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FC Dallas-Rapids Preview

Jun 23, 2009 - 9:54 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

FC Dallas (3-7-4) at Colorado (5-2-5), 9:30 p.m. EDT

The Colorado Rapids are on the brink of a franchise-record unbeaten streak, and Omar Cummings is playing a key role filling in for their top scorer.

The MLS player of the week will try to help the Rapids remain unbeaten for an eighth consecutive game Wednesday night when they host FC Dallas.

The Rapids (5-2-5) have gone 3-0-4 in their last seven games, an undefeated run that they haven't achieved since Aug. 16-Oct. 2, 2003. Colorado also went seven matches without a loss from April 10-May 27, 1999, when they had a seven-game winning streak at a time when MLS used shootouts to break ties.

Colorado kept its run intact Saturday, when Cummings had two goals and assisted on Colin Clark's score in a 3-0 win over Eastern Conference-leading D.C. United.

"I thought we were disappointing with the ball, there were a lot of occasions where we squandered possessions easily, but the difference was Omar," Rapids coach Gary Smith said.

Cummings is second on the team with five goals and his career-high six assists are second-most in the league, one less than the total of Houston's Brian Davis.

Cummings has three goals and three assists in the last four games, picking up the scoring slack for a Rapids team that has been without forward Conor Casey for the past two contests. Casey is second in the league with eight goals.

Colorado was expected to have Casey available against Dallas (3-7-4). However, the United States' improbable qualification for the semifinals of the Confederations Cup in South Africa will rule him out until the Rapids host Chicago on July 4.

Cummings will also be leaving the club, as he's been recalled to the Jamaica national team for the CONCACAF Gold Cup from July 3-26. He's expected to join the squad after Sunday's match at Seattle.

Smith appears to already be in communication with another forward who can provide Colorado with more depth up front.

"He will come from outside the MLS, definitely, and we want him here by the end of the month working with us," Smith told the league's official Web site.

Colorado is fourth in the West, two points back of third-place Seattle.

The Rapids went 2-0-1 against Dallas last season after going winless in the prior 11 meetings. They took the only matchup at Dick's Sporting Goods Park last year, 2-1 on June 1.

Dallas, seventh in the conference, is looking to win consecutive games for the first time since September.

Kenny Cooper scored on a penalty kick seven minutes after Eric Avila netted his first career goal in the 80th minute, rallying FCD to a 2-1 win over Columbus on Saturday.

"Hopefully we're back on track, it's a big win against the defending (MLS Cup) champion Crew," Cooper said.

Cooper, named to the U.S. roster for the Gold Cup, is tied with Seattle's Fredy Montero for third in MLS with seven goals after scoring a career-high 18 last year. The forward has three goals in the last four games after coming up empty in the previous five.

Cooper has three goals in eight games against Colorado.