Final
  for this game

Colorado, D.C. meet at RFK Stadium

May 13, 2011 - 8:40 PM Washington, D.C. (Sports Network) - D.C. United hosts a short-handed Colorado Rapids club in Major League Soccer action at RFK Stadium on Saturday.

Fir the first time since 2008 the Rapids played a game without either Casey or Omar Cummings in the scoreless draw at New England last weekend, and it appears they will be without at least one of them on Saturday.

"There were moments that we might have made a little bit more of," Rapids coach Gary Smith said of the scoreless draw without his top strikers. "But we've got so many bodies changing in and out now because of injuries it's very difficult to find serious fluency here."

Cummings will be out at least another two weeks with an ankle sprain, with Casey listed as probable for Saturday's game ion the team's injury report.

"I have to say we're going through a difficult period," Smith said. "But we have two very promising and bright individuals. Those bodies will be back, and we will be in a good position and all the better for it."

United is hoping to hold the patter it has shown in its last two matches, a win and a draw, when it allowed just one goal. That is in contrast to the two games before that when it allowed eight goals.

"The positive is that we had a fairly good performance after a good performance on Wednesday," United coach Ben Olsen told his club's website. "That's what we are striving for here. We are striving to play consistent soccer, and if we do that over the course of a year, it's usually enough to make the playoffs."

In its most recent match United kept a clean sheet for the second time this season, something it hopes becomes more commonplace.

"We've got a good mixture of athletic guys, guys who can win balls in the air, and a good mixture of guys who are smart and composed," United goalkeeper Bill Hamid told the Washington Times. "It makes a very solid back line."

United will be without midfielders Branko Boskovic and Junior Carreiro and defenders Devon McTavish and Jed Zayner because of injuries, while Conor Shanosky will be unavailable because of his participation with the U.S. U-20 national team.

On top of Cummings, the rapids will be without forwards Caleb Folan and Macoumba Kandji, while defender Eddie Ababio is questionable.