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.

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With stars like Conor Casey and Pablo Mastroeni, the Rapids should have done better in 2009. (Getty Images)

Consistent play was always an issue in 2008 for the Colorado Rapids, and it turned out 2009 wasn't much different. The Rapids looked like a team that could contend in early on in 2009 but the ladder part of the season tore this group apart as injuries were racked up and the offensive production that was one of the best in the league at times turned into a pumpkin.

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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.

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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.

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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...

Dallas' game with San Jose on Wednesday could help decide the Rapids' playoff hopes. If the streaking Hoops conjure up another win against the also improving San Jose Earthquakes, they will still be in the playoff hunt. If they lose, they will be eliminated from the postseason, presumably making Colorado's trip to Texas October 17 a little easier for the Burgundy and Blue. Click to continue reading...

New England goalkeeper Matt Reis starts to lean to his right as Rapids striker Conor Casey takes aim for the other side of the net in the 58th minute on Saturday night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. (photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

On Sept. 18, Rapids striker Conor Casey scored a second-half goal on a penalty kick at San Jose.

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Random notes from the Colorado Rapids' third draw in nine days, a 0-0 tie with the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday night at Community America Ballpark:

SIZE MATTERS: The official dimensions of the pitch at Dick's Sporting Goods Park are 120 yards long by 80 yards wide. In contrast, the fields surrounding Dick's are 110 by 70.

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Colorado's Jacob Peterson goes flying after colliding with Andre Luiz in the first half Wednesday. (photo by Tom Auclair/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

You've got to be kidding. For the second time in less than a week, Conor Casey scored on a penalty kick deep into extra time as the Colorado Rapids tied the San Jose Earthquakes 1-1.

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Imagine the array of emotions for Ryan Johnson on Friday night. The San Jose Earthquakes striker scored his team's only goal in the eighth minute of a 1-1 tie against the Colorado Rapids. Then the 24-year-old committed the foul deep into extra time that produced a penalty kick for Colorado and the Rapids' only goal.

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The Colorado Rapids traveled to California yesterday to prepare for tonight's game against San Jose before, bizarrely, playing the same team again next Wednesday at DSG Park. What an important game tonight's game is. After losing at Toronto to record their fourth straight away defeat, the Rapids know that a point tonight against a struggling team will be the least they can come away with before, hopefully, picking up three points at home next week. Click to continue reading...

Gary Smith and the Colorado Rapids coaching staff don't look to have been able to snatch an extra player to add to their decimated ranks in time to beat the September 15th transfer deadline. It did seem a little bit of a stretch for the team to be able to secure a midfielder that would fit both short and long-term needs. Click to continue reading...

Random notes from the world of soccer in Colorado:

TIGER TOURNAMENT: The Colorado College women's soccer team hosts the University of Denver, Kansas and Texas Christian on Friday and Sunday. CC faces TCU at 4 p.m. Friday and Kansas at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The Pioneers meet the Jayhawks at 1:30 Friday and Texas Christian at noon Sunday.

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Colorado Rapids striker Omar Cummings puts a bicycle kick on goal in the second half of the team's 1-0 victory over Toronto FC on Saturday. (photos by Tom Auclair/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

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Colorado striker Conor Casey wasn't supposed to be at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Saturday night.

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The Rapids bounced back from the Chicago debacle with a strong performance against Houston yesterday. The only downside was the amount of damage done to the team in the process..
The Rapids came out hot and took the game to the Dynamo. While we controlled play we had a hard time turning that into dangerous chances. 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...

Rapids midfielder Jacob Peterson outleaps Houston defender Wade Barrett during Colorado's 1-0 victory over the league-leading Dynamo on Sunday in Commerce City. (photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

A little more than a month ago, Rapids defender Julien Baudet was lying on the field at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, his wrist and hand pointing one way, his forearm pointing another.

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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...

Rapids striker Omar Cummings kept Columbus defender Chad Marshall, right, off balance throughout Saturday's game — but couldn't find a goal for Colorado. (photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Call it yellow-and-black magic.

