Fast Start for Happy Cienfuegos
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Mauricio Cienfuegos is a happy man these days, and his newfound peace of mind is paying dividends on the soccer field.
Last season’s bitter contract squabble with Major League Soccer is a distant memory. In addition, the Salvadoran playmaker is close to receiving resident alien status in the United States, making him even more valuable to the Galaxy.
Soon, he no longer will occupy one of the valuable foreign roster positions, leaving the Galaxy free to bring in another foreign player, probably from Mexico.
And then there are Cienfuegos’ on-field contributions. The team is unbeaten at 2-0-1 and the midfielder has had a significant impact in each of the three games. Consider:
* In the season opener, Cienfuegos folded under the seemingly innocuous challenge of Colorado Rapid defender Marcelo Balboa. The referee awarded Los Angeles a penalty kick, Greg Vanney scored from the spot and the Galaxy won, 2-1.
* Playing against league champion Washington D.C. United at RFK Stadium, Cienfuegos was hacked down from behind by Marco Etcheverry. The influential Bolivian was red-carded, D.C. had to play a man short for the rest of the game and the Galaxy rolled to a 4-0 victory.
* At the Rose Bowl last Saturday night, Cienfuegos turned from creator of goals to scorer, launching himself into the air to propel a superb bicycle kick under the crossbar as the Galaxy fought back from two goals to tie the New England Revolution, 2-2.
“It was an unbelievable goal,” Revolution Coach Fernando Clavijo said.
Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid called it “definitely a world-class goal,” but it didn’t surprise team captain Robin Fraser.
“Even more than the goal, I think Cien is really on top of his game,” Fraser said. “I think he’s playing very well. He’s so confident and comfortable with the ball right now, that when we get into some trouble or he gets into some tight spaces, he just works his way out of it.
“I think this is as well as I’ve seen Cien play early in the year. Generally, he comes in and it takes him a couple of games to really get his feet under him and start to become a dominant player.
“Watching what he’s doing to opposing teams’ defensive midfielders, I really like that. As he’s getting older, is he getting better? I don’t know, but maybe he’s getting smarter.”
Cienfuegos’ playmaking has carried the Galaxy to two championship finals in four seasons, but the title itself has eluded Los Angeles.
He and Cobi Jones have started 2000 as if they aim to correct that oversight. Going into tonight’s game against the Columbus Crew, Jones leads the league with four goals, and Cienfuegos’ contribution can be seen in every pass he delivers, every run he makes.
Tonight, he again will be the most tightly marked player, especially since the Crew (1-2) has started out badly and is coming off a 2-0 home loss to the Chicago Fire.
