Montero got stomped, and has marks to show

MLS: Sounders return to practice, and star forward shows off battle scars from U.S. Open Cup victory

DON RUIZ; The News Tribune | • Published September 08, 2009

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Everyone could see that D.C. United goalkeeper Josh Wicks stepped on Sounders FC forward Fredy Montero in the U.S. Open Cup final last week.

However, television angles didn’t show exactly where Montero was stomped. He was asked Monday, after the Sounders completed their first training session since that Wednesday win.

Montero answered by rolling up the right leg of his practice shorts. The exact spot remained clearly marked by two blood-red scrapes along his thigh – one about 4 to 5 inches long, the other 2 to 3 inches – both looking as bright as if they had been applied by a crimson felt marker.

Wicks was immediately sent off with a red card, and he has since apologized. However, Montero said he still has no idea what caused the incident.

“There wasn’t really anything prior to that,” Montero said in Spanish, with teammate Taylor Graham interpreting. “From my side, I was just trying to score a goal. I had had a couple of chances and was just trying to put this away. … I scored the goal, I was really happy, and I was trying to get up. All of a sudden, I felt his studs in my thigh. I didn’t understand why it happened.”

The goal – Montero scored on a rebound after Wicks deflected a shot by midfielder Freddie Ljungber – gave Seattle a 1-0 lead it never surrendered.

After kicking the ball, Montero’s foot apparently struck the sprawled Wicks, and Montero tumbled to the ground. Wicks got up first, and while walking back to the goal mouth he seemed to intentionally stomp his foot into Montero’s thigh.

D.C. United released a statement that said Wicks’ actions were “unacceptable” and that he will be “subject to internal discipline.” However, no discipline has been announced, and Wicks started in goal when United returned to league play Saturday against FC Dallas.

The red card normally would have kept Wicks out of the next game, but this incident happened in the final of a tournament run by the U.S. Soccer Federation and is unrelated to the Major League Soccer regular season.

Sounders coach Sigi Schmid declined to say Monday if additional punishment is warranted.

“That’s something for U.S. Soccer to deal with. It’s something for United to deal with,” Schmid said. “It’s unfortunate that it happened. Sometimes in the heat of the moment you do things that you’re not always happy about.

“But it’s their issue, it’s their concern. I’ve got enough of my own concerns.”