Three MLS Cup Winners To Have Surgery

MLS Cup winners Real Salt Lake will be sending three key players to the operating room today as Javier Morales, Jamison Olave and Fabian Espindola are all set to undergo surgery at the Salt Lake Regional Medical Center to fix knee problems, according to Michael C. Lewis of the Salt Lake Tribune.


Morales, 29, suffered a torn meniscus and strained lateral collateral ligament in a knee-on-knee collision with the Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham early in the first half of last month's MLS Cup final, leaving the Argentinean in tears as he had to be removed from the game. He made 26 appearances during the regular season (24 starts), but his production suffered a steep drop, recording just one goal and five assists compared to six goals and 15 assists in '08. Morales stepped up his contributions in the playoffs, scoring the first goal in exquisite style to spur RSL to a three-unanswered goal comeback against the Columbus Crew in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.

Espindola, 24, also has a torn meniscus and something called an 'ossicle', described as a bony growth, with which he has been playing through pain for part of the season. He made 22 appearances in his third season with RSL (17 starts), scoring three goals and adding three helpers.

Hulking center-back Olave, 28, has loose cartilage and bone spurs. The Colombian made 25 appearances for RSL in '09, scoring three goals.

All three players are expected to have fully recovered from the operations by the time next year's pre-season activites get underway.