Pareja talks about Omar’s goal performance filling in as a lone forward, Rivero’s command of the midfield, and more in this post game interview filmed 4/1/12. Pareja is creating a new system for the Rapids, and thus far has produced both tremendous success and some notable failures. We are all excited to be in the Pareja era, and our man at the helm talks about where he’s taking the team.

The Colorado Rapids etched another 2-0 clean sheet victory at home last weekend onto the 2012 season canvas but a far bigger test awaits them tomorrow night in Sandy, Utah.

The first of three Rocky Mountain Cup games this season, two of which are in Utah (how does that work?), will be a major test for some of the newest players to don the burgundy. Rookie Tony Cascio has shown plenty of fight to go along with skill in the four games so far but this will be one of the bigger matches he has played in in his young career. And I am sure the South American games that Martin Rivero and Jaime Castrillon have played in in their time have been no picnic but this will be a step up in terms of crowd hostility and physicality than they have experienced so far in the MLS.

The team looks likely to be unchanged from the starting XI last weekend with Rapids captain Pablo Mastroeni out for several weeks with ongoing concussion issues. The bench may also be largely unchanged from the Chicago game. Ross LaBauex, who had been on the bench in the opening two games and started against New York, was not present last weekend for both the first team and reserve game. Even though he is not listed on the official injury list for tomorrow night, he is suffering from a sports hernia injury and is expected not to see any action for about ten days. That means the midfield options are again likely to be Wells Thompson and Joseph Nane. Andre Akpan, who scored twice for the reserves last weekend, could be  a tasty striking option off the bench while Tyrone Marshall, for most of last season a starter, seems to be getting used to coming on as a defensive sub while Drew Moor moves into a defensive midfielder position.

Conor back?

One interesting piece of news that comes a little late for tomorrow’s game is that Conor Casey is targeting an April 21 comeback for the Galaxy game. How the Rapids could do with his nous and toughness against Salt Lake tomorrow. Instead, Rapids fans will have to hope that Omar Cummings’ encouraging scoring form can continue with the help of the feisty Brian Mullan and Cascio upfront to take advantage of the no doubt very few opportunities that will come his way. Plus another clean sheet of course. Or at least fewer goals than were let in against New York, especially in the opening six minutes.

It took me a couple days to bring myself to post this “Man of the Match” survey. Let’s face it, there was not a lot to love about the game. It should be very comforting to Rapids fans that the Ginga Ninja will return to provide his steely brand of football to the central midfield. Also, it appears the long awaited debut of Rivero is imminent, which should provide creativity and depth to the midfield. But with our captain and leader Mastroeni suffering from headaches, there are some serious long term concerns about the center of our team, which has been our strength.

Nonetheless, there were a few lads in burgundy that put in solid effort despite the results. Who was your man of the match?


*While it is true my son Eli did not contribute other than wearing his Rapids onesie, he also did not back pass into the path of the one of the greatest strikers in a generation (we feel for ya, Ross…tough day). For that reason, I nominate my son Eli as MOTM.

Just about to do The Dead Fish (Denver Post)

Last season, this game was one of the best Rapids results of the year. Omar Cummings and the late lamented Sanna Nyassi were really beginning to enjoy their fruitful forward partnership with Nyassi scoring one of the sweetest goals in 2011 after a perfect through ball from Cummings. Pablo Mastroeni also scored one of his regularly spectacular goals with a beautiful left foot curled shot into the corner past Mondragon in the Philly net.

But that was then and this is now. Nyassi has gone in one of the less understandable offseason moves by the Rapids and the veteran Mondragon has moved on to be replaced by a 20-year-old McMath who had a bit of a stinker in Philly’s opening game against Portland. We could go on and on about the need to pressurize the youngster whose confidence may be a bit low but he’ll probably proceed to play a blinder in front of the Sons of Ben, so what’s the point? I’m sure Oscar Pareja has had words with Cummings and co. about the need for consistently offensive play and testing the youngster early doors though.

The Rapids will have to play offensively, as they have promised for much of the offseason. With a raucous Philly crowd for their home opener, and being a team eager to bounce back from the defeat in Portland, this will be no place for the Rapids to soak it all up and hope to score on the counter.

The starting line-up looks likely to be very similar to last week against Columbus. Martin Rivero still does not have his International Transfer Certificate from Argentina and did not travel. That means a likely same threesome upfront. While the ever confident Quincy Amarikwa did everything he could to get in the coach’s face with his spectacular goal last week (why was that not GOTW?) and his equally spectacular celebration, Pareja had plenty of good words for rookie Tony Cascio and the lanky Adrien Brody lookalike will probably get the nod. The midfield and defense will not change either. Mastroeni appears to have recovered fully from any after effects of his blow to the head last weekend. His ongoing battle with possible concussion issues remains a worry for the team though.

