Major League Soccer: News: 02/24/2007
Bornstein out six weeks with MCL tear
By Jason Halpin / MLSnet.com Staff
Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein, the 2006 Gatorade Rookie of the Year, will miss the rest of preseason with a partial ACL tear in his left knee.
Bornstein suffered the injury during training Thursday morning at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. He underwent an MRI Thursday afternoon that revealed the extent of the injury.
Bornstein will now have to spend some six weeks on the sidelines. Chivas USA's 2007 season opener - at The Home Depot Center against expansion side Toronto FC - is exactly six weeks away.
A product of UCLA, Bornstein was a revelation for Chivas USA in 2006, tallying six goals and four assists after being selected in the fourth round of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. A remarkably versatile player who lined up everywhere on the field other than in goal, Bornstein was the runaway winner of the MLS Rookie of the Year award.
In January, Bornstein was called up to the U.S. national team for the first time. Under former Chivas USA head coach Bob Bradley, Bornstein started and went the full 90 minutes in friendlies against Denmark and Mexico. In his debut against the Danes, Bornstein scored his first international goal, which turned out to be the game-winner.
Chivas USA also announced Friday that the club has reached an agreement on a contract with defender Alex Zotinca and that the team has re-signed midfielder Jesse Marsch and defender Orlando Perez.
The Red-and-White acquired Zotinca's rights from the Kansas City Wizards on Wednesday in exchange for a conditional 2008 SuperDraft pick. Zotinca played four seasons for the Wizards, logging 5,382 minutes and registering three goals and two assists.
Marsch has been in the league since its inception in 1996, having played for D.C. United and the Chicago Fire before joining Chivas USA prior to the 2006 campaign. Marsch was a member of the first three MLS Cup winners, reaching the pinnacle of MLS with United in 1996 and 1997 and winning with the Fire in 1998. He's also won four U.S. Open Cups.
Perez is a Chivas USA "original," having joined the club through the 2004 Expansion Draft. He first came to MLS as a member of the MetroStars in 2000 and went on to play for D.C. United and the Chicago Fire before joining Chivas.
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
Bornstein Partially Tears ACL
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