Cienfuegos Set for Return to Lineup

A familiar face, and recognizable feet, will be running the show for the Galaxy today when it meets the Colorado Rapids at Denver.

Mauricio Cienfuegos, who has been the Galaxy’s playmaking midfielder since Major League Soccer’s inception in 1996, will be in the starting lineup for the first time in four weeks.

Cienfuegos’ return was made possible by Simon Elliott leaving the Galaxy this week to join New Zealand’s national team for the Oceania Nations Cup tournament.

“Obviously, Simon’s absence has offered an opportunity for Mauricio to get back on the field,” Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid said Friday before leaving for Denver. “But he’s been training hard and he’s really been sharp. He’s been as sharp as he’s been in a couple of years.

“He’s been sharp in his play and with his passing and he’s been mentally sharp as well.”

Cienfuegos, 34, downplayed the significance of his returning to the starting lineup and declined to be interviewed for this story.

But his numbers this season more than tell the story.

Cienfuegos, whose last start came in the Galaxy’s 5-0 blowout loss at New York/New Jersey on June 15, is arguably the most popular member of the Galaxy and is one of five MLS players to be named an All-Star in each of the league’s first six years.

But this season, he is embroiled in the worst slump of his career. In 12 games, he has no goals and two assists.

This after entering the season tied for ninth on the league’s all-time scoring leader list with Marco Etcheverry at 136 points.

Cienfuegos was also fourth on the MLS assists list with 70 in 163 games, behind Carlos Valderrama (98), Etcheverry (86) and Preki (83).

Schmid, though, said Cienfuegos took his midseason benching well.

“I think he’s a good professional,” Schmid said. “All you have to do is look at him to understand all he’s had to do to achieve everything he has in his career. He’s done it with hard work and discipline. He set a great example for the younger guys.

“He obviously has to play differently than he did earlier in his career but his eyes are still as good as ever.”

With Cienfuegos benched, the Galaxy went 2-2 and their midfield seemed adrift at times, though Schmid has said that with Cienfuegos out, the Galaxy was a more versatile team.

Against Colorado, meanwhile, the Galaxy will be facing a team without two of its players because of suspensions by the MLS disciplinary committee.

Forward John Spencer, who had a game-winning goal in overtime against the Galaxy at the Rose Bowl on April 27, has been suspended for two games and fined $5,000 for his major game misconduct against the Chicago Fire on July 4.

Backup goalkeeper David Kramer, a member of the Galaxy in 1996-97, was handed a one-game suspension and $250 fine for his serious foul play against Chicago midfielder DaMarcus Beasley on Sunday.

The Rapids’ regular goalkeeper, Scott Garlick, has also been hobbled with a sprained right wrist.