Rapids 1 - 2 Sounders
Final
  for this game

Rapids-Sounders Preview

Jul 24, 2010 - 5:51 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Colorado (6-4-5) at Seattle (5-8-4), 10:30 p.m. EDT

The Seattle Sounders haven't had nearly the same success at Qwest Field in 2010 as they did during their inaugural season, but at least they bring a little momentum into Sunday night's game there.

The Colorado Rapids only wish they could say the same.

Seattle hopes to build off a crucial road victory and win for just the second time in seven home matches when it faces Colorado, which hasn't won anywhere in its last five games.

The Sounders (5-8-4) are just 3-4-2 at Qwest Field this season after going 7-2-6 in 2009. They're 1-3-2 in the last six home games.

Seattle was winless in four straight overall (0-1-3) entering its most recent league match - at D.C. on July 15 - but may have gotten a spark it can take back home. Roger Levesque's 89th-minute goal provided the difference in a 1-0 victory.

"The three points is everything - we're just so happy," goalkeeper Kasey Keller said. "We needed something to go our way. We've played well enough to win games, and we've given up late goals for draws, and it just felt good to keep that clean sheet, and to win 1-0, and for Roger to pop up at the end."

Levesque's goal was his first, and it was a rare strike from someone other than Fredy Montero or Steve Zakuani, who have combined for 11 of the team's 18 scores.

Help is on the way for Montero and Zakuani. Blaise Nkufo is expected to make his first league start after the Swiss national team striker debuted in a 2-1 exhibition loss to Celtic FC last Sunday.

Colorado (6-4-5) will still likely be concerned with Montero and Nate Jaqua, who hopes to play despite a groin injury. Montero (two) and Jaqua (three) provided the Sounders' offense in last season's two meetings, a 2-2 draw in Denver and a 3-0 home win.

The lone matchup this year saw Conor Casey's goal give the Rapids a 1-0 victory May 29.

Colorado beat Columbus 1-0 the following week but has since gone 0-4-1, and needed a 73rd-minute strike from Casey last Saturday to salvage a 1-all draw with Kansas City.

Coach Gary Smith's second-half move to put midfielder Omar Cummings up top with Casey seemed to spark a Colorado attack that had produced very little.

Smith figures to employ a similar strategy against Seattle. He certainly doesn't appear to be lacking confidence despite his team's recent lack of results.

"There are too many good things going on for me, the group, to get too despondent," Smith said. "There's still a lot of football left.

"I went away and thought about it. It was the first time in 10 or 12 games when we haven't controlled proceedings and looked the better team."






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