Toronto FC Goalkeeper Clint Irwin (1) is taken off the field during an MLS soccer game against Orlando City SC in Orlando, Fla., Saturday, June 25, 2016.Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/The Associated Press
Having survived the loss of captain Michael Bradley to Copa America, Toronto FC now finds itself having to deal with the absence of another key player.
The MLS club said Tuesday that goalkeeper Clint Irwin will be out for six weeks with a quadriceps strain.
The 27-year-old left Saturday's 3-2 loss in Orlando in the 70th minute after injuring his leg on a routine goal kick. Alex Bono came on to make his MLS debut as his replacement.
Playing every minute, Irwin had been at the heart of a retooled Toronto defence this season. Acquired from Colorado in the off-season, he is tied for the league lead with six shutouts and has eight clean sheets in all competitions.
Toronto (5-6-4) which tied Chicago and New York City FC in yielding a league-worst 58 goals last season, has conceded just 18 goals in 15 games this season and rank sixth in the league giving up 1.20 goals a game.
Irwin is a reliable, low-maintenance goalkeeper who has been the glue in Toronto defence along with veteran centre back Drew Moor, another off-season-acquisition.
In Irwin's absence, Toronto has the 22-year-old Bono and 21-year-old Quillan Roberts as options in goal. Both are touted prospects but have all of 20 minutes MLS experience between them.
Bono, a first-round pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft who has already earned a call-up to a U.S. national team camp, made his MLS debut Saturday. Roberts, who has won one cap for Canada at the senior level, has played for the first team in friendlies but has yet to appear in an MLS match.
The two 'keepers have seen regular USL action for Toronto FC II.
Toronto, holding a 1-0 lead, visits Vancouver on Wednesday night for the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship final.
Bradley, who has missed Toronto's last six games while on international duty with the U.S., is finished with Copa America but his participation Wednesday is to be determined, according to a Toronto official.
Toronto is still waiting the return of star striker Jozy Altidore, who has been out since mid-May with a hamstring injury.
Ironically, Irwin's injury came in Orlando, whose starting' keeper is former Toronto No. 1 Joe Bendik. On Saturday, Toronto hosts Seattle and another former TFC goalkeeper in Stefan Frei.