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UPDATE: Marshall successfully underwent surgery on Tuesday. The lateral meniscectomy procedure was performed by Dr. Michael Morris at Virginia Mason Hospital. An exact timeline for Marshall’s recovery has not yet been revealed.
TUKWILA, Wash. — Seattle Sounders center back Chad Marshall underwent surgery Tuesday morning for a meniscus injury, head coach Brian Schmetzer told the media at training. Marshall, 34, was forced into an early exit from Seattle’s 2018 MLS Cup Playoff match against the Portland Timbers at Providence Park Sunday due to the injury.
“Marshall is having surgery this morning for a meniscus injury,” Schmetzer said. “I will give you further updates once the surgery is successful and he is back on his feet.”
Schmetzer was quoted after the match against Portland that Marshall, who stumbled awkwardly and then collapsed without contact on the Providence Park turf, had not torn a ligament. It is still unclear the precise severity of Marshall’s injury, but the center back will certainly miss the second leg against the Timbers at home Thursday.
Marshall, who put together a 2018 campaign that may well earn Defender of the Year plaudits, may have enough time to recover for the Western Conference finals if Seattle advances past Portland. The Cleveland Clinic states that recovery times up to two weeks are normally expected for a meniscus injury to return to normal activity levels, though the intense demands of professional soccer may slightly extend that timeline. With the international break lasting from Nov. 12-20, Marshall would have a chance to contribute in the conference finals if his recovery goes well.
The better news for Sounders fans is that midfielder Cristian Roldan — also forced into a first-half exit against Portland — only has a hip flexor strain and may be able to play in the second leg.
“That one is more day-to-day,” Schmetzer said of Roldan. “We’ll see if he can make it. He’s a pretty mentally strong kid. That one I’ll give you more detail tomorrow, but that’s probably going to be a game-time decision.”
Roldan was not on the pitch at training Tuesday, but the presence of the iron man, who became the first outfield player in club history to play 3,000 minutes this season, might help bolster Seattle’s midfield as it looks to overturn Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Portland.