COMMERCE CITY — Comeuppance is key to many fairy tales, especially the one involving Herculez Gomez and the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Gomez slept on couches as a young player in Southern California before he got his shot with the Galaxy in 2003. In 2005 he was the leading goal scorer as L.A. won the MLS and U.S. Open cups. In 2006 he was traded to the Rapids along with defender Ugo Ihemelu for goalkeeper Joe Cannon.
“I don’t think you can say, ‘Time will tell,’ ” Gomez said of evaluating arguably one of Colorado’s biggest trades.
The Rapids got two potential starters in Gomez, 26, and Ihemelu, 25, while the Galaxy got Cannon, 33, who it traded this past offseason to San Jose for allocation money that went toward re-signing the enigmatic Carlos Ruiz.
Cannon’s departure opened the door for Bouna Coundoul, 26, to assume the No. 1 jersey for the Rapids.
“You ask anybody right now who they would take, Joe Cannon or Bouna Coundoul, and it’s a no-brainer,” Gomez said. “The way I look at it is we’ve got the best center back in the league and the best ‘keeper, and I’m working on my part.”
Gomez, who scored in Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup loss to Kansas City, is thinking of revenge and hoping to shake off an ankle injury ahead of Saturday’s game at the Galaxy (4-4-2). Ihemelu, who was named to the U.S. national team player pool for Sunday’s exhibition match against Argentina, said he always looks forward to playing the team that drafted him No. 5 overall in 2005.
“It’s always fun playing against L.A.,” Ihemelu said.
Galaxy star David Beckham is expected to face the Rapids (5-5-0).
Rapids target Dalby.
The Rapids are on the verge of signing 2007 second-round draft pick Greg Dalby to fill their vacant roster spot.
Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo said Dalby, 22, has agreed in principle to join the club but may be forced to wait to play until after his contract with Belgian club Royal Charleroi SC expires June 30. Dalby, a 6-foot-1 midfielder/defender, never signed with the Rapids when he was picked 17th overall, choosing to audition in Italy, Scotland and Germany before agreeing to a contract with England’s Preston North End. His work permit, however, was denied, and Dalby joined Charleroi.
Dalby was the Gatorade national player of the year at Poway High School outside San Diego and was a two-time All-American at Notre Dame as a defender (2005) and midfielder (2006). He captained the U.S. under-20 national team, which included Rapids forward Jacob Peterson, in the 2005 world youth championships in the Netherlands.
“He’s one of those players that everyone wants to have on their team,” Peterson said.
Footnotes.
Pablo Mastroeni played the final five minutes Wednesday as the U.S. lost 1-0 to Spain in an exhibition match. The U.S. returns home to host Argentina on Sunday at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. . . . Coundoul did not play in Senegal’s 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Algeria last week as the Lions of Teranga used veteran Tony Sylva in goal. Their next game is Sunday against Gambia.
