Lions’ Tarek adapts to mask
It might be tough to recognize center back
the next time he steps on the pitch for Orlando City.
Tarek will be wearing a mask to protect his nose, which was broken when he collided with goalkeeper in the 55th minute of Orlando City’s 3-2 win over the San Jose Earthquakes nearly two weeks ago.
Bendik accidentally hit Tarek in the face with his elbow while trying to catch a free kick and Tarek came off the pitch with a bloody nose, but he returned to finish the match.
Tarek also played in the Lions’ 2-1 win over the Colorado Rapids on Sunday without a mask because he couldn’t get fitted for one in time.
He said he’s never played in a mask before and will be in the mask for about four weeks.
“I will have a couple of trainings with the mask this week,” he said. “We’ll see how it feels.”
Tarek said he’s not too focused on his nose. The bridge of his nose is clearly shifted to the right side of his face.
Tarek joked he asked Bendik to elbow his nose back into place after the match against the Earthquakes.
“I played last game without a mask and it’s broken,” Tarek said. “Once the referee whistles, I don’t think about it.
“I don’t think about it. I didn’t think about it in the last game. It’s normal for me.”
Tarek and
have been Orlando City’s two main center backs this season, with Tarek on the left and Sané on the right, since team captain
has missed multiple games while in concussion protocol. Both players are in their first seasons with the Lions.
“We’ve played a lot of games together now and there are good results, even though Spector was doing a good job,” he said. “We have a good defense line. We want to keep doing good and have good results.”
The Lions, winners of five consecutive matches, will take on Real Salt Lake at 5 p.m. on Sunday in Orlando City Stadium. With a win, the Lions would set a club record for consecutive MLS victories.
“It’s very exciting, very good,” he said. “It’s good to win games, but I think the harder job is to keep winning and keep being successful. So what’s on my mind after the game ... I just focus on the next game.
“I think think we’re on the [track]. We win games, we do a good job, we play good football, so I think we’re doing doing a good job. We just need to keep going.”
Orlando City was — once again — well-represented in the latest MLS Team of the Week. Midfielder winger and coach all were honored for the second time this season. Yotún made the starting XI while Meram was named to the bench.