Minnesota United coach Adrian Heath said it was too early to say how long striker Luis Amarilla would be out for after he suffered an injury in warmups for their MLS is Back Tournament opener Sunday night against Sporting Kansas City.
"He tweaked his abductor before the game, just at the end of the warm-up," Heath said in his press conference. "I think we’ll have a better idea in 24 hours when he’s slept on it to see if it’s going to be a few days or a few weeks. I can’t answer you at this moment in time about Luis long term."
Mason Toye filled Amarilla’s spot, marking the US youth international's first appearance in 2020 after scoring nine goals a season ago. Amarilla, signed this past January on loan from Velez Sarsfield, had two goals through his first two games before the COVID-19 stoppage. In the tournament's buildup, Amarilla was also highlighted as a potential Golden Boot winner.
The Loons struck two goals in second-half injury time to defeat SKC, despite being without several other key starters, testing the depth of Adrian Heath’s team.
Holding midfielder Ozzie Alonso didn’t make the matchday roster, while center back Ike Opara withdrew ahead of the tournament to rehab from a preexisting condition.
Heath said that Alonso had suffered a groin injury ahead of the game.
"He’s had it for a few days and it’s not really improved.," he said. "We didn’t want to rush him back."
