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Rapids-Wizards Preview

Apr 9, 2010 - 9:16 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Colorado (1-0-1) at Kansas City (1-0-0), 8:30 p.m. EDT

It's been eight years since the Colorado Rapids have opened with a three-game unbeaten streak. Their winless skid in Kansas City has lasted nearly as long.

To match the franchise's best start, they'll have to break that drought Saturday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

The Rapids (1-0-1) just missed back-to-back victories to open this season as Chicago rallied to force a 2-2 draw last Saturday in Colorado. Omar Cummings and Conor Casey gave the Rapids a 2-1 lead at halftime, but the Fire's Brian McBride converted a penalty kick in the 51st minute.

Coach Gary Smith said Marvell Wynne was too aggressive on the key infraction. The defender, acquired in a March 25 trade with Toronto FC, hauled down Patrick Nyarko along the end line.

"If he cuts off the goal and makes the wide play, I'm not sure he takes him on," Smith said. "But by being aggressive with that run, he says to him, look, shove beyond me and we'll have a race."

The tie still gives the Rapids a chance to match their 2-0-1 start in 2002. They also earned their previous win in Kansas City that same season.

Colorado hasn't beaten the Wizards (1-0-0) on the road since a 2-1 win Sept. 14, 2002, and is 0-7-3 in the past 10 games there, including the 2003 playoffs.

Kansas City is 15-3-4 all-time at home against the Rapids and is trying to build off an impressive season-opening win, 4-0 over D.C. United on March 27.

In their MLS debuts, British midfielder Ryan Smith had a goal and an assist and goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen made three saves.

After being unable to sign Kevin Hartman, the Wizards brought in Nielsen in February from Danish club BK Vejle. They later traded the rights for Hartman, the MLS career leader in saves, wins and shutouts, to FC Dallas on March 8.

Kansas City also acquired Indian forward Sunil Chhetri on March 25, and he's expected to make his league debut Saturday.

Chhetri recorded a hat trick in his first action for the team's reserve club, and he was called up after Zoltan Hercegfalvi tore his right ACL in an exhibition win over AC St. Louis on April 4. Hercegfalvi is expected to miss at least five months.

Josh Wolff has nine goals and five assists in 23 career games against the Rapids but failed to score in either meeting last season. The Wizards fell 2-1 in Colorado and the teams played to a scoreless draw in Kansas City.

Cummings scored in the victory over the Wizards, and he has a goal in each of the first two games this season.

The teams will meet again Tuesday night at the University of Missouri-Kansas City for a U.S. Open Cup qualifying game.