SAN JOSE, Calif.—When you’re about to face the frontrunning duo of Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins, you'd prefer not to be replacing a critical defensive cog.
Yet San Jose Earthquakes coach Dominic Kinnear knows that the injury-induced absence of center back Victor Bernardez (right hamstring) won’t earn him much sympathy from the Sounders.
“There’s never a good time [for injuries],” Kinnear said. “We’ve had fair practice at it, as I’m sure a lot of teams around the league have. It just kind of coincides with these guys coming in.
"You’ve just got to deal with it. You can’t call Seattle and say, ‘Can you give us a little bit of time and let Victor get ready?’ I’m sure they’re not saddened by the fact that Victor [will miss the match]."
Kinnear said Tuesday he was considering three potential options to replace the former Honduran international: second-year man JJ Koval, who came on for Bernardez late in the first half of the Quakes’ 2-1 loss to Philadelphia last week; veteran Marvell Wynne, who would have to slide over from right back; and rookie Fatai Alashe, who filled a similar role at times while starring at Michigan State.
“[Victor's absence] is something we just have to accept,” said Quakes winger Cordell Cato. "The players that have been on the bench, they’ve got to be ready to step in. That’s as simple as it is. We don’t really have a choice, with him being out. The players that have been working hard have got to step in and be ready to go.”
One player who won’t factor into the equation is first-year MLSer Paulo Renato. The 28-year-old, who started the season with some strong performances as Clarence Goodson recovered from injury, didn’t even make the game-day 18-man roster for Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Union. Kinnear termed that “a coach’s decision” – one eliminated this week when Renato suffered a right quad strain in training on Tuesday.
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If Kinnear chooses Koval, he’ll be casting his lot with someone who has started just once in San Jose’s last 20 regular-season matches, but logged a successful loan with Sacramento Republic last month.
“Absolutely, I’m always ready,” Koval said. “I’m up for any challenge. I feel fit, I feel strong. I feel like I’m doing well in training. I’m ready, yeah.”
Whomever Kinnear picks will be aided by the expected return of Panamanian midfielder Anibal Godoy, who came off the pitch midway through his most recent appearance, a 1-1 Tuesday draw for Panama against Venezuela.
“It’s an important game,” Koval said. “We get three points out of it, if we do the things we need to do right. You never want anyone to be injured.
"I want the team to win. That’s what I want. If that means I’m stepping into that role to help do that, then I’m excited to do that.”
