Commerce City – Pablo Mastroeni missed 1 1/2 games with the Rapids this month – and an appearance with the U.S. national team against Brazil – because of a sinus infection. When he returns to the lineup Sunday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for a showdown with Chivas USA, Rapids fans might not recognize him.
Mastroeni is sporting a buzz cut.
“Something different,” the Rapids’ captain said Thursday with a sheepish grin.
Mastroeni figures to be back to normal on the field, and that’s a relief for the Rapids, because they face a stout challenge in Chivas.
Last Sunday, Chivas routed the New York Red Bulls 3-0 on the strength of two goals by Cuban defector Maykel Galindo. He went into Thursday night’s game against the L.A. Galaxy with 12 goals, fourth-best in the MLS.
“He works for everything he has, he scraps and he makes the best out of situations,” Mastroeni said of Galindo, who escaped from the Cuban national team in Seattle during the 2005 Gold Cup. “I think that’s a reflection of the bigger picture in his life. It’s a great story off the field, and this year it’s been an amazing story on the field.”
Galindo is from Santa Clara, the town where the remains of Che Guevara are buried. On a trip to Disneyland with his team in April, he said he felt like a 3-year-old.
He is, however, very dangerous on the soccer field.
“He puts himself in good positions,” Mastroeni said. “His pace is incredible, and his knack to score goals. That’s something that just can’t be taught; it’s something that great goal scorers have. He finds a little 2-inch window to get a shot off, and somehow it ends up in the net. He’s a really crafty player.”
Chivas is a counter-attacking team that took only five shots in the New York game, but with a lethal finisher like Galindo, that makes them dangerous.
“Every game is a final for us now,” Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo said. “We have Pablo back, we have Conor Casey back, that’s definitely positive for us. We are playing a hot team, but we’re going to make sure we make them worry about us.”
One advantage for the Rapids: Chivas has to travel here and play a desperate Colorado team only three days after facing the Galaxy, the rival with whom Chivas shares the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
