Goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau of Los Angeles FC (LAFC) suffered a right leg fracture and was dismissed from the game against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday at Banc of California Stadium simultaneously.
Crepeau, 28, will be forced to miss the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup because he is the Canada men’s national soccer team’s backup goalkeeper.
Cory Burke was rushing alone toward the LAFC area during the second half of extra time when he was hurt.
When their shins collided, Crepeau tripped Burke outside the box and broke his own leg. As he lay powerless on the field, the LAFC goalkeeper immediately waved at the bench and asked for assistance.
Despite being carried off the field and transferred to a nearby hospital, Crepeau’s teammates didn’t forget about him and celebrated with him over facetime while the goalkeeper was still in the ambulance.
Crepeau was replaced by John McCarthy on the field, and even though he was scored upon in the extra period, McCarthy ended up winning the game for LAFC.
McCarthy won the MLS Cup with two blocked penalties after Gareth Bale’s header in the closing seconds of extra time forced a penalty shootout.
Crepeau will undoubtedly be disappointed that he won’t be able to attend the World Cup, but his injury does have a positive side because he won the MLS.