TUKWILA, Wash. — Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris is listed as day-to-day as he recovers from a strained hamstring suffered against FC Dallas in the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinals on Sunday.
Morris exited at halftime after the medical staff evaluated him for hamstring tightness. He didn’t know that he had actually strained it, but did not feel like he could go the final 45 minutes.
“We were under the gun to make a quick decision,” head coach Brian Schmetzer said. “We said we need guys who were 100 percent.”
The Sounders lost 2-1 on Sunday but advanced to the Western Conference Championship on aggregate (4-2) and will host the first leg against the Colorado Rapids on Tuesday, Nov. 22, before traveling to Commerce City for the second leg on Sunday, Nov. 27.
The United States called in Morris on Sunday to compete in camp ahead of the U.S.’ first two Hexagonal matches in CONCACAF 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying. The United States host Mexico at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday, Nov. 11, before taking on Costa Rica in a road match in San Jose on Tuesday, Nov. 15.
Morris flew to Ohio early Monday morning, was evaluated by doctors and was sent home. Schmetzer was unaware whether Morris had an MRI while in Columbus, but he is expected back in Seattle sometime Tuesday afternoon.
“For the national team, that’s too big a game to risk putting a guy in there who might be at 85-90 percent,” said Schmetzer. “They can’t afford that either.”
Schmetzer welcomed the two weeks off to give players more time heal. Andreas Ivanschitz has missed the last five matches with a knee sprain, but he participated in some of the drills and scrimmages on Tuesday. Nelson Valdez, who left the match on Sunday with cramps, has flown to Paraguay after being called in for national duty and is getting treatment there as well.
