The Seattle Sounders are just one match into their 2012 MLS season, but they have already been dealt a blow. Head coach Sigi Schmid revealed on Tuesday that Mauro Rosales sprained his knee and would be out "a couple weeks."
Rosales signed for the MLS minimum last season, but quickly emerged as one of the Sounders' best players and by the end of the season he was a league MVP candidate. He was rewarded this offseason with a major bump in pay that made him a Designated Player, but now the team will have to deal with his absence for at least two weeks. If it is a two-week absence for Rosales, he will miss home matches against the Dynamo and Earthquakes.
When Rosales was out last season, the Sounders turned to Lamar Neagle, but he was traded before the season. That means that new signing Christian Sivebaek will likely be called upon to take Rosales' spot, which will be a good test for the 24-year-old. There was a decent amount of excitement when he signed with Seattle in the winter and now he has the opportunity to impress.