There’s finally some clarity on Matt Freese and his availability for New York City FC, and it’s relatively good news.
Freese left New York City's 4-2 loss in Columbus in the 12th minute after suffering a leg injury, which has now been confirmed as a sprain of his medial collateral ligament (MCL).
That confirmation came during Head Coach Nick Cushing’s press conference before New York City travels to face DC United on Matchday 28.
In that press conference, Cushing said it was a three-week injury and Freese was through two weeks of it. The injury occurred on August 31, so the international break provided something of a reprieve.
Luis Barraza seems set to start in goal when New York City lines up at Audi Field. Cushing said Barraza's appearance with New York City FC II at Icahn Stadium was meant to prepare him and help him gain sharpness ahead of a stint filling in for Freese, at least in Washington, DC. That match at MLS NEXT Pro level wasn't a huge success in terms of result or performance, but it did give Barraza competitive minutes in a game during a dark week on the team's schedule.
Noah Kassell-Yung
When Freese went down, worst-case scenarios involving more serious injuries that could have required surgery were feared. While no knee ligament injury can be called "positive," it does seem lucky that Freese is only rehabbing his MCL.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, "A grade 1 MCL tear (minor tear) can usually heal on its own with rest within one to three weeks." That timeline lines up with the Freese injury, with that same Cleveland Clinic website saying "A grade 1 MCL tear is a mild tear in which less than 10% of fibers in your ligament are torn and your knee is still stable. You’ll likely have some tenderness and mild pain if you have a grade 1 tear."
The reveal of the MCL sprain that won’t need surgery is a decent outcome, even if it will be a huge loss for however long New York City is forced to play without one of the best goalkeepers in MLS this season.
Matthew Mangam
That’s not blog hyperbole, as Freese currently ranks first among all Major League Soccer goalkeepers in save percentage at 77.1%, is fourth in saves with 98, and is fifth in goals against per 90 minutes – with Freese conceding 1.23 goals per 90.
The Freese injury comes at a tough time in the MLS schedule, with important matches coming in quick succession against potential Eastern Conference rivals in the MLS Cup Playoffs, or for playoff positioning. After DC, NYCFC plays midweek on short rest, hosting Philadelphia Union at Yankee Stadium on September 18. That's followed by another quick turnaround to welcome Inter Miami CF and a possibly-recovered Lionel Messi on the afternoon of Saturday, September 21.
Freese dodged a season-ending knee injury, but how quickly he recovers could be a significant decider of where NYCFC finishes in the table. Will he be back to face either his old team from Philly, or the Supporters' Shield leaders from South Florida?
Or will Freese be rested until, say, the Hudson River Derby on September 28? That game against the Red Bulls could be the difference between finishing fourth and getting two home matches in the best-of-three playoff series, or fifth and having to, hypothetically, play twice on the road.
The Red Bulls are already looking ahead to that game in Harrison, New Jersey, with word coming out today that their Designated Player, forward Emil Forsberg, is set to be back in the lineup when NYCFC crosses the river to play at Red Bull Arena. When Matt Freese returns to Nick Cushing's lineup is less clear, but the short timeline on his knee injury is a relief given what might have been.
