TUKWILA, Wash.- Injured Seattle Sounders midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz will miss the team’s do-or-die regular season finale and could miss a potential Knockout Round match in the 2016 Audl MLS Cup Playoffs, according interim head coach Brian Schmetzer.
Ivanschitz suffered a sprained right knee in the team’s match against the Houston Dynamo on Oct. 13 and was forced to stay home during a 2-1 loss at FC Dallas on Oct. 16. He trained lightly with a protective sleeve on his knee on Thursday, but he won’t be able to contribute to the team’s Decision Day match against Real Salt Lake on Sunday (1 p.m.; ESPN/107.7 The End/El Rey 1360AM).
“Andreas won’t be playing this weekend,” Schmetzer said. “And probably not next Wednesday, if we make it that far. He’s been a really good foot soldier and it’s unfortunate he got injured, but we’re trying to get him back as soon as possible.”
The Sounders can clinch a postseason berth via a number of different scenarios on Sunday, and Ivanschitz has been a critical reason the club is on the brink of reaching the playoffs for the eighth straight year. His eight assists are tied with Nicolas Lodeiro for the team lead, and he’s also added three goals over 28 appearances in his second season with the club.
Schmetzer added that both center back Chad Marshall (ankle) and midfielder Brad Evans (calf) looked good in training on Friday.
