Colin Clark and Conor Casey make up a big part of the Rapids. (Getty Images)

We are moving forward today in our expansion draft coverage. So far we've knocked out both the Fire and Chivas USA, today we stay out west with a look at the Colorado Rapids. Now this is a club that may go through a bit of a change this winter because of their collapse late in the season.

Click to continue reading...

Fox Soccer Channel really know its soccer. I love the cable network, and I love the broadcasting duo of Max Bretos and Christopher Sullivan, who worked Saturday's 3-0 Real Salt Lake victory over the Colorado Rapids.

And although they don't work every Rapids game, the offered keen insight into the team and its playoff fortunes throughout Saturday night's telecast from Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.

Click to continue reading...

What is there to say? Destiny in their hands, playoff berth on the line, players playing against their old clubs on both sides, arch rivals, Rocky Mountain Cup. What more do you need? The only thing I am certain of is that CBS4 Denver will not be bothering to cover any of this game but will instead be focusing on Brandon Marshall's inane comments in a bye week. Click to continue reading...

When the Major League Soccer schedule was released many months ago, the first game that stood out was the last one: Saturday, Oct. 24, at Real Salt Lake.

RSL knocked the Rapids out of the playoffs (and put itself in) in the final minute of the final game of 2008. And the league set up a similar showdown by pairing the two in the 2009 finale.

Click to continue reading...

Even if Real Salt Lake win in Toronto (unlikely, but you never know), the Colorado Rapids can still clinch a playoff position tonight with a win in Dallas if New England fail to win their game. The beauty is that Gary Smith will know the results of both the Salt Lake and New England games before the kickoff tonight against FC Dallas. Click to continue reading...

In 2002, 2005, and 2006 Colorado traveled to Dallas and knocked them out of the playoffs (In 1997 we knocked Dallas out in Colorado). In 2009 Dallas faces a must win game at home to Colorado to keep their playoff hopes alive, while Colorado has a chance to clinch a playoff berth with a win. While not an actual playoff game, its essentially a do or die game. Click to continue reading...

It may have been a quiet week for the Rapids but all the noise from the other MLS games has left their task very clear. A win in Dallas and they could be in the playoffs. Such a scenario will take place for sure if the Rapids win in Texas and Real Salt Lake fail to beat New York tomorrow night, something they haven't done in the past 10 games against the Red Bulls apparently. Click to continue reading...

With a raft of knee injuries sidelining every available Colorado winger, Rapids fullbacks Jordan Harvey and Kosuke Kimura are facing additional pressure to provide service from the wide areas. Kyle McCarthy checks in with the Rapids to see how their fullbacks are coping with the additional strain before taking a look at all of the Week 29 action. Click to continue reading...

On October 3rd 1777 the American revolutionary army under George Washington began its march to Germantown to face the British. On October 3rd 2009 the Revolution under Steve Nicol will march into Commerce City to face the British-led Rapids. The battle of Germantown was a victory for the British, let's hope history repeats itself tomorrow night. Click to continue reading...

Quotes from last night's 1-1 tie with San Jose Earthquakes:
Pablo Mastroeni:
"It would have been nice to get three points, obviously. We can't sit and sulk and feel sorry for ourselves. We just have to show up and be the team we are capable of."
Conor Casey:
"It was a good point given the circumstances but it was a terrible game from us. Click to continue reading...

Well, that was pretty scrappy and crappy. But the Rapids escaped with a point. Conor Casey continued his amazing run of goalscoring with a penalty kick in almost the fifth minute of injury time to get the equalizer after San Jose had scored one of the softer goals the Rapids have conceded this season in the 8th minute. Click to continue reading...

An undermanned Rapids squad traveled North of the border for the back end of the home-and-home series with Toronto. The Rapids were hurt by a ton of injuries, suspensions, and players unable to travel, taking only the minimum 18 players with them to Canada. The changes in the team showed as Toronto dominated much of the play. Click to continue reading...

