WITH ONLY 4 WEEKS TO GO:
Wales captain and talisman Gareth Bale missed Los Angeles FC's most crucial game of the season due to injury last night as concerns grow over his fitness just four weeks out from the World Cup.
Bale, 33, has been used sparingly by the LA outfit since sealing a summer move to MLS, with his game-time notably dropping off in recent months. He has started just two league games for the club and is yet to play a full 90 minutes.
The Welshman has played only five minutes for LAFC since he turned out a 90-minute performance for Wales against Poland in the Nations League earlier this month.
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It was thought LAFC were holding Bale back for their most crucial matches, the play-off ties, with them facing off against Western Conference LA Galaxy overnight on Thursday
However, Bale emerged as a doubt in the hours leading up to the match and, lo and behold, he was omitted from Steve Cherundolo's squad for El Trafico, the LA derby due to a leg injury. LAFC won in dramatic fashion, beating Galaxy 3-2 courtesy of a 93rd-minute goal from Cristian Arango.
It means LAFC progress through to the Western Conference final against either Austin FC or FC Dallas, who play the other semi-final in the early hours of Monday morning.
But will Bale be available for the October 31 clash? Well, head coach Cherundolo painted a slightly more positive picture of Bale's leg injury following the win over LA Galaxy, hinting the forward will likely be available for that Western Conference final.
"No more injury to report," Cherundolo said of Bale. "He should be back in training very soon in the next couple of days. In the next round we should have a full roster."
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