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Jun 19, 2009 - 11:55 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

D.C. (5-2-8) at Colorado (4-2-5), 9:30 p.m. EDT

Eastern Conference-leading D.C. United used a late two-goal rally to gain a tie in a difficult venue. They'll try to carry some of that momentum into a visit to Colorado, where they haven't won in over nine years.

United conclude a stretch of three games in eight days Saturday night when they face the rested Colorado Rapids.

D.C. (5-2-8) salvaged a 3-all tie at sold-out Seattle on Wednesday, as an own goal by Sounders defender Tyrone Marshall with 3 minutes to play came 24 minutes after Christian Gomez scored to pull United within 3-2.

"I always think we're going to come back, even if we're down 5-0, we're going to come back," said United's Josh Wicks, who made seven saves. "Our players are good enough. Our team has the depth. Our team has the heart.

"The stadium was very loud. I don't think the back line could hear me. But I always think we have it in us to come back."

United, 1-2-4 on the road, will attempt to win at Colorado (4-2-5) for the first time since 2000. They're 0-5-3 in the last eight trips there, including two losses at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, which opened in 2007.

United are also playing the last of three games in eight days. They opened the stretch with last Saturday's 2-1 home win over Chicago before traveling to Seattle.

D.C. could be without midfielder Fred, whose status is uncertain after he was helped off the field at Seattle in the 22nd minute due to an undisclosed injury. He has a goal and three assists in 11 games.

United could opt to start forward Ange N'Silu in place of Fred after he replaced him Wednesday. N'Silu has a goal in seven games - three starts - since joining United from FC Le Mont of Switzerland in February.

The Rapids are entering a stretch of three games in eight days but are coming off a 13-day layoff following a 1-all tie at Real Salt Lake that extended their unbeaten streak to six (2-0-4).

"This stretch of games for us is really the key to our season," midfielder Pablo Mastroeni said. "If we can find ways to get good results at home in this next stretch of nine games, we feel like we'll put ourselves in a good position to go into the playoffs.

"We haven't played a whole lot of games at home, and people expect a more attacking style of soccer."

Colorado, though, will be without forward Conor Casey, who is with the United States national team at the Confederations Cup in South Africa.

Casey is second in the league with eight goals, netting four of them in his last three contests.

To ease the blow of Casey's absence the Rapids acquired veteran forward Pat Noonan from Columbus on Monday. Noonan had only an assist in five games - two starts - with the Crew and managed just one goal and two assists in 11 contests last year after joining them from Aalesunds FK of Norway.

He had 37 goals and 28 assists in 119 games over five years with New England before moving to Europe as a free agent following the 2007 season.