A quad injury has sidelined Sebastian Giovinco for three weeks. (John E. Sokolowski/USA TODAY Sports)

Striker Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FC’s partner in crime with Jozy Altidore up front, won’t be scoring any goals against the Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena Friday night.

Nicknamed the Atomic Ant, Giovinco has been diagnosed with a quad strain that suffered in Toronto FC’s 3-2 win over Minnesota United. He left the match just prior to halftime and is expected to be sidelined for three weeks.

Defender Nick Hagglund is expected to be out from 8-12 weeks after he was diagnosed with a torn MCL in his left knee. The injury occurred in the second half of Saturday’s game.

Toronto FC (7-1-4) sits atop the Eastern Conference, thanks to a six-game losing streak.

The fifth-place Red Bulls (5-6-1), on the other hand, are going in the opposite direction, having lost three games in a row.

 

 

 

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.