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Rapids-Red Bulls Preview

Sep 10, 2010 - 6:48 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

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

The Colorado Rapids made progress toward ending the longest postseason drought in team history with shutout wins at home in each of the past two weeks.

The Rapids, though, likely need better results on the road, and they'll try to end a six-game winless streak there in a matchup with the New York Red Bulls - a team they have beaten three straight times on the road - Saturday.

Colorado hasn't reached the playoffs since 2006 and missed last year's postseason on a tiebreaker. The Rapids (9-6-7) are in position to return to the playoffs, as they hold the sixth seed and are six points ahead of ninth-place Toronto FC.

Colorado, however, plays four of its final eight games away from Dick's Park.

"We can't just look at the teams below us. Of course there is a magic number that gets us in (the playoffs)," coach Gary Smith said. "Honestly, I think this group is better than just getting in (to the playoffs)."

Colorado has earned 10 points since the beginning of August and beat Chivas USA and Houston by 3-0 scores in its last two games. After backup Ian Joyce blanked the Dynamo on Aug. 28, Matt Pickens returned from back spasms and shut out Chivas last Saturday.

Two of the Rapids' goals against Chivas came from Omar Cummings, who also found the net in the Houston game. Conor Casey also scored last week, giving him two goals and two assists in the past two contests.

Casey, whose team-high nine goals are one more than Cummings' total, needs one goal to tie Paul Bravo's team record of 39. If he matches Bravo this season, he would become the first Rapids player to have three seasons with double-digit goals.

Colorado may need Casey and Cummings to continue their strong offensive play if the club is going to snap an 0-3-3 road slump. New York has allowed three goals in the past six games.

The Red Bulls defeated the visiting Rapids 3-0 during U.S. Open Cup play May 26. The teams tied 1-all in league play at Colorado on July 4 as Juan Pablo Angel answered a score from Cummings.

The draw snapped the Rapids' four-game winning streak in the series. Colorado has won the past three road matchups with the Red Bulls, although all those games were at Giants Stadium, New York's former home.

New York is 7-3-1 in its first season in new Red Bull Arena. The club is looking to rebound from last Saturday's 1-0 loss to Real Salt Lake, the defending MLS champion that has not lost at home in a league record-tying 22 consecutive games.

"I think it showed that we can play well against a good team, in their place, even when not everything is going for us," New York midfielder Joel Lindpere told the league's website. "The second half, we were much improved, and I think that is what we can take from this match for the rest of the season and the playoffs."

The Red Bulls had four players away on international duty during that match but are expected to have everyone available Saturday, including goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul and midfielder Rafa Marquez.

New York (11-8-4) has a nine-point lead in the Eastern Conference.