TUKWILA, Wash. — Brad Smith knew right away that something was wrong. It was six minutes into Australia’s second-leg playoff against Syria in the AFC World Cup Qualifier playoff round; Australia was down a goal and Smith was down on the ground.
Minutes before Syria’s game-opening stunner off a careless giveaway by midfielder Mark Milligan, Smith had swung a long cross just over the goal line and had come away pinching his left thigh and grimacing. Just after the goal, when Smith opened his hips to chase after his first touch, he collapsed.
“I’ve had enough injuries to know when something’s bad and when something’s going to be okay,” Smith told Sounder at Heart.