Colorado spent 3,330 minutes this season defending the 2010 MLS Cup Championship, which put the team 180 minutes shy of defending its title.

Graham Zusi provided the services in the 28th and 76th minute as Sporting Kansas City recorded another 2-0 victory over the Rapids, giving KC a 4-0 aggregate win in the Eastern Conference Semifinal.

Photo by Bill Barrett/ISIphotos.com

By AVI CREDITOR

Teal Bunbury doesn't accept success as a given, even if things are set up quite nicely for him on a couple of levels.

Bunbury, who scored both goals in Sporting Kansas City's 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids in the first leg of the MLS Eastern Conference semifinals, has the scales tilted heavily in his favor heading into Wednesday night's second leg match at Livestrong Sporting Park (Wed.

Teams that can't score don't make it far in the postseason, and the Colorado Rapids are a team that can't score.

The latest evidence came Sunday evening as the Rapids fell 2-0 to Sporting Kansas City in the first leg of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Colorado, which edged the Columbus Crew 1-0 in the wild card match on Thursday, couldn't generate legitimate threats as Sporting spent the evening shoving them around the field.

So here we are again. First round of the playoffs after a exciting season. The Seattle Sounders get a tough draw and proceed to get schooled like an earnest, but inexperienced freshmen. Sure, Real Salt Lake has been one of the best, if not the best, team in the league since they won the MLS Cup in 2009.

By DAVID GUBALA

Sporting Kansas City went into Sunday's Eastern Conference semifinal first leg looking to hopefully come away with a draw against the Colorado Rapids to send the series back to Kansas City

A nightmarish night for the Rapids helped Sporting KC return to the Midwest with so much more.

Tomorrow its on. Rapids - FSL with the Rocky Mountain Cup on the line! Need I say more?
OK, I will, but only because the tailgate is almost as impressive as the game. About 5 hours from now the crack Class VI/Pid Army chefs will be arriving at the Dick to start the grill on the biggest tailgate they've ever done, a full pig roast!

With the epic U.S. Open Cup Final slated for tomorrow, I thought it might be a good idea to give a quick rundown of the brief history between the two teams. Although the Fire have tied the Sounders, Chicago has yet to actually defeat Seattle in a match. What better time for that to happen than tomorrow night?

"No disrespect to the Eastern Conference, but tonight was the championship" -- Dallas defensive midfielder Daniel Hernandez after winning the Western Conference Championship in 2010
I just wanted to throw that in as a "friendly" reminder about our guests tomorrow. I expect him to get the official Class VI welcome for 90 minutes!

So, yeah, about that whole post where I said the Rapids will be beat by Metapan and the roster selection was not great. Well Colorado proved me an idiot with a 3-1 win last night. The reserve squad, lead by Steve Guppy and augmented by Wells Thompson and Tyrone Marshall, pulled together in a tough environment and dominated the scoreboard.

Photo by David Bernal/ISIphotos.com

The Colorado Rapids could advance to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League by winning both of their last two group matches. Even so, it looks like club is throwing in the towel on its tournament run.

Colorado sent a reserve-heavy squad to face Isidro Metapan in El Salvador for Wednesday's match, and head coach Gary Smith didn't make the trip, either, instead leaving assistant coach Steve Guppy to handle the team.

The last time the Earthquakes were in town the Rapids sent them packing after a crazy goal by Koz and the trophy celebration to the left sent Colorado to MLS Cup. The stakes aren't quite so high tomorrow night but if the Rapids have any hopes of repeating they need to repeat the result from that night to solidify their playoff position.

The Colorado Rapids season ended at about 10 p.m. on Wednesday.

The team will still play two more CONCACAF Champions League group stage games, four MLS regular season matches and one probable playoff game, but the disappointing 2011 season ended with the final whistle in Real Espana's 2-1 victory at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

Do not believe that the Rapids lost to the suddenly resurgent Toronto FC on Saturday night.

No, Colorado managed only a scoreless tie at home against the worst team in the league at home earlier this season. The 2-1 loss in Toronto was merely the latest stanza in a the mediocre medley of 2011.

The last time Colorado was in Toronto they left with their first ever win at BMO Field, and more importantly, the MLS Cup! Tomorrow they try to make it two in a row North of the border. The Rapids probably need 1 more win to really assure themselves of a playoff spot and their best chances are tomorrow and next week when they host San Jose.

