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Revolution-Rapids Preview

Sep 17, 2010 - 8:18 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

New England (7-13-3) at Colorado (9-7-7), 9:00 p.m. EDT

The Colorado Rapids are hoping a pair of major acquisitions this week will help as they make their final push for the playoffs.

The Rapids expect to debut Macoumba Kandji and Brian Mullan as they try to extend their home unbeaten streak to nine games Saturday night when they meet the lowly New England Revolution.

Colorado (9-7-7) is in good shape to reach the postseason with 34 points, six more than ninth-place Toronto FC. The Rapids believe Kandji and Mullan will help cement their place.

"The two new signings come at a very good time for us," coach Gary Smith said. "They add some valuable depth and quality for the group. I think more than anything else at this point in time it gives everyone a lift in this final run."

Kandji was acquired from New York on Tuesday for midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy. The Senegalese forward had one goal this year and became available once the Red Bulls acquired superstar Thierry Henry.

Mullan came over from Colorado for fellow midfielder Colin Clark, who is out for the year with an ACL injury. Mullan is a Littleton, Colo., native who is relishing the chance to play at home.

"I'm very excited for this," Mullan said. "I've loved the teams I've played for, but I've always wanted to get back here, I've always considered Colorado home."

Smith has plans to use both players to bolster an attack that features Omar Cummings and Conor Casey. Cummings has four goals in his last three games to tie Casey for the team lead with nine.

"Brian will be out wide and Kandji will be up front, but both are very versatile," Smith said. "Mac Kandji is more explosive, and I hope is going to give us a bit of a cutting edge when we need it up front."

New England (7-13-3) knows it will be difficult to win in Colorado, where the Rapids are 5-0-3 since a 1-0 loss to Los Angeles on May 5. The Revolution are 0-5-3 in their last eight visits to Colorado and a league-worst 1-9-1 on the road this year.

"It's just a tough atmosphere, it's a tough environment with the altitude," Revs defender Darrius Barnes said. "After the first 10 minutes you feel like you've probably played 90 because you're breathing so heavily."

New England is tied with Philadelphia for the third-lowest point total in the league with 24, and looked listless in last Friday's 2-0 home loss to Chivas USA.

The Revs played without suspended midfielder Marko Perovic, who has a team-high six goals and will return Saturday.

"Whenever you get a guy (back) on the field who's got quality, then it helps you," coach Steve Nicol said.

Colorado won the first meeting 2-1 at Gillette Stadium on Pablo Mastroeni's goal in the 73rd minute.