Red Bulls center back Damien Perrinelle ruled out for rest of playoffs
New York Red Bulls starting center back Damien Perrinelle has been ruled out for the rest of the MLS playoffs with a left knee injury, the club announced Tuesday.
Perrinelle suffered in the injury in the second half of the Red Bulls' 1-0 win over D.C. United in the first leg of their Eastern Conference semifinal. He was replaced by Ronald Zubar, who figures to partner with Matt Miazga in central defense in his place. Zubar is perhaps fortunate to be eligible for the second leg after only seeing yellow for a hard challenge on Markus Halsti after he came into the game.
“That had all the ingredients as to what they’ve been saying is a red card in this league,” D.C. United manager Ben Olsen said after the game. “That doesn’t matter all the time. It is what it is.”
Perrinelle started the last 16 games for the Red Bulls and made 28 starts in all this season along a back line that conceded an Eastern Conference-low 43 goals in the regular season.
Supporters' Shield-winning New York hosts the second leg against D.C. on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. The winner of the series will play either the Columbus Crew or Montreal Impact for the right to advance to MLS Cup.
