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Chivas USA-Rapids Preview

Sep 3, 2010 - 8:02 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Chivas USA (6-11-4) at Colorado (8-6-7), 9:00 p.m. EDT

A rare offensive outburst led the Colorado Rapids to a victory in their last game, but a shutout by their backup goaltender may have been even more promising.

After proving to be a capable fill-in, rookie Ian Joyce could be back in net if Matt Pickens misses a second straight game when the Rapids host last-place Chivas USA on Saturday night.

Colorado (8-6-7) had scored no more than one goal in eight straight games before a 3-0 win over Houston last Saturday, matching a 3-1 victory over Toronto on April 18 as the club's highest-scoring game this season.

"It was good to see our offense open up," said Conor Casey, who had a goal and two assists. "We came very aggressive and never let up and we got the results we wanted."

Colorado holds the seventh playoff seed, four points ahead of Toronto, which is in ninth. The top eight teams reach the postseason.

As the Rapids try to move up the standings, it would help to have a healthy Pickens in net. The veteran goaltender is fifth in MLS with a 1.05 goals-against average and has five shutouts.

However, he sat out last weekend with back spasms as Joyce got the win in his first MLS appearance. Saturday's starting goaltender will be a game-time decision.

"With regards to the goalkeepers, I'll wait until the last minute to make a decision on that," coach Gary Smith told the Rapids' official website following Thursday's practice. "Of course (Pickens has) been a very, very big part of some of the statistics that we have defensively. But Ian came in and performed exceptionally well on the weekend. ... I now know I've got two excellent goalkeepers to choose from."

Pickens was in net for a 1-0 win over Chivas on March 26 in both teams' season openers.

Things haven't gotten much better offensively for Chivas (6-11-4). It has scored 23 goals all season and is in last place in the Western Conference.

After being shut out in back-to-back games, Chivas recorded a 1-0 win over D.C. United on Sunday, snapping a 0-2-1 streak.

Justin Braun scored the game's only goal, his eighth of the season.

"(Coach Martin Vasquez) wants the team to go forward and take our chances," Braun said. "He wants us to go at people and take risks. I always like it when coaches give you the freedom to go forward and use your skill to take people on."

Chivas is coming off a 3-1 loss to Seattle in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals on Wednesday.