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Rapids return to DSG Park aiming for third straight win

Apr 18, 2014 - 8:34 PM Commerce City, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - After a successful two-game road trip, the Colorado Rapids return home on Saturday to face the San Jose Earthquakes at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

Through five games this season, the Rapids are off to a fine start, sitting in second place in the Western Conference with 10 points.

Following a 3-2 loss to Sporting Kansas City at home on March 29, the club hit the road for matches against Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Toronto FC. The road trip proved to be just what the doctor ordered as the Rapids earned a 2-1 win over Vancouver before topping Toronto FC, 1-0, last weekend at BMO Field.

The game's lone goal came in the 77th minute. A quick series of passes saw Dillon Serna switch the play to Dillon Powers, who then found Edson Buddle with a well-placed pass though he was surrounded by Toronto FC defenders. Buddle was able to get the ball through for an easy tap-in goal past Julio Cesar.

Rapids goalkeeper Clint Irwin made four saves as his club claimed a point for the first time ever in Toronto in seven trips.

"I think any time you can go on the road and get three points against a good Toronto side. I think we played well today. They really threw everything they had at us," said Rapids defender Drew Moor. "But a lot of character showed from the guys in our locker room. That's kind of been a theme for us early in the season. This is something to build on for sure."

"To [win] away, for us, is big. It's not easy to win [on the road] in this league, and every time you do you have to celebrate," Buddle said.

San Jose, meanwhile, is still searching for its first win of the season following a 1-1 draw with the Columbus Crew at Buck Shaw Stadium last Sunday.

Federico Higuain opened the scoring for Columbus in the 44th minute when the Argentine turned home a cross from Waylon Francis, but San Jose drew level in the 51st minute when Chris Wondolowski ghosted in behind Victor Bernardez's near-post run and deposited an easy header into the back of the net from a Shea Salinas corner kick.

"I was a little disappointed with our start again. That's something we normally do a better job, starting a game with a lot of energy and jumping all over teams. That's something we'll have to address," said Quakes head coach Mark Watson. "I thought the guys responded well after the break. We sorted a few things out in the locker room, and I thought they responded well to get us back in the game."

"Shea [Salinas] whipped in a great ball, got it over to the near post and I was able to flick it in. It's easy to finish chances when you get service like that. I have to give credit to Shea on that one for playing a great ball in," Wondolowski said of his goal.

In three meetings between the sides, San Jose won twice, while Nate Sturgis and Marvin Chavez traded goals in a 1-1 draw in the third meeting.