COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Starting forward Brian McBride was knocked out by yet
another injury Wednesday, leaving the Mexico-United States World Cup qualifier
after colliding with a Mexican defender.
McBride went to the sideline after just 10 minutes with his eye swollen
shut. The Americans played a man short until Josh Wolff came on in the 15th
minute.
Team captain Claudio Reyna appeared to pull a hamstring in the 26th minute.
He stayed on the field until Clint Mathis replaced him in the 43rd.
Coincidentally, Wolff and Mathis combined on the first U.S. goal in a 2-0
victory.
McBride missed three months with the national team when he developed a
blood clot in his arm after taking an elbow to the biceps in October while
playing for Preston North End in England.
The injury forced him to miss a scoreless tie against Costa Rica and the 4-0
win at Barbados that gave the Americans a spot in the six-nation regional
finals.
After returning on Jan. 27, McBride got his 14th international goal in a
game against China. The goal was his fourth straight in a national team game to
tie a record set in 1954.
McBride also missed the first two qualifiers last summer with a fractured
cheekbone.
McBride, 28, broke his right cheekbone in July in a MLS game for Columbus
when he collided in the air with Colorado's Paul Bravo. The previous weekend,
McBride scored the first goal for the Americans in their 3-0 win over Mexico.
The injury was similar to one sustained in the 1999 MLS season, when McBride
missed five games after colliding with San Jose's Jamie Clark.
McBride scored the only goal for the U.S. team that finished last in the
1998 World Cup in France.
Reyna, who directs the U.S. offense at midfield, plays for the Glasgow
Rangers in Scotland. He clearly was bothered by the injury midway through the
first half, and several times pulled up when trying to pursue loose balls. Each
time, he would place his hand on his upper leg.
AP NEWS
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