Denver, CO, June 8, 2004 (ASN) — The worldwide rules of soccer, called the Laws of the Game, indicate that a perfect defense can never win a game in and of itself.

The Colorado Rapids keep trying, but even great defense cannot turn lead into gold, an "L" into a "W."

To whit, Colorado added an unwanted distinction this past week: worst offense in Major League Soccer, with just six goals in eight games, shutout three times.

Due to a lack of television coverage (Denver's KKFN carried the game on radio) statistics must tell the tale from the Rapids away-game loss in Chicagoland. The result, 0-1, was contested, but the facts are not.

The Chicago Fire outshot the Rapids nearly 2:1, and put three times as many shots on goal. Joe Cannon made five great saves. He would have needed to make six to save his team.

Two of Colorado's three shots on goal came from the hardest working midfielder in MLS, Chris Henderson, who forced Fire keeper Henry Ring to come up with big saves.

Chris Henderson reviewed his attempts for American Soccer News.

"The first chance was a good one, I hit it where I wanted to, far post, and it looked to be going in," Henderson said. "Maybe I could have pumped it once, but I hit it well. Ring made a good save.

"The second [chance], Ring came out well and I tried to chip it over him. [The keeper] made a good block on that one. He kind of came out before I could set up."

Despite the poor finishing numbers, and with several days to reflect on the Chicago game, Head Coach Tim Hankinson still believes the Rapids played well and can shake off the rust from the current scoring drought.

"There were a lot of positives out of that game." Hankinson said.

"Sometimes we go to Chicago, and put our tails between our legs, and [have] not even brought a game to compete with, and get run over. This was a great competitive effort we have to be proud about.

"We created in the first half two or three outstanding [chances], and I'm not talking about good opportunities. I'm talking about outstanding scoring chances.

"I felt that, of all the teams we [have taken] to Chicago, this team battled the hardest and the bravest," Hankinson continued. "They competed at every position equally, and sometimes better."

Discussing one such man-to-man matchup, Hankinson cited the performance of the Rapids' star right wingback.

"All the speculation about [Fire midfielder DaMarcus] Beasley tearing up Antonio [De la Torre] on the right side? It never happened. Antonio played him very well."

Consistent with his earlier strategy to stick with a 4-4-2 formation, Hankinson dismissed going up against the much talked about 3-5-2 of Chicago.

"We didn't have to change our system," he said. "We just made slight adjustments to our shape, [which worked.]"

After the game —and facing the reality of the Rapids failed offensive output— Hankinson did not accept credit for the loss.

"It's just a shame that [this game] was decided by a person that was not in a player's uniform," he said, referring to the assistant referee's decision to award the Fire a questionable goal.

Several days later, the Rapids coach elaborated: "There's no question, as we told the players, we certainly didn't deserve to win the game. We never talked about 'we deserved to win the game.' But we didn't deserve to lose it that way."

"We should have come away with no less than a point, with a 0-0 draw. We didn't put the ball in the back of the net, something we have to continue to work at gaining our confidence in. Because we can't control that issue [having the game given away by a poor referee call], we've been accentuating the positives and the strengths of our match that night."

Wizards attack "The Fortress"
If one hates to be caught betwixt a rock and hard place, then Colorado may have been salivating to find themselves between the pot-o-gold at the end of the rainbow and a soft pillow.

The Rapids can't lose at home. The Kansas City Wizards kept losing on the road in 2004, were struggling with recent losses, and the team's top striker, Josh Wolff, had U.S. National Team duties on his mind, recently being called up for the June 13 World Cup qualifier against Grenada.

But that's all changed. KC came from behind to beat the L.A. Galaxy 2-1 at the Home Depot Center this weekend, and Josh Wolff, along with Tony Meola and Kerry Zavagnin, was released from national team duty to be in position against the Rapids.

Still, without a home loss in more than a year, Colorado has confidence in defending "The Fortress," as Invesco Field at Mile High has been dubbed. Hopefully, they have the confidence to score goals and win.

"When you don't win games regularly, confidence does drain a little bit. No matter how confident a person you are, you still lose that little edge..."

The coach thinks they do.

"I think the group believes in itself," Hankinson said of his squad's attitude. "We'll keep preaching what we're preaching because we believe in these guys and what they can do on a given night."

