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Rapids-United Preview

Jul 17, 2009 - 8:57 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Colorado (6-4-6) at D.C. (5-3-9), 8:00 p.m. EDT

If D.C. United could have held on to a lead in their last game, they would still be atop the Eastern Conference. They might return to that spot Saturday night if their home dominance of the Colorado Rapids continues.

Seeking their first win in five weeks, United look to extend a 10-game home unbeaten streak versus the Rapids as the teams conclude their season series Saturday night.

D.C. (5-3-9) didn't play last week, getting surpassed by Chicago and Toronto FC for first place in the East. United would be one point ahead of those teams if they didn't allow a second-half goal in a 1-1 tie against Columbus on July 4.

"At this point we need to learn how to put teams away," United coach Tom Soehn said. "That is something that comes with experience. We have had half a season to develop that."

Soehn's club has played its last three games on the road, going 0-1-2, since beating Chicago on June 13. That victory gave United a 4-0-4 record at RFK Stadium.

That success at home doesn't bode well for Colorado (6-4-6), which is 0-8-2 on the road against United since a 2-1 win July 10, 1999.

The Rapids, however, beat United 3-0 on June 20, getting two goals from Omar Cummings and one from Colin Clark. Colorado was without those two players in a 1-0 win over FC Dallas last Saturday.

Cummings had been playing with the Jamaican national team in the CONCACAF Gold Cup but will return for this matchup. Clark remains with the U.S. team and won't be available.

With two of their top offensive threats missing last Saturday, Colorado got an unexpected goal from defender Kosuke Kimura. It was his second tally of the year and first since May 2 against Real Salt Lake.

"Recently I've been asked to attack more as a defender," Kimura said. "I've seen it done by defenders in Europe all the time."

Conor Casey, leading the Rapids with eight goals, was named to the MLS All-Star team Monday. He's two goals behind Columbus' Guillermo Barros Schelotto for the league lead.

Casey will likely take the field for the first time with French defender Julien Baudet, who could make his MLS debut after signing with Colorado on June 30. He's finally eligible to play after getting his international transfer certificate.

Casey would be a welcome addition to a Rapids defense that will be missing Ugo Ihemelu, who will be serving a one-game league suspension for caution accumulation.

Colorado defenders will be facing a D.C. team that has scored just one goal in its last two games. Former Rapids midfielder Christian Gomez scored against the Crew.

Gomez is one of four D.C. players with at least four goals.

United also will be short-handed, having announced Friday that rookie midfielder Brandon Barklage will miss the rest of the season after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery.

"Brandon was enjoying a great start to his career and we expect great things from him in the future," United general manager Dave Kasper said.