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