Double fracture sidelines young Tico Oviedo
- by Soccer America , Jan 26, 2014
The injury came early in the game as Oviedo went in to challenge Stevenage's Simon Heslop for the ball.
"The injury to Bryan was very unfortunate," Roberto Martinez, the Everton coach, said. "It wasn't malicious, Bryan is trying to win the ball back and unfortunately has come away with a double fracture, a break in both the tibia and fibula. We are going to assess now what is the next step for Bryan. It is one of those moments that really gives you a bad taste."
Everton players were visibly upset by the sight of Oviedo's injury, and news agencies posted warnings to readers about graphic images of the injury.
"After the injury," added Martinez, "the players had to refocus because Bryan is a nice human being and an incredible professional. When something like this happens, it gives you a really bad feeling. With his level, he has shown the quality that he has and the player that he can be. You feel terribly sad for him because it is a great moment in his career, with the World Cup around the corner. All we want is Bryan recovered as quick as we can so that he comes back as important as he has been for the squad."
-- Playing without many of its top players, Costa Rica lost its second friendly in four days as it fell to South Korea, 1-0, at the Los Angeles Coliseum and had two players, Defender Christopher Meneses and Mauricio Castillo, sent off in the second half.
Kim Shin-wook's goal in the 10th minute was the difference for South Korea, which plays Mexico on Wednesday and the USA Saturday.
Losing Oviedo is a big blow to Costa Rica as he really was one of their key players - dominating the left side of the field from end to end. Though Meneses deputized adequately for Oviedo early in the hex (getting a key assist against Panama), he showed in these last two friendlies that he isn't remotely the same player after his own injury problems. This leaves them to choose between 35 year old Junior Diaz (benched this season in the Bundesliga)and Roy Miller. Diaz is still adequate defensively and is good in the air defending set pieces, but he just doesn't get forward the way he used to (which is why Pinto has tended to use him more as back up central defender). And we all know about Roy Miller's deficiencies.