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Sporting Kansas City defender Ike Opara will have surgery on April 16 to repair a chondral defect in his right ankle. He is expected to miss the remainder of the 2014 season the club announced on Thursday.
Opara was injured in the 57th minute of Sporting Kansas City's 3-2 victory at Colorado on March 29 in a collision with Rapids defender Jared Watts. Opara was attempting to clear the ball and Watts cleats caught Opara's ankle. Opara immediately went down, landing on the ball and the Rapids were awarded a penalty kick.
Sporting KC acquired Opara prior to the 2013 season from San Jose and quickly became the third center back and filled in very well numerous times for both Matt Besler and Aurelien Collin. With Besler expected to be called up for the World Cup this summer, Sporting KC may be left with the only true center back in Erik Palmer-Brown who is still just 16 years old.