COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Pablo Mastroeni gingerly walked around the Colorado Rapids’ locker room following a 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Union on Sunday afternoon, slightly favoring his left leg as he made his way from the trainer’s room to his locker.
The Rapids captain was forced to come out in the eighth minute of Sunday’s game when he went down with an apparent left hamstring injury. Nick LaBrocca was quickly inserted in for the 36-year-old Mastroeni, and postgame, Mastroeni described the sudden nature of the injury that forced is early departure.
“I felt great in warm-ups, felt great all week leading into it,” Mastroeni told reporters. “It was just one of those freak things that you have no control of. I just turned towards our goal and sprinted, pushed off my left leg and just felt it. I don’t think in my career I’ve dealt with a hamstring problem.”
READ: Mastroeni returns after a year on the brink
The severity of the injury is still unclear as Mastroeni eyes further treatment this week, but the midfielder is hoping to be able to play in the opening leg of the Rocky Mountain Cup against Real Salt Lake on Saturday (6 pm ET; MLS Live)
Mastroeni’s status will likely be determined later this week after more tests are conducted on his left leg.
“We’ll still have to evaluate probably [early this week], and go from there,” he said.
READ: Where do the Rapids fall in the latest Power Rankings?
Mastroeni missed the final 32 games of last season and contemplated retirement following a recurrence of post-concussion symptoms, but he announced his return in December and made a memorable return in a 1-0 loss to FC Dallas on March 2.
But while this injury isn’t expected to keep the Rapids captain of almost a decade off the field nearly as long, there is a chance he could be out as he lets the hamstring heal.
“That was sad to see him come out of the game because he wanted so bad to play after a good game in Dallas, he played very well – all 90 minutes,” Rapids head coach Oscar Pareja told reporters postgame. “And he had a good week as well. I know it was painful for Pablo just to have to leave the field.”
Chris Bianchi covers the Colorado Rapids for MLSsoccer.com.
