Reaching next year's final CONCACAF qualifying round for the 2014 World Cup of men's soccer seemed so tantalizingly close Tuesday night for sa国际传媒, but so frustratingly far Wednesday morning following the key 2-0 loss to Panama
What became evident in the loss is that sa国际传媒 has little depth and is a different team without the big three of Josh Simpson of Victoria (injured), Will Johnson (suspended) and Dwayne De Rosario (injured early in the game Tuesday).
De Rosario reportedly hurt his MCL and Canadian officials will be praying to have him ready for the final two games of the second round qualifier Oct. 12 against winless Cuba at BMO Field in Toronto and the crucial Oct. 16 game at Honduras that will likely decide whether sa国际传媒 advances or again fails to get to the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
There is bad news regarding Simpson, who said Wednesday he definitely won't be recuperated from the lower-leg break he suffered May 23 in the final game of the season for his Swiss pro club FC Young Boys of Bern.
"I would love to be back for the next two [sa国际传媒] games but I am not there yet," said the 29-year-old midfielder, who has 43 caps and four goals for sa国际传媒.
"My doctors told me I'll need 12 months recovery and I'm respecting that time frame. I'm walking without crutches now but not totally pain free. I'm remaining positive about my comeback sometime next year."
That would make Simpson healthy in time for next year's final round of CONCACAF qualifying, where the region's top six teams battle for three berths to the 2014 World Cup. But sa国际传媒 must get there without him.
"Unfortunately, that wasn't a good game for us in Panama but let's look forward and try to give support to the guys," said the Juan de Fuca and Lower Island Metro soccer graduate.
Before the injury, Simpson, a Belmont Secondary graduate, had appeared in 16 straight games for the national side since September of 2010.
