Costa Rican striker Urena to undergo facial fracture surgery

Costa Rican striker Marco Ureña will undergo surgery on Friday for a facial fracture he suffered during a Major League Soccer game last weekend, his club team said.

Urena, who plays for Los Angeles FC, sustained the injury in a collision with Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei during the first half of a home game Sunday that was the inaugural match at Banc of California Stadium, reports Efe.

The Costa Rica international decided to undergo the operation immediately in a bid to recover in time for the World Cup.

"The Los Angeles Football Club announced today that Marco Ureña will undergo surgery on Friday to repair facial fractures. Ureña will be re-evaluated in four weeks," the team said in a statement Tuesday.

Ureña, who scored three goals in World Cup qualifying in the CONCACAF region, has started all seven games this season for Los Angeles FC and leads MLS with five assists.

In his international career, the 28-year-old striker has 62 caps and is the third-leading scorer among current Costa Rican players after captain and attacking midfielder Bryan Ruiz and midfielder Celso Borges.

Costa Rica will play its opening Group E match at this summer's World Cup in Russia against Serbia on June 17, while the other teams drawn into that group are Brazil and Switzerland.

--IANS

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