Vancouver Whitecaps' Masato Kudo, of Japan, is driven off the field after sustaining an injury during a collision with Chicago Fire goalkeeper Matt Lampson during the first half of an MLS soccer game in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday May 11, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
May 12, 2016 - 1:09 PM
VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Whitecaps say striker Masato Kudo will undergo surgery for a fractured jaw suffered in an ugly collision during Wednesday night's game against the Chicago Fire.
The 26-year-old was hit by Fire goalkeeper Matt Lampson as both players were going for a ball in the 11th minute of Vancouver's 2-1 victory.
Kudo took a shoulder to the face before his head slammed on the turf. Blood could be seen dripping from his mouth as players from both teams immediately waved to Vancouver's medical staff for help.
Kudo stayed down for several minutes as the crowd at B.C. Place Stadium waited in anxious silence until he was helped to his feet and carted to the locker-room.
The Whitecaps initially said during the game that Kudo suffered a concussion and also bit his lip and tongue, but added that he was going to hospital for further evaluation.
They announced the surgery on Thursday, adding that there's no timetable for his return.
"Apologies, well wishes and a speedy recovery to @masatokudo9," Lampson tweeted from his verified account on Wednesday night. "I hate to see injuries like that happen."
Kudo was replaced in the lineup by Blas Perez, who scored both of Vancouver's goals, including a stunning bicycle-kick winner in the 89th minute.
But it was clear the injury was weighing heavily on the Whitecaps, who visit Toronto FC on Saturday.
"Mixed emotions today," Vancouver head coach Carl Robinson said during his post-match press conference. "Delighted for Blas. Top, top professional. Two super goals.
"Obviously a big blow losing Masato ... mixed emotions."
Kudo scored his first goal for Vancouver in Saturday's 2-1 victory over the Portland Timbers, the Whitecaps' best performance of 2016.
The Tokyo native joined Vancouver in the off-season from Japan's Kashiwa Reysol, where he was the club's all-time leading scorer with 91 goals in 247 appearances.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2016