As has been the case all season, the Blast is dominating the Major Indoor Soccer League injury report.
The weekly report, which comes out each week, has six Blast players listed – twice as many as the second-highest total in the league. But even in the absence of some of the team’s top talent, the Blast has climbed backinto contention in the six-team league. Heading into today’s game at Chicago, the Blast is in third place, just 1.5 games from first pace Philadelphia.
“This team, game by game, is finding its way, gaining some confidence, gaining some character,” Blast coach Danny Kelly said.
Its possible that the team is gaining character by simply battling through such adversity. The Blast has been without the 2005-2006 MISL MVP, Adauto Neto, for all but two games this season. And the word this past week leads many in the organization to believe that he may not see the playing surface again.
Neto, however, was not among the six players listed on the team’s injury report Thursday. Club officials planned to meet with doctors, who have discovered a crack in the surgically repaired leg of the Brazilian talent.
“We’re an organization that stands behind our word and stands behind our players. And we’re concerned about his career,” Blast president/general manager Kevin Healey said.
Also listed on the injury report are offensive talents Robbie Aristodemo, Machel Millwood and Giuliano Celenza. Aristodemo aggravated his knee in last weekend’s sweep of Milwaukee, while Millwood is nursing nagging soreness in his hamstring. Gordon Chin is also listed as questionable with an ankle injury.
Celenza, the team’s leading scorer from a year ago, is more of a concern. The Baltimore native said Wednesday that he was planning to make another trip to the doctor to have his lower leg checked out. Healey said Celenza is day-to-day.
BLAST AT CHICAGO
» When: Today, 2 p.m.
» Radio: 680 AM
» Did you know? Blast goalkeeper Sagu was named the MISL goalkeeper of the week and forward Machel Millwood was named the co-offensive player of the week ? The Blast will be holding a “Breakfast with the Blast” event Sunday at ESPN Zone. It is sold out.