Well, they tried. A banged up Colorado Rapids gave it all they got against a Dwayne De Rosario-inspired Toronto and almost came up with the goods in Canada. Instead, they return home defeated for a few days to regroup before a vital home and away series against San Jose.
Conor Casey, with his 13th goal of the season, equalized early in the second half after some rubbish defending from Toronto made Kosuke Kimura's floating cross much more dangerous than it should have been and Mike Holody, in only his second MLS game, notched a crucial goal very late on to give the Rapids some hope but it wasn't to be. Click to continue reading...

What a difference a week makes. Last week's Colorado Rapids' locker room in Chicago was not a great place to be in as an outsider. This week, it was the Houston players slumped in their seats in frustration as the Rapids celebated a morale-boosting victory over the league leaders.
Yesterday's game, not exactly chock full of action and highlights, will be remembered for one thing and that will be Julien Baudet and a triumphant return to the team after a miserable start to his Rapids' career. Click to continue reading...

Two weeks ago the Rapids went up 2 in the first 5 minutes and never let Chivas back into the game. This week we went up two between the 48th and 58th minute, then collapsed and let Chicago win the game.
The first half was completely forgettable by both teams (o cards, 0 corners, 0 subs, 0 shots on goal) so we'll jump straight to the second half. Click to continue reading...

Greetings from a sunny Chicago. I should be looking out on Lake Michigan basking in a great win for the Rapids but a crazy last 20 minutes put paid to that. The team is a few blocks away no doubt also musing on the one that got away. I shouldn't think there is much happy conversation over the scrambled eggs this morning. Click to continue reading...

The Rapids fly to Chicago tomorrow for the first of two pivotal games against top flight opponents. While Gary Smith only cares about the minimum 40 points for a playoff spot at the end of the season, he knows that remaining undefeated against Chicago this weekend and at home to Houston next weekend will be key to confidence going forward into the home stretch. Click to continue reading...

Given very poor planning on my part, I will again miss the Rapids game this weekend. Two games in a row, very poor form. So, I won't be posting a match report as the chances of me both finding a tv in Philadelphia that may actually show it and be on the good side of my significant other are slim to none. Click to continue reading...

The Eastern Conference leading Crew sail into town tomorrow night to face the Rapids. The Rapids are finally back at full strength after the international absences of the last two months. Game time is 7:30pm at the Dick, and the supporters groups will be tailgating starting (officially) at 5:30. I will not be in attendance for the second time in a month as my company's summer picnic is tomorrow night. Click to continue reading...

The Colorado Rapids ended up sealing a comfortable 4-0 victory against the unfortunate New York Red Bulls last night. I'll stick my neck out and say this wasn't the best performance by the Rapids and that the final scoreline flattered them. That sounds a little negative when you think of a 4-0 result but, a couple of decisons going the other way, and the outcome could have been very different. Click to continue reading...

Not that it changes the result, but the USSF Referee Program says Kosuke Kimura was offside on his game winning goal last week. You can read the whole ruling, it's the bottom one in the article, but here's the most important bit. Click to continue reading...

There is probably only one place to start our weekly round up of the MLS and that's in LA. Not just because of the much publicised spat between the Galaxy's two alpha's, Landon Donovan and the other fella but because the Super Classico took place last weekend between the Galaxy and their house-mates Chivas USA. Click to continue reading...

Americans Abroad / USMNT
US Squad Shrinks As Cherundolo And Parkhurst Return To Europe - Soccer By Ives
Pictures From Our First Session In Philadelphia - The MNT Blog
Davies Looks Ahead To Sochaux - Yanks Abroad
Davies Takes A Step Up - Goal (NY Times)
A Few Gold Cup Things - No Short Corners
Feilhaber Nets Brace In Aarhus Friendly - Soccer By Ives
US International Szetela Returns To Spain's Santander - SI. Click to continue reading...

The Rapids snoozed their way through 89 minutes of the game on Saturday night. They did enough to keep Dallas from doing anything, but never really threatened the goal except for the 79th minute where Ballouchy and Kimura combined for Kosuke's 2nd professional goal. That was the difference in a much needed, if not much deserved, win for Colorado. Click to continue reading...