How is coach Hankinson aiming to finally get balls in the back of the net?

"I don't think you change the strategic approach to it because, realistically, we are creating the chances," he said.

"We are creating as good [a set of] opportunities as when we had [former Rapids midfield playmaker Carlos] Valderrama to set things up. It's a matter of getting people on the end of those shots to be confident and sharpen their game."

Rapid Changes
Injuries and national team call-ups guarantee the Rapids strike force will remain under pressure and keep them from finding a rhythm in June.

Haitian Jean Philippe "Pedro" Peguero, Colorado's leading scorer who has played in every match, is unavailable the next three matches.

Despite previous reports from the Rapids that Zizi Roberts had left for national team duty, he has continued to practice with the team, remains in Denver, and is available to play against the Wizards.

U.S. National Team star defender Pablo Mastroeni had been called up for the game against Grenada, but was released from his U.S. duties, and Colorado midfielder Mark Chung is injured with a leg muscle pull. He is likely out the next two games -not even training this past week- and Ritchie Kotschau is listed as probable and has practiced at nearly full pace. But John Spencer is coming back into full swing.

"The 10-day break from the Chicago game to the KC [game], it gives me time for extra running," Spencer said. "I'm trying to do as much as I can to get match fit."

Hankinson seconded that motion: "Spenny's worked endlessly hard to sharpen himself. Zizi again is finally in a position to help us win a game."

The Rapids aren't bothered by the player shuffle. Remaining key offensive players and the coach have shown a unity of thought, apparently drinking at the same watering hole.

"Goal scorers go through highs and lows," Hankinson noted. "You're either hot or your not. The first part of the season we had most of our striker core injured and rehabbing, [and are now] finally getting back to training. We just have to keep doing what we're doing until that moment comes [when the strikers are hot]."

After practice this week, Henderson echoed the coach's thoughts: "You have to keep believing and keep trying," he said. "It's gonna come at some point or another where it's just going to start going in."

"I'll score goals," Spencer the marksman predicted. "As I've proven over the years, I'm here to score goals and that's what I get paid to do, and if I don't do it I'll be disappointed."

Spencer reflected on the up front loss of Pedro for the KC game.

"I've been here four seasons, and I've never had a big man to play off, and I've scored goals," Spencer said. "As long as I'm fit and healthy and we create chances, I'll score goals. I'm going to put that pressure on myself. If I don't score goals, I'm failing."

However, Spencer does realize that previous performance affects the team.

"When you don't win games regularly," he noted, "confidence does drain a little bit. No matter how confident a person you are, you still lose that little edge. Last year we had a breakout game against the New England [Revolution], 4-0 or something, then we did well. So confidence is a big thing for a professional athlete."

What about the KC defense, among the best in MLS?

Henderson, part of the 2000 Championship Wizards team, had a few thoughts on facing his former club.

"For [the Rapids] to have success," Henderson believes "we gotta make sure to follow shots on [KC goalkeeper] Tony Meola."

"They're all collapsing in front of goal," Henderson noted of KC's style of defending. "We've got to look at that space, where sometimes a late run from midfield [could be effective], or we get the ball wide fast and attack fast before they all get behind the ball."

Spencer feels that the team "has just got to keep playing [their] own game, and hope that guys like Henderson can create chances."

Henderson feels he knows the Wizards' mindset.

"I've known [Kansas City head coach Bob] Gansler since I was in the youth teams...their attitude is, 'We want to come in even at half time. Everybody gets behind the ball, we're going to get our chances at some point during the game, but let's not get stretched out.' And that's how they play."

Spencer focuses more internally. "I don't look at anybody else," he said. "I look at us every single day."

Explaining further he said, "You can watch too many games and get too worked up. On any given night any team can beat each other in this league. When they come to Invesco on Wednesday, it's going to be a different game again. We're going to be up for it because we need to win games."

The Rapids hope to work a little goal-scoring magic as they face off against Josh Wolff and the rest of the Kansas City Wizards in a midweek Western Conference pairing of the last and second-ranked teams, respectively, Wednesday night, June 9, Invesco Field at Mile High, 7:30 p.m. (MDT).

Bilfish can be reached at bilfish@cybersoccernews.com.
© Fisher/Cyber Soccer Associates, LLC 2004