing José Erick Correa will arrive in Los Angeles from Colombia sometime on Friday. Correa received his visa to enter the country last week, just days after his move from Boyacá Chico was announced.
The 19-year-old Colombian forward will not be available for the Rapids match, but could be available to play during the club’s next home match against the Chicago Fire on May 4.
Adam Serrano covers Chivas USA for MLSsoccer.com. He can be reached at adam.m.serrano@gmail.com.
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