Rapids defender Kosuke Kimura was the man of the match on Saturday against Dallas. His goal late in the second half was the deciding moment in Colorado's 1-0 victory, but his energetic play throughout the game was a key component in the team's plan to keep the Hoops on their heels. Kimura took some time to talk about his attacking style of play against FC Dallas and the state of the Rapids' back line.

Click to continue reading...

When your star players are away on international duty, you need the ones left behind to step up to the plate. Omar Cummings did it big time when Conor Casey was away in Chicago and South Africa. Now that Omar and Colin Clark are away for the Gold Cup, Kosuke Kimura chimed in with an energetic performance that won the game on Saturday for the Colorado Rapids. Click to continue reading...

Time once again for the best goals of the week. Only a few to discuss this time out.

Order of video: Edson Buddle, Chad Barrett, Darren Huckerby, Kosuke Kimura, Brad Davis, Patrick Ianni

Click to continue reading...

"Yeah we were robbed...of a season." -Anonymous
From Post: FCD 0, Colorado Rapids 1
"oh gee, another loss" -Anonymous
"Nice job...not. Horrible subs, no attack and a just result. Is this a business of just a labor of love?" -Anonymous
"Can we please fire S. Click to continue reading...

A 79th-minute blast by Kosuke Kimura gave the Colorado Rapids a 1-0 win over FC Dallas and three valuable league points at Dick's Sporting Goods Park Saturday night. But despite netting the game-winner, Kimura's solid defending may have done just as much to win the game--and endear him to Rapids faithful. Click to continue reading...

Kosuke Kimura celebrates his winning goal with striker Conor Casey on Saturday night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. (photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Â

When Colorado Rapids defender Kosuke Kimura arrived at his locker after Saturday night's game, nearly every member of the media at Dick's Sporting Goods Park was there waiting microphone, camera or pen in hand.

Click to continue reading...

Didn't we just do this? For the 2nd time in 3 weeks Dallas is in town. Last time around it was a 1-1 draw midweek, this time the Rapids have more rest and hopefully more desire. Game time is 7:30pm and as always the supporters groups will be starting the tailgate 2 hours ahead of time.
Official Injury Report:
NONE REPORTED
Official Discipline Report:
SUSPENDED: Cory Gibbs (Caution accumulation)
ONE CAUTION FROM SUSPENSION: Conor Casey, Ugo Ihemelu
TWO CAUTIONS FROM SUSPENSION: Scott Palguta
International Absences:
Colin Clark (U. Click to continue reading...

We're at the halfway point of the season. Much like I did at the quarter point, lets see how we're looking so far.
Goalkeeping: Matt Pickens has done a good job in net. He doesn't make the big amazing save very often, but I can't think of a single blunder he's made. The only thing lacking is that I can't think of a game we really won because of his play. Click to continue reading...

Chicago's Wilman Conde, left, heads in the winning goal over the head of Rapids defender Kosuke Kimura and beyond the reach of goalkeeper Matt Pickens.
(photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Â

The game was a dud, and so were the fireworks.

Click to continue reading...

After a week of the Rapids are finally at home, hosting DC United. This is the start of 9 home dates in the next 12 games stretched over the summer. Game time is 7:30pm at the Dick, with the supporter's tailgate starting at 5:20, and all are welcome!
Official Injury Report:
PROBABLE: MF Terry Cooke (L knee sprain)
Official Discipline Report:
TWO CAUTIONS FROM SUSPENSION: Conor Casey, Cory Gibbs, Ugo Ihemelu
International Absences:
Conor Casey (U. Click to continue reading...

Thank God, the Rapids players and coaches must be thinking this week as they prepare for the first of nine matches out of 12 at home tomorrow against Christian Gomez and DC United. After a lengthy stay on the road in the opening games of the season, the Rapids look to set the tone tomorrow night for the home games going forward. Click to continue reading...