Month: April 2015

Opara suffers ruptured Achilles tendon

Ike Opara
Ike Opara

Sporting Kansas City announced that defender Ike Opara has been diagnosed with a ruptured Achilles tendon in his left ankle.

Opara suffered the injury in the 81st minute of Saturday’s scoreless draw between Sporting KC and Real Salt Lake at Sporting Park. The 26-year-old centerback had played every minute of the team’s first six games until that point after coming back from a season-ending surgery in his right ankle one year ago.

He leads Sporting KC – and all MLS defenders – with two goals in 2015, while also anchoring a backline that has three shutouts and has conceded the fewest shots per game (9.83) of any team in the league this season.

In addition, Opara leads all MLS players in 2015 with 30 interceptions and 33 aerials won, while ranking second in duels won (55).

Opara was named to MLSsoccer.com’s Team of the Week in three of the season’s first four weeks and finished third in MLS Player of the Month voting for March.

He has made 66 MLS appearances (including postseason) in six professional seasons since being selected No. 3 overall by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.

Sporting KC acquired Opara prior to the 2013 season, in which he made a career-high 21 MLS appearances en route to the club’s MLS Cup championship.

Opara has been a key contributor for teams that have won the NCAA National Championship (Wake Forest, 2007), Supporters’ Shield (San Jose, 2012) and MLS Cup (Sporting KC, 2013).

At the international level, Opara represented the United States at the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt and was also a member of the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team during Olympic qualifying in 2012.
– Story from Sporting KC

Injury-accident reported on I-635

An injury-accident was reported at 12:30 p.m. April 13 on I-635 southbound near Gibbs Road.

Two vehicles were southbound on I-635 when a Plymouth Grand Voyager slowed for traffic, according to a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper’s report. The Grand Voyager was rear-ended by a Chevy Impala, according to the report.

The driver of the Impala, a 31-year-old resident of Garden City, Mo., was injured and taken to a hospital, according to the report. An 8-year-old boy in the car was not injured, the report stated.

The driver of the Grand Voyager, a 58-year-old man from Kansas City, Kan., was not injured, the report stated.

Mild spring day in store for Tuesday, followed by rain tonight

Mild spring weather is in store today, according to the National Weather Service.

Rain is possible every day through Sunday, the forecast says.

The high will be near 67 today with partly sunny skies, the weather service said. An east wind will be 7 to 13 mph.

Tonight, a 40 percent chance of showers is in the forecast, according to the weather service. The rain could be arriving this evening. The low will be 49.

On Wednesday, there will be a 30 percent chance of showers, with a high near 65, the weather service said. An east southeast wind of 8 to 10 mph is possible. Wednesday night, the low will be around 51.

On Thursday, the high will be near 71, and there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, the weather service said.

Friday, a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms is in the forecast, according to the weather service. The high will be near 70. On Friday night there will be a 30 percent chance of rain, with a low of 54, the weather service said.

Saturday’s forecast is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high of 67, the weather service said. On Saturday night, there is a 40 percent chance of showers, with a low of 49.

Sunday, there will be a 40 percent chance of rain, with a high of 64, according to the weather service.