Miguel Gonzalez penalized
The United Soccer League suspended OKC Energy forward Miguel Gonzalez for three matches instead of the mandatory one-match suspension after his red card at Seattle Sounders 2 on June 19.
Oklahoma City Energy will be without one of its most potent attackers for an additional two matches.
United Soccer League suspended forward Miguel Gonzalez for three matches instead of the mandatory onematch suspension after his red card at Seattle Sounders 2 on June 19. Gonzalez, who already sat out Saturday's match at Vancouver Whitecaps 2, will miss upcoming matches at Real Monarch (July 5) and vs. Tulsa Roughnecks (July 8).
Gonzalez received the red card in the 35th minute as Seattle's Ray Saari pulled on Gonzalez's jersey. Although Saari received a yellow card for the foul, Gonzalez threw his left elbow into Saari's face as the Energy forward attempted to break free.
A USL spokesperson said the nature of Gonzalez's foul was categorized as violent conduct, which carries a minimum three-match suspension.
The Energy's attacking depth is dangerously thin entering July. The club is already without forward Wojciech Wojcik (broken left arm) for at least another month, and the club announced Tuesday that midfielder Philip Rasmussen would miss the remainder of the 2017 season with a severe right knee injury.
Gonzalez, who leads the club with 24 shots on goal, began the year as a central striker.
He found success in the role, but a stagnant midfield and the emergence of Andy Craven forced Jimmy Nielsen to move the creative Gonzalez further back on the left wing.