• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Red Bulls-Rapids Preview

Jul 24, 2009 - 10:04 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

New York (2-14-4) at Colorado (6-5-6), 9:30 p.m. EDT

The last time the New York Red Bulls went 12 games without a win, they set MLS records for futility. They'll attempt to avoid matching that dismal streak Saturday night when they visit the Colorado Rapids.

The Red Bulls (2-14-4) have an MLS-low 10 points, 16 behind fourth-place Toronto for the final playoff spot while playing two more games. They haven't posted a victory since beating San Jose 4-1 on May 8, going 0-9-2 while being outscored 22-7.

New York's 11-game stretch without a victory is its longest since setting a league record with a 12-game streak during 1999, when MLS decided tie games via the 35-yard shootout. That slide contributed to the worst finish in MLS history, as the then-MetroStars finished with 15 points and a 7-25 record.

The Red Bulls' current winless streak, which includes a 3-2 loss to Colorado (6-5-6) on May 30, has come a season after they reached the MLS Cup final for the first time in team history.

They lost for the fourth time in a row last Saturday, surrendering three first-half goals and falling 3-1 to Los Angeles.

"We managed to make history last year, for the first time in franchise history we managed to win a conference championship and we were in the (MLS Cup final)," forward Juan Pablo Angel told the team's official Web site. "Now, we're about to make history as the worst team in the league. Me personally, I don't want to be remembered for that. ... I didn't come here to be remembered for playing for the worst team in the league. No way."

The Red Bulls are also enduring an MLS-record 23-game road winless streak (0-17-6), during which they've been outscored 43-11 since beating the Galaxy 2-1 on May 10, 2008.

"I am very optimistic as a matter of fact," said Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio, 1-18-7 on the road in two seasons at the helm. "From what I watched this week, if I am honest, the way we have been training, it's no way we are where we are at the moment."

Angel leads New York with seven goals and has 40 in his career, one shy of the team mark held by Giovanni Savarese.

Angel has two goals in five games against Colorado - one coming on a penalty kick May 30.

The Rapids look to take advantage of the woeful Red Bulls as they open a three-game homestand following a 3-1 defeat at D.C. last Saturday. They are 4-1-3 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

Colorado, however, will have to deal with the absence of Conor Casey, who is serving a one-game suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards. The forward is third in the league with eight goals and has five in three games against New York.

With Casey suspended, the Rapids could use a strong performance from Omar Cummings. The Jamaican forward hasn't scored in two games after finding the back of the net four times in the previous three.

Cummings has two goals and two assists in three games versus the Red Bulls.