The Colorado Rapids unloaded a month of frustrations on Isidro Metapan, beating the Salvadoran side 3-1 at home on Wednesday night.

In the process, the Rapids (2-2-1, 7 points) also threw a lifeline to a CONCACAF Champions League campaign that appeared dead after losing two matches at home by a combined 6-2 margin.

Welcome back, friends and readers, from the holiday breather. I hope you are all refreshed and ready to go as the new year starts and the championship hangover fades.

With the MLS roster now expanded from 24 to 30 players and the reserve league's rebirth, the Rapids have to start the challenging process of putting together a roster that will be able to meet a host of demands in 2011.