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Casey's 3 goals lift Rapids by Chivas

Aug 9, 2009 - 5:06 AM By DALE BUBLITZ STATS MLS Correspondent

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (STATS) - Conor Casey credited a two-week layoff for helping him have fresh legs. Watching teammate Pablo Mastroeni score a rare goal gave him an additional energy boost.

After missing consecutive matches, Casey scored three first-half goals to lead the Colorado Rapids to a 4-0 victory over struggling Chivas USA on Saturday night.

"I felt good and sometimes it's not bad to have as couple of days off to get your legs back," Casey said. "But it also helps to get revived to watch someone like Pablo score a goal."

The Rapids wasted little time building their lead as Mastroeni scored his first goal of the year 26 seconds into the match. It was his first score since April 3, 2005, against Los Angeles.

"Conor had a big night for us, but it was Pablo that gave us the big lift early," coach Gary Smith said. "He hit a real scorcher."

Casey sent a shot over goalkeeper Lance Parker, making his MLS debut in place of the injured Zach Thornton, in the fourth minute to make it 2-0.

Casey put Colorado (8-6-6) ahead 3-0 when he converted a cross from Omar Cummings, who had three assists, in the 23rd minute. He then faked Parker out of the crease on a penalty kick at the end of the half and gently nudged the ball into the netting to increase the lead to 4-0.

Casey had his second three-goal game of the year and third of his career in his first match back. Colorado's leading scorer didn't play in the July 25 game with New York due to yellow-card accumulation and the Aug. 1 matchup against Columbus after injuring his left thigh in the All-Star game.

"I had a good night, but Pablo gave us a real good lift with that goal," Casey said. "Score that early and in that fashion is a big boost for us."

The loss was the fifth straight for Chivas (8-7-3), which has one goal during the skid. The team has been shut out three consecutive times.

"This is a nightmare," midfielder Jesse Marsch said. "It's going to take a collective effort and not just one guy to figuring out how to play with more conviction and confidence."

Thornton sat out with a strained right quadriceps that he injured in the All-Star game.

"The strategy from the start was to do our utmost to get under pressure a young goalkeeper in his first start," Smith said. "We did just that and the fact Pablo hits his shot was massive for us."

Defender Shavar Thomas received a red card ejection on Casey's third goal to further deplete Chivas' ranks.

Chivas barely tested Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens in the first half and had two shots on goal for the game.

Parker prevented Colorado from scoring a fifth goal when he stopped Cummings on a breakaway in the 49th minute.

"We started poorly, turning the ball over in our end and allowing Pablo coming in all alone and getting a good wind kick," coach Preki said. "The game was over in the first 50 minutes."

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Story from: STATS LLC, http://www.stats.com.