Americans Abroad

Walker, Colo Colo advance to Apertura tournament final series in Chile.

Jonny Walker has probably said goodbye to Chile.-- Photo courtesy of Las Ultimas Noticias --

By Robert Wagman
SoccerTimes

(Tuesday, July 8, 2003) -- Cobreloa was considered the odds-on favorite to win Chile's Apertura tournament and a 4-0 rout of visiting Colo Colo and American goalkeeper Johnny Walker Sunday accomplished that feat.

After a 0-0 draw in the first leg at Colo Colo, Cobreloa was dominant from the opening whistle of the second leg. Walker had to produce a solid effort to not concede more than four goals.

With the season -- and probably Walker's career in Chile -- completed, Walker will look to the future which could take him to Major League Soccer's MetroStars.

In the 28th minute Sunday, Luis Fuentes headed in a free kick from Fernando Martel to easily beat Walker for a 1-0 lead.

Walker kept it close, denying several Cobreloa times, until the 66th minute, when his defense made a poor clearance and Jose Luis Diaz pounced on it to make it 2-0.

Colo Colo then fell apart. In the 72nd Colo Colo's star, Ivan Zamorano was red carded for arguing that Patricio Galaz was well offside when he broke in on Walker and scored the third Cobreola goal in the 70th minute. Six minutes later, two more Colo Colo players -- Miguel Riffo and Marco Villaseca - were sent off, reducing the team to eight players.

Despite the deficit of teammates, Walker gave up only one more goal depite numerous Cobreola shots.

In the opener at Colo Colo's Estadio Monumental in Santiago, Walker faced a few hard shots from a somewhat lackluster Cobreola in registering the clean sheet in the scoreless tie.

Colo Colo signed walker as an injury replacement after its two top keepers went down to injuries. The club offered him a new contract, but with a roster filled with experienced goalkeepers, Walker indicated he is ready to move on.

His future might hinge on Manchester United's ability to get a work permit for Tim Howard at which point the English power would complete a reported $3 million transfer for the MetroStars current keeper. Walker and his agent have been negotiating with the MetroStars anticipating Howard's departure.

Howard's initial application for a permit was denied -- not unusual - and United has appealed. Howard does not come close to meeting the requirement of appearing in 75 percent of the United States' "official matches," but he has also, with his mother being of Hungarian descent, applied for a Hungarian passport. A passport from a European Union country -- Hungary is in the process of being admitted - would allow him to play in England. Obtaining a passport is a lengthy process, but since the application has been submitted, England's Home Office might consider it a mitigating factor.

If the permit is not obtained, Howard would probably stay with the MetroStars through the end of the MLS season.

Reportedly, Walker will be at MLS's New York office to meet with league and MetroStars officials. Before joining Colo Colo, Walker reached an agreement in principle to sign with the San Jose Earthquakes to replace Joe Cannon, who went to France. The negotiations reportedly broke down over the length of contract with San Jose favoring a short-term deal, hoping Cannon would return once the French season ended in May.

Robert Wagman is a SoccerTimes senior correspondent and can be e-mailed at bob@soccertimes.com.