MLS
Alan Velasco set to miss the rest of the 2023 MLS playoffs
The FC Dallas player was an early casualty in the Round 1 game against the Seattle Sounders. The severity of his injury has now been confirmed.
Alan Velasco was tipped as one of the players to follow in the 2023 MLS playoffs. The 21-year-old Argentine winger enjoyed a good regular season with FC Dallas, ending with four goals and a couple of assists but unfortunately he will play no further part in this season’s competition. Velasco faces a few months out on the sidelines after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligaments in his left knee in Wednesday’s first game against the Seattle Sounders.
Through his ‘X’ account, Argentine journalist Gastón Edul of TyC Sports reported that the left winger will undergo surgery in the coming days, which means he will play no further part in the current postseason. Velasco’s loss is a blow to coach Nico Estévez, who will be without a key member of his team’s attack as they try to claw their way back in the series.
Velasco had dreams of leading Javier Mascherano’s Argentina Under-23s in the South American Pre-Olympic Tournament with the top two teams qualifying for next summer’s Paris Olympics. The 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament gets underway in January with Argentina, the holders, in Group B with Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay and Peru. Velasco is expected to be out of action for at least six months so he will definitely be unable to help the Albiceleste.
Blow for Dallas
With Velasco sidelined, Dallas will have to rely on players such as Jesús Ferreira, Paul Arriola or Jáder Obrian. The next match against the Seattle Sounders in the ‘best of three’ series is on Saturday, November 4 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
Argentina affected
Mascherano will also need to make adjustments. Argentina are due to fly out to Japan on 13 November for two friendly matches against the hosts in Shizuoka on the 18th and 21st. The Albiceleste are next in action in the New Year - their first 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic game is against Paraguay at Estadio Misael Delgado in Valencia, Venezuela on 21 January.