Sporting KC's Roger Espinoza expected out 2-4 weeks with ankle injury

Sporting KC midfielder Roger Espinoza is expected to miss 2-4 weeks after suffering a right anterior medial ankle sprain in Sunday's 1-1 draw with the Columbus Crew, the team's website announced.

The injury came in stoppage time of the second half Sunday. The injury will cause Espinoza to miss Sporting KC's final two regular season games at least, and Espinoza will also miss Honduras' World Cup Qualifiers against Panama and Canada next week. The midfielder is expected, however, to return for postseason play. Sporting KC is first place in the Eastern Conference and has secured a spot in the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Espinoza, in his fifth year out of Ohio State, was an Olympian this year and a member of Honduras' 2010 World Cup team. He's played in a career-high 26 games this season.

Sporting KC closes the season with the New York Red Bull on Oct. 20 and Philadelphia Union on Oct. 24.