By Guy Hand
March 21st 2010 @ 2:44am
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Thompson knee injury serious, say Victory
Melbourne Victory‘s star striker Archie Thompson is facing up to 12 months on the sidelines after a serious knee injury destroyed his, and the club’s, A-League grand final.
Thompson was stretchered off after 12 minutes following a challenge from Sydney FC defender Simon Colosimo – a strong but fair tackle after which the striker landed awkwardly and immediately clutched his knee in pain.
Victory coach Ernie Merrick said medical staff had confirmed Thompson had damaged the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
He looks almost certain to need a full knee reconstruction – adding further gloom to Melbourne’s night after losing 4-2 on penalties in an epic A-League decider at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
Thompson emerged on crutches once the match went into extra-time when the scores were deadlocked at 1-1 – his knee heavily bandaged.
“It’s not looking good – it’s looking that way (like a torn anterior cruciate),” Merrick said.
“It was pretty hard to play our best football losing Archie.”
Thompson had been the catalyst for Melbourne’s major semi-final win over Sydney FC a fortnight ago with the winning goal, and also famously scored five goals in Melbourne’s 2007 grand final win over Adelaide United.
Thompson will miss the club’s trip to Japan for their Asian Champions League clash with Kawasaki Frontale on Tuesday, as well as ending any slim hopes he may have had of joining the Socceroos at this year’s World Cup.
He is now likely to have surgery within the week should scans confirm a full tear of the ligament.
Thompson is the third Victory player to serious damage a knee this season, with midfielder Billy Celeski and fullback Matthew Kemp also succumbing to similar injuries.
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