Burgundy Wave

Colorado Rapids Third Round Open Cup Match-Up Announced

2012-05-17T14:01:29Z

With their league form dipping, it looks like the only chance that the Colorado Rapids this season will have for some silverware, no matter how significant the silverware might be, is the US Open Cup. (It's like we're back in the 90's again!) On Wednesday the match ups were announced for the MLS teams getting introduced into the knockout competition, and the Rapids will face one of two teams from Florida.

Jacksonville United of the NPSL (Fourth tier of the US Soccer Pyramid) will take on the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies of the NASL (Second tier) on May 22nd in order to determine who gets the right to head to the third round and take on the Rapids on May 29th. Jacksonville got into the second round by defeating Orlando City's U23 squad 2-1.

Assuming that Tampa win, this could be the first time we'll see a Colorado vs. Tampa Bay game since way back when the Fusion still existed, which is pretty cool. The only real interaction those two teams have had before is when Colorado sent Andre Akpan out on loan to Tampa for a short while in 2010.

We can't be sure if, unlike previous regimes, Oscar Pareja plans to take the Open Cup seriously and not play a straight reserves team. Should be interesting.

DC United 2 Colorado Rapids 0 - Hurpdedurpdurpdedurpedydoo

2012-05-17T01:28:07Z

Well, I was right when I said it was going to be a shootout -- I just didn't realize that the Rapids would decline to participate.

We certainly were excited to get Conor Casey back for this game, and he did indeed get his first start since last July. Played quite well, too! Of course, that excitement was coming with the caveat that we were expecting people other than Casey (and Matt Pickens) to realize that they were playing a soccer game today.

Pretty much everyone else on the Rapids except for Casey and Pickens seemed to be asleep all match, with the midfield and Tyrone Marshall in particular putting on a miserable display as the Rapids fell 2-0 to DC United at RFK Stadium on Wednesday.

The first 20 minutes of the match were about as boring as a match can be, with no shots coming in from either side and no real attempts either; both teams looked very timid at the start.

Eventually, the shots started to come but they were coming for DC. The first goal came in a very familiar fashion to the Rapids, as it was off a counter attack. In the 25th minute, the Rapids turned the ball over in the opposing half and Lewis Neal was able to slice his way close enough to the 18 yard box to put a through ball to Dwayne De Rosario. Tyrone Marshall decided to run into Drew Moor on the play which left De Rosario wide open for a shot and a goal.

Matt Pickens turned his game on at that point with one of his best performances in a while. Nobody on DC could solve him even as the defense - specifically Marshall - kept letting the chances scrape through.

The second half started a little more brightly for the Rapids as Kamani Hill was subbed in for Brian Mullan, but their attacks still were left wanting even as Conor Casey got his usual chances and took them as well as could be expected without putting them in.

Hamdi Salihi scored another for DC in the 60th minute when he scooped up a rebound on another big save by Pickens. De Rosario looked offside on the first go around and Salihi might have been close as well, but Tyrone Marshall decided to stand there and keep them both onside during the play. Honestly, it didn't look like it would have mattered -- the most noteworthy thing the Rapids offense had done up to that point in the half was bring on a mostly ineffective Edu for the tired Conor Casey.

Really, everything after the 60th minute was pretty much as boring as the first 20 minutes were.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Matt Pickens, and it wasn't even a close race. Without him, this game was 5-0. Honorable mention to Conor Casey, who was the only other player to look remotely interested in the match.

GOAT OF THE MATCH: Tyrone Marshall. I'm sorry, but his years of MLS capability are finished. When someone is making me wish Scott Palguta would come on to replace them, they're doing a bad job.

Burgundy Wave +1

2012-05-16T18:00:45Z

May I introduce myself as a man of many nicknames (generally complimentary), most recently "Dawg". I believe that collegiate name was birthed from my style of energetic but also brash and erratic soccer. I'd like to think there was a pinch of grace and intelligence involved as well but in the end they are just memories.

