What's the number one thing you want to achieve during preseason games, no matter the sport, the level at which it's played, or the players playing it? The obvious answer is, of course, to avoid injuries; something Sporting Kansas City failed to do on Friday night against Portland Timbers.

Starting rightback Chance Myers hobbled off the field in the 30th minute with what appeared to be a right quad strain. Myers left the field under his own power and in a rather timely fashion, so that's a good sign initially.

The injury occurred on a play where Myers lead a counter attack through the center of the field by himself, carried the ball from the midfield line to the top of the 18-yard box where he fired off a shot not too far over the crossbar of Donovan Ricketts' goal. As the shot sailed high, Myers went down outside the box where he remained for a few seconds before rising to his feet and giving the sign to the sideline he would need to be withdrawn.

Sporting KC have an eight-day period between Friday night's friendly and their next one, February 9 against Montreal Impact as part of the Disney Pro Soccer Classic in Orlando, Fla. In that time, Sporting will return to Kansas City for a few days to rest and train at home before heading to the Sunshine State for the final two-and-a-half weeks of preseason before the regular season kicks off on March 2 at Philadelphia Union.