While his teammates celebrated around him in the Crew Stadium visitor’s locker room last Saturday, Brian Mullan laid on the trainer’s table receiving treatment from Colorado Rapids’ medical staff. The midfielder was in some pain following the team’s penalty shootout victory over the Columbus Crew.
A knock from Columbus' Emmanuel Ekpo opened up a cut on Mullan's left leg within 10 minutes of kickoff that would later require 12 stitches.
Despite the injury, Mullan will be available for the Rapids’ Eastern Conference Championship match against the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday (9:30 pm ET, FSC), his fifth straight conference final appearance.
“It didn’t feel good, but the adrenalin was pumping,” Mullan said of the injury on Tuesday morning.
Mullan played 75 minutes before coming off for Macoumba Kandji in the 76th minute.
“It was a nasty knock early in the game and Brian showed great bravery and courage,” Rapids head coach Gary Smith said. “He was not only competitive but also very effective and instrumental in getting us back on the front foot.”
Shortly after Mullan went off, and with the Rapids 2-0 down after an against the run of play goal from the Crew’s Robbie Rogers, Conor Casey notched the vital Colorado goal that took the series into overtime.
With Mullan good to go this weekend, Smith appears to have a full complement of players available against the Quakes.
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