Toronto FC backup goalkeeper Alex Bono was a victim of friendly fire on the weekend.
Bono, who posted a clean sheet in a midweek 1-0 win at New England, underwent surgery after injuring the little finger on his right hand in training Saturday. He is expected to be out two to three weeks.
Coach Greg Vanney said Bono was finishing off a training exercise in windy conditions in Hartford when Spanish midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo sent a knuckling shot his way off a cross "not too terribly far away from Alex."
"And he kind of flinched and instead of his hands being open, his pinky finger was kind of facing forward and it catches the top of the finger," said Vanney. "A lot of times when that happens, the finger just buckles."
Surgery was required because the bone came through the skin and had to be repositioned.
The good news was it wasn't a fracture," said Vanney. "There weren't any broken bones which vastly reduces the recovery time."
Added Vanney: "I don't know any professional goalkeeper whose pinky fingers are actually straight."
Bono's absence leaves Toronto with starter Quentin Westberg and No. 3 keeper Kevin Silva.
Bono has posted shutouts in all three league appearances this season. The win in New England was Bono's club-record 29th clean sheet and his 52nd career win. It also marked his 100th career start in all competitions.
The 26-year-old from Syracuse, N.Y., was taken sixth overall by Toronto in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. He became the starter in 2017 but lost the No. 1 position to Westberg last season.
Westberg notched his fifth shutout of the season in Toronto's 1-0 win over FC Cincinnati on Sunday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 11, 2020
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
