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Rapids-Fire Preview

Jun 10, 2010 - 12:03 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Colorado (6-3-1) at Chicago (3-3-4), 9:00 p.m. EDT

Behind goaltender Matt Pickens and one the stingiest defenses in MLS, the Colorado Rapids are moving up the Western Conference standings.

Pickens will try to help the Rapids record their fourth straight shutout when they visit the Chicago Fire on Wednesday, looking for their first road win in the series in almost six years.

Colorado (6-3-1), which has matched the best start in franchise history set in 2002, won its last three games to move within one point of second place in the conference.

Colorado defeated Eastern Conference-leading Columbus 1-0 on Saturday. Drew Moor scored in the 85th minute and Pickens recorded three saves for his fourth shutout of the season.

"Tonight, winning is everything because we have played well for five weeks, six weeks, and haven't always got our reward," said coach Gary Smith, whose team lost two straight 1-0 games before its current winning streak.

Led by Pickens, Colorado has given up seven goals this season - second fewest behind Los Angeles' three. The Rapids haven't surrendered a goal in the last 339 minutes - tied for the third-longest streak in franchise history - and are 52 minutes shy of matching the longest streak without a goal from July 9-Aug. 13, 2003.

Colorado has a chance to surpass that record Wednesday, but the club hasn't won a road game against the Fire since a 3-0 victory Aug. 14, 2004. The Rapids will need to avoid the defensive lapses that cost them a home win against Chicago on April 3, when they led 2-1 before giving up the tying goal on a penalty kick in the second half.

The Fire (3-3-4) defeated Philadelphia 2-1 on Saturday, their first victory since a 2-0 win over Houston on April 24. Chicago went 0-1-3 in May.

Baggio Husidic and Marco Pappa scored for Chicago, which was coming off disheartening draws against FC Dallas, when it allowed a goal in the first six minutes, and Kansas City, in which it blew a 2-0 lead.

"We needed points, it's as simple as that," midfielder Justin Mapp told the Fire's official website. "We hadn't won in a number of games so whether (it was) pretty or ugly, we just needed three points, so it was big for us."

Since their 2004 loss to the Rapids at Soldier Field, the Fire are 4-0-1 against Colorado at home, taking the last two meetings at Toyota Park.

Rapids midfielder Pablo Masteroni will miss this game after receiving a red card in the last match.