Marcelo Gallardo will miss the remainder of the 2008 season after an MRI revealed that D.C. United’s highest paid player suffered a Grade 2 medial collateral ligament strain in his left knee during last weekend’s 3-0 loss to Chivas USA.
Gallardo, who will earn $1.9 million this season, is expected to be sidelined 6-8 weeks, which rules him out of United’s final three regular season games and remaining three CONCACAF Champions League matches.
The 33-year-old Argentinian has four goals and three assists this season but has played sparingly since undergoing hernia surgery in July. The Chivas match was just his second start since June, and his first following a two-week rehabilitation stint in Argentina.
Gallardo is under contract with D.C. United through 2009.
Freedom pick four
The Washington Freedom selected Becky Sauerbrunn and Sarah Huffman with the first and third overall picks in the Women’s Pro Soccer general draft.
Sauerbrunn, Huffman, along with third round pick Lori Lindsey and fourth round pick Emily Janss, were all members of the Freedom’s W-League team last season.
WPS also announced a three-year deal with Fox Soccer Channel to broadcast a live Sunday night match each week during the league’s inaugural 2009 season.
