COMMERCE CITY — The question isn't whether Marco Pappa will change the Rapids' attack. It's when.
In two appearances as a second-half substitute this year, Pappa has shown flashes of what could be. He headed a would-be equalizer off the post against San Jose in the opener, then scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner against the Los Angeles Galaxy on March 12 in Colorado's home opener.
Coach Pablo Mastroeni has been cautious with Pappa's minutes as the Guatemalan international recovers from a mid-December stabbing that forced him to miss all of the Rapids' preseason games.
"I'm ready," Pappa said last week when asked how soon it would be before he could play a full 90 minutes.