In a game, Rapids defender Andreas Maxsø rarely smiles.
His voice, shouting instructions to coordinate the backline, can be heard anywhere on the field, and his eyes are always on the next play. He’s locked in to every part of the game because he knows at any moment, he could be what stands between conceding a goal and making a great defensive play.
Smiling comes second to all the responsibilities on his shoulders on the pitch.
But during last Saturday’s 2-1 win against FC Dallas, he made an exception.
When Dallas found the back of the net first, Maxsø jerked his head back in frustration. There were no smiles there. It was an unlucky goal in his eyes, but a conceded goal nevertheless. For a team that has struggled to score goals all season, to many in the stands, it felt like a death sentence.
Maxsø knew the importance of finding a response, and maybe just as importantly, finding one quickly.
“When you're behind, it's always important to score a goal quite fast after,” Maxsø said. “We played a good first half, and we had the momentum.”
The momentum had swung slightly after Dallas had scored, but Colorado felt they were on the edge of a breakthrough. They had dominated possession and shot attempts up until conceding the opening goal. As midfielder Connor Ronan trotted to the corner of the field to initiate a set piece 10 minutes after Dallas took the lead, Maxsø sensed an opportunity.
Positioned just inside the far side of the 18-yard box, Maxsø was surprised. “I was actually pretty alone,” he recalled. His memory served him right--as the play unfolded, he was largely unmarked as he began his run to the far post.
“Of course, a good cross from Connor,” Maxsø said. “I had good time to have the perfect timing (on the header). From then, it was just putting my head on the ball and getting it in the goal.”
The center back headed the ball to the back of the net, scoring his first MLS goal and the equalizer in the match.
Amidst a crowd of teammates rushing to celebrate with him, Maxsø smiled.
The goal was reminiscent of his first-ever score for a senior team, dating seven years back to when he was a wide-eyed 22-year-old playing for Danish Superliga side FC Nordsjælland. Off of a free kick, Maxsø made a similar run through the box to beat a contesting defender in the air. The ball met his head, and he pushed it far left to record his first career goal.
He chuckled just recalling it. He remembered celebrating that goal with a small fist pump then. Saturday night, he celebrated with a more emphatic one.
“I just did what I was thinking about, nothing special,” he noted on his goal celebration. “Maybe if I make some more goals, maybe it's gonna be my first choice, but we will see.”
It was a long time coming for him. He takes pride in his defense and maintaining a clean sheet. If asked about scoring, he’ll like to clarify his priority is preventing any from the opposition. He will always default to his defensive responsibilities as his point of emphasis. But he also knew he was due to find the back of the net.
“To be honest, I had some big chances in the beginning of the season,” Maxsø said. “So, I was a little bit disappointed that I didn't score (earlier), but now it's like, when you get your first goal, it's always like a small relief, even when you're a defender.
“I also wanted to make my goals.”
Against Dallas, he did. He found the equalizer in a critical moment for the club. As his teammates cheered him on, he shared with them a smile. But soon after, he nodded to the center circle, his focus back on defense, and his mind, ready to secure the win.