Most of my playing career took place here, in my beloved home of Colorado. I went through the club and ODP system and then played collegiately at the Colorado School of Mines. I also spent an enamoring year on the north side of Madrid when the likes of Beckham, Raul, Ronaldo (the Brazilian one), Figo, and Zidane represented Los Merengues. Even after exposure to La Liga, I always wanted to play the game rather than watch. Unfortunately, my old bones say otherwise and now I must direct all of that passion into spectating and supporting.

I am hoping that my contribution to the Burgundy Wave will be both an outlet for my soccer obsession and more importantly, a fuel for your fire. With that said, GO RAPIDS!!!

DC United vs Colorado Rapids - Game Preview

2012-05-16T14:00:15Z

On Wednesday, April 16th, the Colorado Rapids will travel to the nation's capital to play DC United at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. The Rapids should be well-rested as they are coming off a 10-day layoff from league play. DC United were defeated 1-0 at the expense of Houston Dynamo on Saturday at BBVA Compass Stadium, the league's newest crown jewell of soccer specific stadiums.

Colorado will be without the services of central defender Marvell Wynne and striker Omar Cummings, while new signing Harrison Henao is expected to make his debut. The Colombian recently received his ITC and P-1 work visa, thus making him eligible to feature in Washington DC. Brazilian signing Edu will also be available for selection, while both he and Henao will have good chances to put their marks on the game against a highly injured DC defense.

DC United are currently in third place within the Eastern Conference and have won 3 of their past 5 games. Colorado are in fifth place in the West after Vancouver moved into 4th place after their win on the weekend. The Rapids will have to find ways to contain Maicon Santos and last year's MVP Dwayne De Rosario if they are to take points from the most successful club in MLS history.

Colorado is undefeated against DC since 2009 and the Rapids most recent match at RFK Stadium ended a 1-1 draw last season thanks to a Drew Moor goal and a somewhat questionable penalty given up by Kosuke Kimura.

Colorado Rapids vs. DC United - Three Questions With Black And Red United

2012-05-16T13:01:41Z

Finally, after 10 days of nothing we're back to some Colorado Rapids soccer on Wednesday. Ahead of the game against DC United, Martin Shatzer from our wonderful DC blog Black And Red United exchanged some questions about our teams with each other.

My questions to him about our black and red foes are below, you can check out my answers to his queries about the Rapids over at B&RU.

BW: D.C. is a very injured team right now, unfortunately. Of all the guys who are out right now, who would you say is the most key injury for the team's success as a whole?

B&RU: If he was out, then I'd say Perry Kitchen, but D.C. United received some fantastic news today that what we thought was a torn ligament on Saturday turned out to be no severe damage. Kitchen might not wind up playing Wednesday night, but he won't be out nearly as long as we feared. So instead, the answer to your question is Emiliano Dudar, the fearless and savvy 6'-4" Argentine center back that had been a big reason for United's seven-game undefeated streak that ended in San Jose, and his departure was a big reason for that loss to the Earthquakes, and last week to the Dynamo.

BW: Colorado has a rookie of the year candidate in Tony Cascio, but even more impressive than Tony is DC's Nick DeLeon. What's been the key to his early success as a player in his ROY campaign run?

B&RU: It may sound insignificant or small, but Nick DeLeon's first touch is incredible. Always exactly where he wants it to go. If he's receiving the ball in traffic, he pushes it away from danger to keep possession. If he's got space, he uses it and advances the ball quickly up the field. DeLeon is huge for United in transition. He's quick, a good finisher, and a better crosser. When a rookie is taking your corners and some free kicks on a team that also includes Dwayne De Rosario, you know he's something special. Unfortunately though, DeLeon has missed the last couple matches with a hamstring strain, and could miss Wednesday's match too, although Andy Najar filled in quite well on his left flank against the Houston Dynamo.

BW: We all know the Pontius', the DeRo's, the Santos' etc. but who's a guy we might not have heard of that could hurt the Rapids in the attack on Wednesday?

B&RU: Ah yes, the man you are describing is Hamdi Salihi. The Albanian Bomber came to MLS with a ridiculous strike rate on his record from Rapid Vienna, but he started the season with nine straight games without a goal. That streak ended in San Jose, and he started a new one, scoring against Toronto FC as well. Salihi isn't the type of player to create his own goal, and his physical strength won't intimidate anyone in the vein of Conor Casey, but he can finish. Oh can he finish. Salihi will take a difficult chance in which most players wouldn't even think about shooting, and he'll score while making it look easy.