Landon Donovan makes the most of his play against the Rapids, and he did it again on Friday night, delivering the lone goal in the LA Galaxy's home win over Colorado.

This time, the goal came in the 36th minute as Donovan was unmarked when receiving a pass from Sean Franklin. Unlike his miss against Costa Rico on the same field in a USA friendly a week early, Donovan was clinical.

Landon Donovan makes the most of his play against the Rapids, and he did it again on Friday night, delivering the lone goal in the LA Galaxy's home win over Colorado.

This time, the goal came in the 36th minute as Donovan was unmarked when receiving a pass from Sean Franklin. Unlike his miss against Costa Rico on the same field in a USA friendly a week early, Donovan was clinical.

The Rapids come off their two week break with a trip to LA to face the Galaxy. It wasn't all rest though as Ceus, Cummings, Larentowicz, and Nyassi played for their National Teams. Ceus and Cummings got 2 full games, while Nyassi only had one and Larentowicz was on the bench for one and got 15 minutes in the second.

After a successful Champions League match in mid-week the Rapids are once again back in MLS play which the Under-a-Chivas coming to town. Along with the game Class VI and the Pid Army are holding their second annual home brew contest! Tailgate starts at 4pm and all are welcome to sample the entries and vote for your favorite.

Sanna Nyassi maneuvers past an Isidro Metapan defender during a CCL match in Seattle on July 28, 2010. Nyassi and the Colorado Rapids face Metapan on Wednesday. (Photograph by Jane Gershovich/Prost Amerika Soccer)

Nearly nine months after winning the team's first title, the Colorado Rapids finally start the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday night.

Sanna Nyassi maneuvers past an Isidro Metapan defender during a CCL match in Seattle on July 28, 2010. Nyassi and the Colorado Rapids face Metapan on Wednesday. (Photograph by Jane Gershovich/Prost Amerika Soccer)

Nearly nine months after winning the team's first title, the Colorado Rapids finally start the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday night.

The Rapids are on the road this week, some of them on a very long road trip, in San Jose. Last time these two teams met a great Kosuke Kimura goal gave the Rapids the win and, more importantly, the Eastern Conference Championship en rout to their MLS Cup victory. I think we can expect the Earthquakes to be looking for some revenge after that loss.

Week 21 of MLS action produced something spectacular. A weekend devoid of the 0-0 tie. Fantastic matches with some impressive goals treated fans to some wonderful talking points. Whether it was Dwayne De Rosario's hat trick, LA's destruction of FC Dallas or Eric Hassli's double. Here is your recap and highlights:
Colorado Rapids 2, Columbus Crew 0
The Colorado and Columbus match-up saw two teams coming off of impressive performances.

Brian Mullan made the most of a Friday night game, launching a goal of the week nominee, and Sanna Nyassi turned provider as the Colorado Rapids downed the Columbus Crew 2-0 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City.

Colorado improved to 9-6-10 (37 points) and dispatched the third Eastern Conference leading team in the past four games.

Call them the bananas, call them the Village People, call them traffic cones, or call them the Crew. Whatever you call them, they're in town to play the Rapids tomorrow night. Columbus is the top team in the East but are level on points with the Rapids. The last two times Colorado has played a team from the East they were on top of the table and the Rapids beat them.

Well they also have to play the Union, but I'm guessing that at least a couple of the guys will take the opportunity to try a cheesesteak. Its somewhat of a homecoming for the Ginger Ninja as he went to high school and college in the Philly area. The Rapids get the honor of being FOX Soccer Channel's Game of the Week tomorrow night, kickoff is at 5:30.

The New England Revolution are in town tomorrow and long-time Rapids fans know what that means, Jamesons Night! (Go here for the history of this fan tradition) Both teams are coming off of mid-week wins, so they have momentum but may be tired. Game time tomorrow at the Dick is 7pm, so the kegs will be tapped at the tailgate at 4pm and the grills fired up at 5pm.

The picture has nothing to do with our opponent, but I found it funny. Its from an article about Wynne and Earls going to the Cat Care Society to help them celebrate their 30th anniversary. Cat Care is also where we adopted our cat from.
As reported earlier today, Conor Casey's season is over.

