COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Think of Rapids midfielder Jamie Smith and your first thought will probably turn to his unstoppable 25-yard strike which saw Colorado take a 3-0 lead in last weekend’s home opener against the Portland Timbers.
A candidate for the Goal of the Week award, the strike was described as “world-class” by Timbers manager and fellow Scotsman John Spencer.
WATCH: Smith smokes one past Portland 'keeper Brown
But there was another aspect to Smith's game that was perhaps even more significant than the moment of brilliance on the goal. Rapids fans will have noted the confidence with which Smith (above, second from right) handled the responsibility of controlling central midfield after captain Pablo Mastroeni was substituted in the 77th minute.
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Colorado manager Gary Smith moved the veteran Scotsman into the center from his usual wide position and, from that moment until the end of the game, Jamie Smith enjoyed one of his most assured passages of play in a Rapids shirt.
He appeared to relish the opportunity of launching attacks in the Portland half of the field and almost added a second goal from far out in the 84th minute.
“I’ve played there before and when you play central, you’re obviously always more involved,” Smith told MLSsoccer.com after the game. “It’s a position I am comfortable playing and I enjoyed it. Jeff [Larentowicz] and Pablo are, for me, the two best central midfielders in the league and it’s no problem for me to fill in for either of them.”
The central midfield partnership of Mastroeni and Larentowicz, injuries aside, is not going anywhere. On Saturday, the two veterans seemed to fit right back into the groove they enjoyed so much in their debut season as a unit last year. Their names will always be on the lineup sheet.
But what Jamie Smith’s confident transition into such a role does give the Rapids is options. It also freed up winger Sanna Nyassi, who came on for Mastroeni and provided persistent runs down the flank. The team didn’t miss a beat and Nyassi impressed on his Rapids debut.
The defending MLS Cup champions will look to continue their positive start to the 2011 campaign with a trip to Southern California to play Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center on Saturday (10:30 pm ET).
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