Denver, CO, June 11, 2004 (ASN) — In the last chapter of the Colorado Rapids vs. D.C. United saga, the Rapids came away with a 2-1 win over United, but not without their problems.

They did not feel they played their best. Yet, it is a sign of greatness when a team can win, as they did, and still want more.

Following two losses, and in the face of true adversity and a deadened offense, it is time to see if they can turn desire into performance.

Last time they faced D.C., the Rapids were also looking up from the bottom of the Western Conference. They dug deep and used their Eastern Conference foe to pull themselves out of the cellar. Now that they are back in the same position, but can they do it again?

"To get results on the road," said Head Coach Tim Hankinson, "it's about making a tremendous sacrifice. You are going to have to physically bring and leave everything you've got."

Last time, the Rapids were one of the best teams on defense and one of the worst on offense. This time they are the best defense (just eight goals against) and the worst offense (shutout four times).

Last time, the Rapids were coming in with two recent ties. Now they'll be fighting for their careers with two recent losses.

Last time, they were trying to build an MLS record as the best home team, looking for 16 games at home without a loss, and succeeding. This time the K.C. Wizards have squashed the dream of continuing this streak, so now the Rapids are hoping to start building a winning tradition on the road (0-2-2 on the road this year).

Last time, Zizi Roberts made his starting debut in 2004 against D.C., and was effective, opening scoring for the night. This time, Roberts is expected to start and perform better, as striker Jean-Philippe "Pedro" Peguero is off on Haitian national team duty for the second game in a row.

A lackluster performance midweek has given the Rapids much to think about as they prepare to go on the road. And there's no doubt this will be a difficult game for the Rapids on the run, er, road.

"It's not a fun match," said Hankinson. "It is a hard, hard physical effort, an emotional commitment to squeeze everything you can out of that competitive night. I think we've got a group that doesn't fear being pushed into that environment, and being willing to make that sacrifice."

Before the midweek express train rolled over them, Rapids perennial workhorse midfielder Chris Henderson was sounding upbeat about his chances on the road.

"I'm getting a lot of chances," he said. "It's actually a lot different than the way we played in preseason. I'm getting a lot more attacks than before."

Noting that injuries have caused some reshuffling of the lineup, Henderson said the team "changed our tactics about [four] weeks ago and we're saying 'we're a winger team.' So we're getting the ball to me and [Mark] Chung wide, and I'm getting the ball three or four times more per game than I usually do. When we changed our attitude, maybe when Spenny got hurt, we decided to go to the wings, and so it's helped me get the ball more and get into the game more."

As for how the lynchpin of the Rapids offense can start helping his team offensively, "I gotta keep doing what I've done. As a winger I've gotten my share of goals in my career."

The Rapids should have some help from D.C.'s defense. In their last matchup, Chung spun D.C. defender David Stokes right-round-baby-right-round en route to setting up Colorado's first goal, and Stokes has struggled ever since, being instrumental in helping United lose 3-0 at Chicago last weekend.

But Chung is injured and not expected to play Saturday in a rematch that was likely to be favorable for Colorado.

Pablo Mastroeni should have been absent for the D.C. matchup due to U.S. Men's National Team duties. Turns out he will be, despite national team head coach Bruce Arena relieving him from service. With 11 caution points in the previous three games, he needed to keep his record clean against K.C. two nights ago. Unfortunately he was booked for dissent and has been suspended by the League for this Saturday's game.

And so is defender Nat Borchers, who received a straight red card in the 92nd minute against K.C., which leaves the Rapids back line in a lurch.

However, Mastroeni may not be getting much vacation time, as Rapidsfan.com has reported that Mastroeni appears to have been asked by Arena to join the team in New York before they head to Grenada for the second of the home-and-away qualifier series on June 20. Last week's release of Mastroeni from the U.S. squad is clearly old news.

Ritchie Kotschau is expected to travel with the side to Washington, and is likely to fill the black hole in the center of Colorado's back four.

In the face of revolving injuries and suspensions, Henderson said that "You've got to focus on what your game is."

"I can't try and play beyond what I do. I can't think 'I have got to be more forward' and then forget about my defensive responsibilities. And when we have injuries, the guys behind them need to step into that spot."

Helping the Rapids is an absolutely decimated D.C. side. Though Bryan Namoff and Jaime Moreno are expected back in the lineup after recent injury, and Ronald Cerritos is unexpectedly available after not getting called by El Salvador's national team, this United squad will likely be missing at least five players.

Forwards trio Thiago Martins, Santino Quaranta and Eliseo Quintanilla remain sidelined with serious injuries. And starters Bobby Convey and Earnie Stewart are away with the U.S., preparing for Sunday's opening qualifier against Grenada.

In an interesting twist, Adrian Cann (who has yet to play for the Rapids) and Gary Sullivan (who has come in recently as a frontman heading specialist) are listed as probable starters at center back, although it is likely that, even should they start, Kotschau will be pushed to the center of defense.

Breaking news: Rey Ángel Martinez was signed this morning by the Rapids, and David Castellanos has been waived. Martinez is expected to be available for this game.

The Rapids hope to turn things around, riding their earlier dominance over D.C. at home with a similar away-game performance this Saturday night at RFK Stadium, 5:30 p.m. (MDT). The game will air live on Fox Sports World.

A Scottish farewell tour
No matter what the outcome of Saturday's game, Rapids fans will have a renewed interest in seeing Colorado play as many times as possible the remainder of this year, whether on TV or live in Denver at The Fortress.

Premiere striker John Spencer, among the Rapids most exciting players, has announced to American Soccer News that he plans to leave Colorado, the Rapids, and the U.S. behind after this season — his fourth in Major League Soccer.

Probably.

The good news is that he wants silverware to take across the Pond with him.

"This will probably be my last season here as a Rapids player, and I'm looking to go out on a high," Spencer said.

In pondering his final matches for the Black & Blue, he has vowed that "We'll score goals. I'll score goals. If the chances come, I'll put the ball in the back of the net."

"Going out is my aim with a championship game," Spencer mused with poetic grace. "If it doesn't happen, I'll be disappointed."

Spencer will also make a run at Paul Bravo's Rapids goal scoring record, which stands at 39. The current team captain has 34 tallies.

Earlier in the season, coach Hankinson confirmed that there had been no discussion between Spencer and the Rapids regarding extending his contract.

But Spencer may not be done with professional soccer. After the season ends, he expects to return to London, where he and his family will be based after he does finally end his impressive, continent-spanning professional career.

"As I say, this will probably be my last season, and then probably [I will] try and play one more year back in England and then retire forever."

To reiterate his feelings, Spencer added: "This will be my last year, probably."

So if you ever wanted to spend time getting to know the Scottish wunderkind who has energized the game for fans across America in the new Millennium, and especially here in Colorado, this year could prove to be your last chance.

Probably.

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