Final
Cummings leads Rapids past Chivas USA
Sep 5, 2010 - 4:51 AM COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) -- Colorado Rapids forward Omar Cummings turned down an invitation from the Jamaican national team to play in a friendly match this weekend because of green-card issues.That was a boon for the Rapids.
Cummings scored two second-half goals and Conor Casey added another, leading Colorado to a 3-0 win over Chivas USA on Saturday night.
Although Cummings will miss the friendly with Costa Rica on Sunday, he is planning to join the Jamaican team for a game Tuesday against Peru in Florida. Cummings had to miss the Costa Rica matchup because he's working on securing his green card and can't travel outside the country until it's finalized.
Cummings' footwear may have had something to do with his second-half success Saturday.
With the Rapids struggling, Cummings switched out his cleats at halftime, leading to his seventh and eighth goals of the season.
"My touches were bad and off a little bit. So going into the second half, I thought why not change (my shoes)," Cummings said. "Change my attitude and be more aggressive, take some shots and try to score some goals."
Casey scored the first goal of the night, knocking in a ball after Chivas USA goalie Zach Thornton mishandled a shot from Cummings. It was Casey's ninth goal.
Rapids goalie Matt Pickens was back in net after sitting out last week with back spasms. He tested his back early in the game by leaping high to poke a shot over the top of the crossbar.
It was actually one of the few times Pickens actually was tested as he finished with just one save.
The Rapids, who are in fourth place in the Western Conference, will play in New York next Saturday. Every point is important with the playoffs drawing near.
"I think that is a very American phrase - working toward the playoffs," Rapids coach Gary Smith said. "Your form is either good or bad. You finish the season well and you feel confident about yourself.
"We can't just look at the teams below us. Of course there is a magic number that gets us in (the playoffs). Honestly, I think this group is better than just getting in (to the playoffs)."
For Chivas USA, its postseason aspirations are growing more bleak. The team is in last place in the conference, 22 points behind front-running Los Angeles.
"We have to win the next eight games. We still have a chance to make it to the playoffs if we win," Chivas USA defender Mariano Trujillo said.
- MLS UPDATE
CHIVAS 0
COLORADO 3 FINAL
Sep 4 10:56 PM - MLS UPDATE
CHIVAS 0
COLORADO 3 END 2ND HALF
Sep 4 10:55 PM - MLS UPDATE
CHIVAS 0
COLORADO 3
COLORADO GOAL: Omar Cummings in the 81st minute
Chivas USA 0, Rapids 3 81'Sep 4 10:45 PM - MLS UPDATE
CHIVAS 0
COLORADO 2
COLORADO GOAL: Omar Cummings in the 68th minute
Chivas USA 0, Rapids 2 68'Sep 4 10:32 PM - MLS UPDATE
CHIVAS 0
COLORADO 1
COLORADO GOAL: Conor Casey in the 52nd minute
Chivas USA 0, Rapids 1 52'Sep 4 10:15 PM - MLS UPDATE
CHIVAS 0
COLORADO 0 HALFTIME
Sep 4 9:52 PM
Related News
- Update on Our Future: We’re Going Independent. We’re Betting on Ourselves and YOU Rapids Community Mar 30
- Podcast: Positive Point at Austin FC, LAFC Preview Mar 29
- Colorado Rapids Outplay Austin as Kévin Cabral Scores Late to Salvage Point Mar 25
- Colorado Rapids Have Become Injury Bug United. How Did This Happen? What Can Fix It? Mar 24
- Podcast: Jack Price Injury, Arsenal to the ASG, Austin Preview Mar 23
- The P Word was Heard Again at a Small Scale at a Rapids Home Game. Here’s What It Means. Mar 21
- Captain Jack Price Ruptures Achilles Tendon and Will Miss Rest of 2023 Mar 20
- Colorado Rapids Lose 2-1 to Loons, Price Goes Off Injured Mar 18
- Regarding Our Coverage of Last Saturday’s Rapids 2 Game Mar 16
- Colorado Rapids Lose 1-0 on Late Cristian Espinoza Goal in San Jose Mar 12
- 2023 Leagues Cup Schedule Set for Colorado Rapids Mar 10
- Colorado Rapids Travel to San Jose In Search of First Win, Goal Mar 10