K.C. Athletics 3 Real Colorado 1 - Foxes Out Early

2012-05-16T12:01:12Z

The Real Colorado Foxes had a nice little run in the US Open Cup last season when they surprised a lot of people with a strong 5-0 first round to sneak into the second round. They were looking to build on that run last year with some early action in this season's Open Cup, and all the tools seemed to be there to boost them into the second round again -- a home game with a bit of hype against an inferior opponent with the promise of a top team ahead?

Alas, it wasn't to be. The Foxes couldn't get the job done against an inferior opponent as they lost to the USASA's KC Athletics 3-1 at home.

In a battle against a team from a lower division, the Foxes started off strong and managed to sneak a 1-0 lead going into the half after a goal from Mike Lind, but a terribad second half doomed them as they allowed three goals and couldn't get it going on offense again. KC will advance to the second round to take on Orlando City SC while the Foxes will have to sit back and focus on their good start to the PDL campaign with their only cup competition out of the way.

Hopefully the Rapids can put some more oomph into their match tonight against DC United to make up for that embarrassing display from Real Colorado. Colorado's MLS side will enter the Open Cup in the third round.

First announced players for USMNT include no Rapids

2012-05-15T21:00:17Z

Jurgen Klinnsman has announced the first gang of 16 players to be included on his Summer roster for the US Men's National Team ahead of World Cup qualifiers and other games. In a move that has surprised exactly nobody, no Colorado Rapids players were included on the roster though two Real Salt Lake players made it onto the team. (Nick Rimando and Kyle Beckerman)

Here's the announced first group:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (4): Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim)
FORWARDS (1): Clint Dempsey (Fulham)

There's going to be a bunch more players announced later on and Klinnsman has already said the second group would have a lot more MLS flair, so that's the time we'll be likely to see guys like Jeff Larentowicz, Drew Moor or others get the looks from the team. In fact, Rimando and Beckerman were the only two MLS players called up in the first batch, you'll notice.

Colorado Rapids vs. DC United - Three Keys to the Game

2012-05-15T17:00:32Z

Ten days off is just what the doctor ordered for the Colorado Rapids. They've stumbled through the season a bit up until this point, and even their last win against FC Dallas was more due to two red cards than anything that the Rapids were able to do.

Fortunately, they're getting Conor Casey back full time and have had plenty of rest going into Wednesday's game against DC United, which are both good signs against a team that has a bit of a troubled defense right now. Here's three big keys to a second straight victory on the road for the Rapids.

Will The New Guys Play? - Both Harrison Henao and Edu will be available for this game, with Conor Casey likely to be getting his first start for the team since last season when he tore his Achilles against the Sounders last season. Henao and Edu could get starts as well if Oscar Pareja wants to keep the biggest names on the team fresh for Sporting Kansas City at home on Saturday -- neither game is a huge Western Conference match-up so we can't be sure if he'll do that or not.

Strikers - Assuming Conor Casey and Tony Cascio get the starts at the top of the 4-4-2, they have a chance to put together a field day against one of the most injured defenses in the league right now. Ethan White, Dejan Jakovic, Emiliano Dudar, Perry Kitchen... the list goes on. If you'll think back to last season, Caleb Folan and Conor Casey tore up a makeshift defense from DC as they won 4-1. This defense isn't quite as bad and Chris Korb has improved by leaps and bounds from back then, but you still couldn't pick a much better situation for Casey to get a start in.

Don't Lose The Shootout - There will be goals scored in this game, and probably quite a few of them. If there don't end up being any, then something weird happened. The DC offense is fabulous with guys like Dwayne DeRosario and Maicon Santos tearing other teams apart this season better than Charlie Davies ever was last year. The Rapids defense is also missing a big cog in Marvell Wynne, so both offenses are looking good going into this one. It should be a shootout, and the Rapids are going to just have to focus on keeping them to one goal fewer than they can score.

Of course, now that I said that it's probably going to end 0-0 and y'all will laugh at me.