Soccer is unpredictable and it’s foolish to come out and say what the result will be. The Rapids will be happy with a point and full health, that’s for sure.

A test against the kings of the East, and the Rapids were more than equal to the task. They dominated every phase of the game, slowly constricting any attack out of the Crew and then finishing them off with a Mullan golazo and a Cummings breakaway goal.

It was an open match for much of the game, with the Crew creating chances down the left wing from speedy Robbie Rogers. In the first half every pass and each final touch was just a bit off. Nyassi and Cummings nearly linked up several times, but the Rapids first half three shots on goal weren’t terribly troubling for the Crew’s William Hesmer (GK).

In the second half, the Crew simply ran out of steam against the constant Rapids pressure, and never really looked likely to score. Mullan put home a highlight reel goal from 30 yards in the 55′, and from there it was all Rapids. While Cummings touch was still a little off all match, Nyassi’s assist to the Jamaican in the 79′ was sublime. Sanna made a turn around 30-40 yards out, and he and Cummings ran parallel 10 yards apart all the way to goal. Sanna’s softly served ball along the green carpet was promptly  placed by Cummings into the back of the net.

This Nyassi / Cummings partnership just gets better and better. Like twins separated at birth, they simply have to think “which run would I make,” or “which ball would I want served?” Like always we were solid in the middle, Larentowicz and Mastroeni choking up the middle for the Crew. Kimura and Wynne teamed up well to protect the left wing against Rogers, and the Rapids got their just desserts.

Three points. The Champs…look like it.

Whatever Sanna Nyassi had before the game (insert Red Bull joke), he needs to do it again next game…and the game after that for the rest of the season.

I arrived at the field 2 minutes late, just in time to hear DSGP erupt. Nyassi made a run into the box on a delicious give and from Cummings go that Sanna slotted into the top corner. Out of nowhere the Gambian hit a low shot in the 27′ from what seemed a foolishly long distance away. It was deceptively fast and struck the post, falling benevolently to the feet of Wells Thompson. Wells took a nervous first touch, but then calmly drove it under the goalie’s reach and into the net for the second goal of the night, Rapids 2-0.

In the 32′, Nyassi again turned absolutely nothing into something off an assist by Cummings and Moor. Nyassi took on 3 Red Bulls defender, zig-zagging and plunging a dagger into the heart of the back line. He buried his shot in the top left this time (just for variety sake), for his 2nd goal of the night, the third for the Rapids, effectively ending the match before halftime.

Not five minutes later, Cummings was back at it, setting up Wells with a low beauty behind the back line. An absolute sitter, all it needed was a touch into the open net, but Wells got his feet crossed up and shanked it. There is little doubt that the trumpets would’ve blown and Christ appeared in the clouds if Nyassi and Wells both registered braces in the first 45.

In the second half the Rapids offensive trio of Cummings/Thompson/Nyassi kept on trucking. In the 51′ the ultra-confident Wells let rip from 30 yards a low scorcher that Rost just finger-tipped wide. Cumings followed with a shot into the side netting off the corner play. In the 57′ a deflected Mullan pass sent Cummings, who just beat Rost to the bouncing ball, but his touch just went wide.

Then in the 61′ minute my brain actually exploded. Nyassi was fed the ball at about 30 yards, and made 3 Red Bulls defenders look…well let’s just say it was deja vu all over again, except this time it was a low driven ball under the goalie and in for a hat trick.
In the 66′, Henry showed his world class in a goal he’s probably scored 100 times. Agudelo cut the ball back to a trailing Henry who calmly passed it into the bottom corner…Pickens hadn’t a chance. Agudelo made more dangerous runs, and was really the only creative force of any kind for the Red Bulls.

Nyassi is just a different player in the middle. Previously we’ve seemed to place him on the right wing, where his crosses are mediocre. In the middle, it give us a speedy striker set with Cummings more South American or Spanish in appearance than your typical American/English target striker setup. It was fun to watch, and the results were staggering. Nyassi’s hat trick was the first since Casey’s in 2009, and he looked constantly dangerous when he turned on defenders and made devastating runs through the middle. Now can he do this on defenses like LA or RSL?

Cummings is regaining the form we all know, with several half chances of his own to score, and a remarkable trio of assists. Wells is never the most technical of players, but his speed alongside Nyassi gave the Rapids midfield a pace we’ve been sorely lacking with our solid (but aging) midfield.

