LAFC may have had plenty to celebrate after their MLS Cup victory, but one notable player was conspicuous by his absence.
Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau was injured in extra time after a hard collision with Philadelphia Union forward Cory Burke. The play was eventually ruled to be worthy of a red card from referee Ismail Elfath, while Crépeau appeared to have sustained a severe lower-leg injury, and was taken to a local hospital to be evaluated.
“I don’t have any new information for you,” said LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo in a post-match press conference. “I really do not know. With, you can see what’s going on, I haven’t had a chance to sit down with the doctor.”
Cherundolo’s post-game remarks were interrupted by a video call from Crépeau himself, with Cherundolo — after showing the phone to reporters — telling the 28-year-old he would call him back immediately after finishing his media obligations.
Fox’s broadcast crew made the decision not to show a replay of the collision or its aftermath, with color commentator Stu Holden explaining on the air that the visuals made for distinctly unpleasant viewing.
Crépeau, who after receiving treatment on the field was able to encourage his teammates and gave a thumbs up as he was carted off, was applauded by LAFC fans as he left the field.
Maxime Crépeau receives a standing ovation as he gets carted off the field 👏 pic.twitter.com/JiEbIO6JjW
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 5, 2022
John McCarthy, who took over in goal, took time to credit Crépeau for possibly saving LAFC’s MLS Cup hopes.
“That’s the play of the game, for me,” said McCarthy. “If he comes out and slides and misses [Burke], that’s 3-2, and who knows how the game’s gonna end? But he made a big-time decision by coming out and making that play.”
Crépeau was in a difficult spot, as a badly under-hit back pass from Jesús Murillo looked like it would give Burke a free run at goal. Crépeau’s charge off his line ended up a split-second too late to touch the ball away from Burke, and was so close that initially, Elfath only gave the goalkeeper a yellow card. It may have been a foul with grave consequences, but to McCarthy’s point, it did prevent the Jamaican striker from a clear one-on-one opportunity with the game in the balance.
“I’m absolutely devastated for him, because it seems like it’s a pretty serious injury, and he’s gonna miss the World Cup. I don’t know the extent of it,” said McCarthy. “If you come out of a game in that situation, you’re not coming out for a band-aid. So I’m genuinely, genuinely sorry [for Crépeau].”
World Cup impact for Canada
McCarthy was right to bring up Crépeau’s World Cup hopes. John Herdman had generally treated the LAFC goalkeeper as his primary back-up, with only Milan Borjan ahead of him on the depth chart. The timing, for player and country, couldn’t be worse.
Herdman already has a very worrisome situation on his hands, with Alphonso Davies awaiting the results of a scan on his hamstring, and the signs are pointing to Crépeau’s spot now being up for grabs. Minnesota United’s Dayne St. Clair appears to be the next man up, but the 25-year-old has just one senior cap for Canada.
The competition at this point will likely be for that third goalkeeper spot on Herdman’s roster. With Borjan still busy at the club level with Red Star Belgrade, Canada had called up Crépeau, St. Clair, and CF Montréal’s James Pantemis for a friendly against Bahrain on Friday, November 11. Canada would have two days to sort out their final roster after that friendly, with FIFA’s deadline on November 13.
Canada has only called up one other goalkeeper in the last year, with Oldham Athletic’s Jayson Leutwiler (a 33-year-old veteran, but who has just three caps for Canada) likely the only other option in Herdman’s mind at this point.
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