In the 70th minute of Crew SC’s 3-2 win over Portland on Saturday, center back Jonathan Mensah fell after the Timbers’ Diego Valeri connected with the Crew designated player while sliding.

Valeri was issued a yellow card and Mensah lay on the pitch for a couple of minutes before Alex Crognale came on as a replacement in the 73rd.

After the game, Crew coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter said Mensah had a “right thigh injury” that would be evaluated later.

Following Monday’s training session in Obetz, Berhalter said he did not yet have an update on Mensah, who was undergoing an MRI, but would know more today.

Frequent flier

Finland’s national team will play an international friendly in Austria on Tuesday, and afterward Crew left back Jukka Raitala will quickly return to his club team.

The 28-year-old is expected back in Columbus on Wednesday, Berhalter said, which means he likely would be available for Saturday’s game against Orlando City SC.

“He hasn’t done that before so that may affect him,” Berhalter said of a quick turnaround from a long international flight. “We’re just going to have to see.”

Raitala did not play in Finland’s 2-0 loss to Turkey on Friday in a World Cup qualifier.

Sauro recovering

Berhalter confirmed defender Gaston Sauro, who is on the season-ending injury list as he recovers from knee injuries, is back in Columbus rehabbing after surgery this month.

“He’s got his operation and he’s back in town and he’s recovering,” Berhalter said. “It went better than expected and he’s recuperating right now.”

Berhalter said he does not yet know when Sauro will resume soccer-related activity.

“I know the initial diagnosis was nine months to a year (away from soccer), so we’re working off that time frame,” he said.

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