Update: Tues., Sept. 14
The Portland Timbers announced on Monday that Sebastián Blancounderwent successful surgery at Oregon Outpatient Surgery Center to repair a torn ACL in his right knee suffered in the first minute of a Sept. 6 match against the Seattle Sounders.
The club indicated that he is expected to return in "approximately six months" with his rehabilitation taking place with the Timbers sports medicine staff at Providence Park and at the Providence Sports Care Center.
The Timbers lost their first match without Blanco, a 4-2 Week 11 defeat to LAFC, but head coach Giovanni Savarese refused to pin the loss on the absence of their star.
Tues., Sept. 8
Midfielder Sebastián Blanco, who was in the midst of one of his best stretches ever with the Portland Timbers, will miss the remainder of the 2020 season after the club confirmed he tore the ACL in his right knee.
- Savarese on Blanco injury: It's a loss we cannot replace
- Boehm: Timbers face biggest gut check of Savarese era
Blanco suffered the injury after a minute of the Timbers' 2-1 win at Seattle on September 6. The Timbers revealed that he will undergo surgery on Sept. 14 and a timetable for his return will be determined following the procedure.
The Argentine is in his fourth season with the Timbers, and is coming off an MVP performance at the MLS is Back Tournament which saw Portland emerge as winners.
Blanco has tallied 33 goals and 39 assists in 121 appearances (115 starts) for the Timbers across all competitions since joining the club in 2017. He had a total of two goals and five assists in nine 2020 regular season matches.
