Denver, CO, July 09, 2004 (CSA) — Good things come in threes...

Three...newly signed players for the Rapids.
Three...goals in a game finally achieved (3-2 over the MetroStars).
Three...players getting their first goal recently (Nat Borchers, Jordan Cila, Alberto Delgado).
Three…wins in a row.
Third...place in the Western Conference.
Three…games without being shutout. Whoops, four games actually.

Unfortunately, the trifecta backfired when it came to starters returning from injury. Rapids Head Coach Tim Hankinson says Jean Philippe "Pedro" Peguero, Rey Ángel Martinez and Mark Chung are all likely to be sidelined for the upcoming match against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

"I believe we can continue to get results despite our injuries," said Hankinson via email interview.

However, concern about generating the big "O" still lingers. As keeper Joe Cannon pointed out, "a person like Mark Chung, we miss him in the sense that he brings that little unpredictability to the team's [attack]."

Coming off an important win in front of the home fans before the 4th of July fireworks display, the Rapids are on a streak, but their wins raise as many questions as they answer.

Has luck finally turned her glassy eye towards Colorado, or do these wins present the depth of a team building for success in the playoffs? Is the backfield dominance which has set Cannon and his Final Four as the top defenders in the league finally wearing down frustrated strikers?

"I think now it's a matter of staying focused," says Cannon. "I don't think it's a different team, but the attitude has changed and it's starting to be more competitive around here."

Defensive measures
The coach certainly sees his defense as critical, and having Cannon between the pipes certainly gives the team a boost.

"The use of a back four and two holding central midfielders," has been the core of the team says Hankinson. "These six, along with our outstanding goalkeeping brings stability and builds confidence throughout our team."

Borchers agrees.

"It definitely gives our back four a lot of confidence," says the second-year defender. "[Cannon's] a phenomenal presence back there, when he makes saves, when he talks, and just the way he plays - it gives us all a lot of confidence."

A swinging turnstile has kept the lineup shuffling like a conman caught facing his bail bondsman in a compromising position.

"The challenge in the next few weeks is having six games in the next 18 days," Hankinson offered. "But we have endured this all season and believe we can hold a steady path until the All-Star break.

"When all attacking players are healthy, fit, and sharp, I expect to adjust into a more aggressive game plan, possibly seeing three forwards on the park. [Unfortunately, Peguero] is not ready, so our anticipation of an explosive side must wait for now."

In any case, the backline is not sitting on their laurels.

"We know there are always things to be worked on defensively," said Borchers. "In New England we gave up a lot of opportunities and we really worked this week to minimize them. We've been working really hard to prevent the cross."

Questionable caution
Of concern for the upcoming series of games is the risk of more caution warnings for Nat Borchers (20 points) and Pablo Mastroeni (17 points). Both are near another suspension (21 points) if they receive further cautions.

Given Colorado's dominance in the backfield, it is a problem resulting from decisions made by both Borchers and Mastroeni that have created this concern for the team.

For example, Mastroeni has recently been booked for delaying a restart, not something he can afford to be giving up regularly given his hard-tackling nature.

But staying clean and healthy the past two games is a good start towards maintaining the professionalism both defenders will need to be able to continue supporting their teammates on the field.

While both remain in trouble, they could get a reprieve after the next game. There is a one-time opportunity MLS has implemented called the "Good Behavior Incentive." If Borchers and Mastroeni avoid a yellow in their next match, they will have their total points reduced by five, (temporarily) removing them from suspension trouble.

However, Borcher's will not let this weigh on his mind in preparing for the L.A. series.

"It doesn't play any factor in my game at all," he said this week, "because if I need to pull somebody down or make a tactical foul, then possibly I have to do it to make sure my team gets three points on the road.

"It comes with the territory. I'm a little bit cleaner in my tackles when I'm on caution points. At the same time, if it's a foul I need to give and it's going to cost a yellow card, I'm still going to give it."

Along with Pedro, Chung and Martinez, the Rapids will be missing Mastroeni, who is away with the U.S. Men's National Team this weekend for the friendly against Poland on Sunday, July 11 (5 p.m. MDT, ESPN2), but expected to return for the home leg against L.A. next Wednesday.

Borchers isn't worried: "Ritchie Kotschau is playing next to me and he's a fantastic defender, very skilled with his feet like Pablo is."

With the seamless reintroduction of forward Carlos Ruiz alongside forwards Jovan Kirovski, Cobi Jones and Alejandro Moreno, Los Angeles continues to be stunningly dangerous in the striking third of the field. Ask the San Jose Earthquakes, against whom Ruiz tallied two goals last week in an exciting 2-1 win in this California Classic.

This leapfrogged L.A. over Kansas City into sole possession of first place in the Western Conference, and first in points overall with 27 to the Rapids' mid-table 21 points.

Yet, the coach has a good vibe about playing at the Home Depot Center.

"The visiting locker room is painted black and blue. Home away from home!" Hankinson said about the soccer-specific stadium.

"Home Depot will be a stadium where important games will always be played. It is important to believe you can win there. We were the first to beat L.A. at the Depot, and having played three games there we are 1-1-1."

Overall, the Galaxy have most of their team back together, only missing Danny Califf and Peter Vagenas to injury; Sasha Victorine and Marcelo Saragosa, who are listed as questionable due to injury; Andreas Herzog, (with 21 caution points) has been confirmed to miss Saturday's game due to accumulated caution points; and defender Chris Albright joins Mastroeni with the U.S. National Team in Chicago.

However, the Rapids have played tough against Los Angeles thus far, marking two 1-1 ties in 2004. If they can contain El Pescadito, it could be another notch in Colorado's climb to the top.

"It's about how we are going to be able to contain Carlos Ruiz, without Pablo," said Cannon.

"Pablo's the one guy that's probably just as cheeky as Carlos...the showmanship, knowing when to get away with fouls, when not to. Ultimately, [Ruiz is] our main concern, how our back four adjusts to a player like that."

At the end of the day, Hankinson thinks the Rapids have what it takes.

"Are we good enough?" the coach asked rhetorically. "We are third in the league in points and best in the league in goals against average. Our best is still ahead of us and peaking with our best available is an important goal in the quest for a cup."

Perhaps that's all anyone can plan for.

Entering the fourth game of a long summer stretch, which could wind up with the Rapids playing 13 games over a month and a half, Colorado moves into a home-and-away series against MLS and Western Conference leaders L.A. Galaxy. The series begins this Saturday at the Home Depot Center at 8 p.m. (MDT), televised on Fox Sports World, FSRM, and Direct Kick.

Also of note, the Rapids are hosting a big clash of Latin American super squads at Invesco Field at Mile High on Wednesday, July 21 at 8 p.m. (MDT).

Club Atlético Boca Juniors of Argentina will square off against Mexico's own Club Chivas de Guadalajara (which adds extra excitement as Chivas USA is expected to be announced by MLS as an expansion team in the coming weeks, probably to be based in Los Angeles according to the latest rumors and vocal protests of several Galaxy players).

Chivas is also famous for only using Mexican-born players. Which begs the question as to how Chivas USA would function.

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