Rapids players were grateful in after the match interviews for the “W.” Fans’ frustration in seeing draw after draw is exceeded only by that of the players. And while a 2-1 victory over the bottom-dwelling Whitecaps isn’t scintillating, a victory is what you expect of champs at home and its what the boys in burgundy delivered.

Talk amongst yourselves

What did you think of the Cummings/Casey/Folan top three? An experiment worth repeating? How about Earls getting the start? Smith is obviously trying to mix things up..what would you do

Video Highlights

“Well once we get our strikers back…”

“Well once we get Mullan / Wynne back…”

I’ve been waiting for a variety of situations to resolve themselves, and then for the Rapids to make their charge. Last summer we had doldrums too. Then Smith found the magic XII, we hit a hot streak, and next thing you know a trophy was at DSGP.

We have Wynne back. We have Mullan back. We have Cummings and Casey back. We still look like a team destined to draw every match.

We have scored 20 goals and given up 22 goals, both middle of the pack totals, for a deflating -2 goal differential. This isn’t rocket science: we are in 5th place in the Western Conference and the teams above us have:

1. LA Galaxy: GD +10
2. FC Dallas: GD +9
3. Seattle Sounders FC: GD +7
4. Real Salt Lake: GD +9

In 2010, our goal differential of +12 was decidedly in the upper half of all of MLS. We scored 1.5 goals a game, and gave up 1 goal a game. Compared to last year, we simply need to score more goals. We have our strikers back, and I believe we will see the Casey & Cummings duo start to pick up the pace. However it is the midfield that concerns me. Pablo is a hero and a legend, but isn’t getting any faster. Paired with the uber defensive minded Larentowicz, there is almost no attack coming down the middle of the field. Without a change in the midfield, I think we’ll make a playoff run, but not a title defense. Without some new creativity in the midfield, I worry we’re just not good enough.

Home struggles continue as the LA Galaxy snap the Rapids nine game unbeaten streak. The Galaxy, who now bring their streak to nine games undefeated, beat the Rapids 3-1 at Dick Sporting Goods Park without the help of David Beckham and Landon Donovan. The Colorado Rapids played in front of a packed house Saturday night with the final attendance number at 18,277.

Because David Beckham was a “late scratch”, the seats filled up fast tonight with anticipation of getting the chance to see him play. However, an hour before kickoff, the clubs announced Beckham didn’t travel with the Galaxy. Out of all the years he has been in the league, he has only made one league appearance at Colorado. Disappointing for soccer fans in Colorado and even more disappointing for the paying fan at tonight’s match.

Beckham drama aside, the Rapids failed to make anything dangerous in the first half and headed to the locker room down 2-0. After a deflection off Drew Moor opened the scoring for the Galaxy, Juninho had a cracker of a goal from 25+ yards out which should easily find it’s way on the ballet for Goal of the Week. Omar Cummings reenergized the crowd with his half time substitution for Sanna Nyassi. Tonight was the first time since the opening match of the season that both Conor Casey and Omar Cummings were on the field at the same time. They connected on a goal (by way of goal post) where Cummings fired a shot at the lower left corner, which took a deflection to Conor Casey’s foot.

At the end of the day (along with more poor officiating on a questionable Caleb Folan ejection) the Rapids failed to impress at home. A packed house deserves better, whether that’s a win or better visibility when star power isn’t even on the plane. If you came to see the Rapids win at home for the first time since April 3rd or to finally get the chance to see Beckham in person, you left disappointed, a reoccurring theme at home matches.

JMH

“Winning.” The Rapids have done all but Charlie-Sheen their opponents, playing solid but without the (insert catchphase, e.g. cutting edge / killer instinct). We’ve avoided defeat, but also winning, and the honeymoon period with this particular streak is over. Currently at 5th place in the west with 19 points out of 14 games, the Rapids need to make a move.

Back on March 19th, the Rapids showed their champion form with a convincing 3-1 win. The Timber should again be a team against which the Rapids can control the flow of play. The question, as will all the previous 8 matches, is whether or not the Rapids can end those periods of possession with a goal.

The Timbers are coming off a streak of their own, dropping the last two games against Chivas USA and DC United. The Timbers are just two spots behind the Rapids, however, with three games in hand (19 points from 11 games). So going into this game, we are fairly even on points, highlighting how costly all these draws have been.

Omar Cummings is out, so the Rapids will again be looking to depth at striker. Will we begin to see the goal production we need out of our makeshift striker team? Casey is back in the fold, can he regain scoring form? The Rapids will almost undoubtedly dominate possession, but can they put points on the board, and gain points in the table?