US national soccer teams lose star goalies to injuries

New York, NY, United States (4E Sports) – The US national men’s and women’s both suffered serious blows as they lost their respective top goalkeepers Tim Howard and Hope Solo to injuries.

Howard suffered two fractures in his back during Everton’s FA Cup game against Oldham 10 days ago that could sideline him an estimated four weeks.

The timetable would rule him out of the U.S. national team’s World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica on March 22 in Denver and at Mexico four days later.

“We don’t think he will be out for the season,” said Everton FC manager David Moyes said. “We are not sure how long Tim will be out for because, obviously with a goalkeeper, he has to dive around and hit the ground.”

“It might be that, if everything goes well, he misses next week’s game as well and then because of the international break he might be close after the rest because that would be four weeks,” Moyes added.

The 34-year-old Howard has 86 caps for the United States and has been a regular since 2007.

With Howard sidelined, Aston Villa’s Brad Guzan moves into the No. 1 slot for the U.S. team, which lost its opener in the final round of World Cup qualifying last month and needs at least three points from the next two matches to regain its balance.

Meantime, the US Soccer Federation announced Solo will be sidelined three to four months after undergoing wrist surgery for a long-standing injury.

She will miss at least half of the Seattle Reign’s inaugural NWSL season, as well as international friendlies at Germany and the Netherlands.

Luckily, the US women’s team does not have any major competitions until next year. Solo was not included on the Algarve Cup roster.

Veteran Nicole Barnhart started in a 5-0 victory over China on Friday in Portugal.

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