SEATTLE — Rapids leading goal scorer Shkëlzen Gashi made it through the opening leg of the Western Conference championship series Tuesday and said his right ankle was no worse for wear.
“For me I have no problems and the ankle was good,” Gashi said. “It was very important because after the first game and after the injury, itap always important if you have problems … everything was good and now (the) focus (is) for Sunday.”
Gashi, 28, was a surprise starter in the Rapids’ 2-1 loss to the Seattle Sounders after coach Pablo Mastroeni said earlier in the week Gashi was doubtful because of the sprained ankle he suffered Nov. 6 against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the conference semifinals.
“Gashi, credit to him, I thought there was no chance that he was even going to go,” Mastroeni said. “He kept texting me every night saying, ‘Coach, I’m going to play on Tuesday.’ I said, ‘OK, Gash, we’ll take it one day at a time.’ In the back of my mind I’m thinking as I hang up the phone, ‘There’s no way.’ ”
Said Gashi: “I worked a lot — me and the medical staff — every day we work a lot. Some players they have this injury one month out. For me it was 10 days and come back on the field, it was great.”
The Albanian international played 78 minutes, got 45 touches and made 25 passes with 68 percent passing accuracy. He also created one chance and took one shot.
“When you have ankle injuries, knee injuries, the last thing you want to do is step on turf,” Mastroeni said. “It didn’t stop him. And itap that type of mentality that he’s shown in the last week that kind of reflects the mentality of the group.”
Gashi’s best play came in the 13th minute when he dummied a pass from midfielder Jermaine Jones, allowing it to run through to striker Kevin Doyle, who finished it for the Rapids’ lone goal.
“I saw the defense players a little bit — their movement was not so fast — and I know that the easy way was that they come with me,” Gashi said. “I make this movement and I opened up this space for Kevin, and he scored very nice.”
Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said his club didn’t game-plan specifically for Gashi, but he wasn’t surprised to see the Albanian suit up.
“He is a very talented player,” Schmetzer said. “We were concerned about his shots from distance, the playmaking abilities that he has for sure, but we really didn’t draw up a game plan for just one player because they’re a very solid team back to front.”
Gashi helped propel Colorado to the conference finals with his wonder goal from about 40 yards out against Los Angeles on Nov. 6. The Rapids will look to him to help spark their offense in the return leg in Colorado.
“We need his magic to get something going offensively,” said Rapids midfielder Sebastien Le Toux. “We know what he can do, so we are confident in him going into the second leg.”