Sure, the Colorado Rapids hold the MLS Cup and got to meet President Barack Obama at the White House, but let's not fool ourselves into thinking they are a good team. They come to this match merely average, much as they were last year. Yes, they've had some injuries that have reduced their effectiveness, as well as having them count on Tyrone Marshall for 14 starts and Sanna Nyassi for 5 starts.

Might as well accept it. Regardless of the actual facts tomorrow the Rapids are going to be the evil thugs who are single-handedly bringing down the level of play in MLS while Seattle while Seattle is the shining example of all that is good in MLS.
OK, so that's a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the idea.

The Rapids get their first look at the team trying to swamp their control of water nicknames in MLS, the Vancouver Whitecaps. Essentially you've got turbulent river water versus turbulent sea water at the Dick tomorrow. Vancouver just traded for former Rapid Jordan Harvey, so we may see him back at the Dick for a second time this year (he already played for Philly last month).

By FRANCO PANIZO

Sporting Kansas City extended its unbeaten streak to nine games with a draw at home on Wednesday night, and it can thank Graham Zusi for that.

Zusi earned Sporting Kansas City a 1-1 tie with the Colorado Rapids at Livestrong Sporting Park with a goal in the 62nd minute.

Kansas City extended their unbeaten run on the season to 11 games, the second longest in team history as they came from behind again to tie the Rapids 1-1 at LiveSTRONG Sporting Park. With all the schedule congestion, Peter Vermes made two changes to his lineup that took on Portland on the weekend. Teal Bunbury and Kei Kamara stepped back into the starting lineup for CJ Sapong and Milos Stojcev.

The Colorado Rapids have now perfected the art of the draw: The team can make a 1-1 tie look thrilling.

For the ninth time in 19 games, the Colorado Rapids came away with a share of the points. This time, it was Sporting Kansas City playing at home in Kansas City, Kan., on Wednesday night.

It was a fair result for a team that took a first-half lead and then played with fire in the final third of the match.

The Colorado Rapids have now perfected the art of the draw: The team can make a 1-1 tie look thrilling.

For the ninth time in 19 games, the Colorado Rapids came away with a share of the points. This time, it was Sporting Kansas City playing at home in Kansas City, Kan., on Wednesday night.

It was a fair result for a team that took a first-half lead and then played with fire in the final third of the match.

Its appropriate that Colorado, home to the Garmin-Cervelo pro bike racing team and so many American bike racers, is going to Livestrong Park tomorrow during the first week of the Tour de France (can you tell one of my other interests is bicycle racing?). Kansas City finally got a home of their own and this will be the Rapids first look at it.

OK, so this year its on the 3rd and not the 4th, but the annual Independence Day game is upon us. Houston is in town trying to do what only two teams have done before, defeat the Rapids on the 4th (3rd) of July. The Rapids have won 11 of 15 games on this holiday weekend and tied 2. Game time on Sunday is 7pm, which means the Class Vi/Pid Army tailgate starts at 4pm and its going to be a big one this week so get there early!

By JOSE M. ROMERO

Andres Mendoza is on a pretty good tear.

The big striker scored goals in each half off mistakes to lead an impressive performance by the Columbus Crew in its 4-1 win over the Colorado Rapids Sunday night at Crew Stadium.

Mendoza's first goal came in the 18th minute.

The Rapids have headed East to face the team that could do double duty as traffic cones, the Columbus Crew. The last time these two teams met the Rapids won a PK shootout on their way to winning MLS Cup. This time its only 3 points on the line, but its 3 points Colorado could really use. Game time tomorrow is 6pm on Altitude.

Twenty two Major League Soccer players hope to make an impact on international duty in the Gold Cup quarterfinals this weekend. Here is a breakdown of each player;

Saturday, June 18

Costa Rica vs. Honduras New Meadowlands Stadium, 5 PM, TV: Telefutura

1. #9 Alvaro Saborio (Costa Rica/Real Salt Lake) should get the nod for Costa Rica who have never beaten Honduras in the Gold Cup, losing twice in the knockout stage.

That's right Mr. Posh Spice and the Galaxy are in town tomorrow. This will be only the second time Beckham has played in Colorado and they'll be without PrimaDonnavan who's trying to help the U.S. avoid one of their biggest Gold Cup meltdowns in their modern history. Combined the teams haven't lost in their last 17 games.