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We had plenty of goals scored in week number 19 in Major League Soccer. A few PKs, own goals and a lot of nice one touch shots. The best in some folks eyes will probably be the midfield bomb by KC's Claudio Lopez though. I would be shocked to see another goal pass that one up for goal of the week.

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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...

Nick LaBrocca celebrates scoring in the second half of the Rapids' 4-0 victory over New York on Saturday night in Commerce City. (photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Four players scored as the Colorado Rapids poured water on a drowning team, dousing the New York Red Bulls 4-0 on Saturday night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

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Rapids striker Omar Cummings has the ball poked away in the second half Wednesday night against Club America. (photo by Tom Auclair/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Rapids coach Gary Smith said Wednesday's exhibition against Club America at Dick's Sporting Goods Park was a good opportunity for some members of the squad to get playing time against a quality opponent.

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Rapids coach Gary Smith discusses his team's 1-0 victory over FC Dallas on Saturday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, the effects of losing players to national-team duties and Wednesday night's international friendly against Club America.

How important was Saturday's victory?

On some occasions we've come away from less than full points.

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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.

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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...

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)

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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.

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Nate Jaqua and Fredy Montero combined on all three goals as the Sounders beat the Colorado Rapids 3-0 on Sunday afternoon in Seattle.

Jaqua had two goals and an assist and Montero logged a goal and two assists in sending Colorado to its third loss of the season. The defeat snapped the Rapids' eight-game unbeated streak.

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Ugo Ihemelu of the Rapids nearly scored on a corner kick in the 81st minute, when the Rapids were trailing FC Dallas 1-0. (photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

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There seemed to be no end to the goal-scoring chances the Colorado Rapids created on Wednesday night.

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Omar Cummings scored in the 88th minute to rescue the Rapids in a 1-1 tie Saturday night in Sandy, Utah, in a match in which Colorado was severely outplayed in the first half.

Crossing the midfield stripe, Mehdi Ballouchy saw Cummings straight ahead with his back to goal. He put the ball right on Cummings' feet just shy of the RSL penalty area.

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STARTERS
UNAM Pumas pulled off a great upset, winning the Mexican Clausura championship, beating Pachuca 3-2 on aggregate. Huge congrats to the Big Cats! Esplendido!
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Bordeaux are French Ligue 1 Champions, ending Lyon's 7 year reign. Magnifique!
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Carlo Ancelotti has left Milan and will become the new head coach at Chelsea. Click to continue reading...

Because of the holiday (and a busy week previewing the season opener for the Colorado Force) this week's Tuesday List comes on Friday and (as a bonus) comes in two parts.

Today we take a look at the Colorado Rapids' leaders in minute played.

810: Colin Clark
810: Jordan Harvey
793: Conor Casey
791: Ugo Ihemelu
785: Omar Cummings
711: Mehdi Ballouchy
710: Nick LaBrocca
697: Pablo Mastroeni
559: Kosuke Kimura
509: Scott Palguta
492: Cory Gibbs
450: Matt Pickens
360: Preston Burpo
210: Terry Cooke
173: Jacob Peterson
34: Ty Harden
11: Gregory Richardson
5: Greg Dalby

Observations: This is just a snapshot of where we are after nine fixtures, and this order will shake up considerably in the coming weeks.

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Conor Casey and the Colorado Rapids were stymied repeatedly by the goalkeeping of Seattle's Kasey Keller. (photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Had the Colorado Rapids known before Saturday's match that they'd score two goals against Seattle keeper Kasey Keller, they might've been ecstatic.

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                                                                              Photo by ISIphotos.com

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By CARL SETTERLUND

The losses have stopped for the New England Revolution, at least for now, but victories are still proving extremely difficult to find for a short-handed Revs team lacking firepower.

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Well I get what I deserve after pointing out the number of draws in MLS this season, five of the seven games from this past weekend end with honors even. It's hardly a surprise to see it, but still makes you wonder what exactly is going on this season. No home team even won a game, with Chicago and Kansas City both getting wins on the road.

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