Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Eric Kronberg, the league leader in shutouts and goals-against average through the first half of the season, broke his finger in training on Wednesday and is expected to miss the next two months.
Kronberg, a longtime understudy to Kevin Hartman and then Jimmy Nielsen, became Kansas City's No. 1 this year in his ninth season with the club. He broke the fourth metacarpal on his left hand, the club said in a news release, but the injury will not require surgery.
He has seven clean sheets this season, two in his last three matches, and a goals-against average of .88 in 17 matches. He was selected as June's Etihad Player of the Month and was third among keepers in balloting for the MLS All-Star Game when he was injured.
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The injury likely elevates veteran Andy Gruenebaum, acquired in an offseason trade from Columbus, to the starting job in Kronberg's absence. Gruenebaum has not appeared in any MLS matches for Sporting, going 1-1 in U.S. Open Cup play with a 1.5 goals-against average.
Sporting also recalled Homegrown keeper Jon Kempin from USL PRO affiliate Oklahoma City Energy FC. The 21-year-old Kempin has five clean sheets and a 1.38 goals-against average for Oklahoma City.
