Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen fell to the ground during last night’s match with Portland after he was hit by a bobblehead thrown by fans near the goalie after Sporting KC scored a goal on the other side of the field in the 26th minute. The person who threw the bobble head was caught.
The crowd was cheering for a goal that put Sporting KC up 1-0, when Nielsen fell to the ground causing concern for the more than 15,000 in attendance. Nielsen thought at first that he walked into a goal post. “I did not see it coming,” Nielsen said. “First I thought I walked into the post, then I realized I was a long way from the post. I had a crazy headache. I was like ‘Oh my God, I need to lie down for a second. Then I saw I was bleeding and was just waiting for them to come and fix it so I could play again.
Nielsen stayed in the game and finished in a 3-1 win.
Team official Rob Thomson said people were escorted from their seats. “Two people from the same group in the third row both allegedly threw the head of bobbleheads, one of which struck Nielsen, and both were apprehended.”
For the record the bobblehead was of Omar Bravo.