Real Salt Lake at Colorado Rapids: Match Night Commentary

Real Salt Lake is set to take on arch-rival Colorado tonight in a match that will see the winner clinch a playoff berth and the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, as well as the first-round playoff meeting with Chivas USA that comes with it.

Real Salt Lake has never made the playoffs while the Rapids missed the post-season last year. RSL needs just a tie to reach the playoffs while the home team Rapids must win to move on to the playoffs.

I am doing a running commentary throughout the match. If you plan on watching tonight's match, please feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions on the match in the comments section below.

Enjoy the match.

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FINAL- That's all for tonight. Thanks for following along and please feel free to share your thoughts and opinions on the match in the comments section below.

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FINAL- The Rapids played a great game but their inability to find that second goal, coupled with a late mistake in the back, which led to the RSL goal. It will be interesting to see how much roster turnover Colorado has this off-season.

Lastly, I know I said the Rapids were the better team, but they also did benefit from a blown non-PK call. Perhaps there was a bit of justice at the end.

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FINAL- Yura Movsisyan was the hero late, with the 90th minute finish, but Nick Rimando can't be forgotten because his heroics kept Real Salt Lake in the match.

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FINAL- REAL SALT LAKE TIES and is in the playoffs. RSL 1, Rapids 1.

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95th minute- Still going

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94th minute- Movsisyan gets clipped by Kimura and acts like he got shot. Nice one.

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94th minute- Wow, LaBrocca lofts a chip pass into the area but it's just a bit too high for Petke.

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93rd minute- It's mad scramble time.

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92nd minute- Olave just cleared away two very good balls in. This is such a hearbreaker for Colorado, which has been the better team all night.

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90th minute- Russell heads a ball into the path of Andy Williams, who forces a save from Coundoul with his shot and Movsisyan buries the rebound. WoW

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90th minute- GOAL REAL SALT LAKE!!!

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89th minute- Tom McManus is in for Casey.

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89th minute- Ihemelu just stepped in and blocked a wide-open Williams look. That was close.

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88th minute- Terry Cooke with a clear look to put the match away but he shanks it off his weaker foot.

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87th minute- Three minutes left in the RSL season

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85th minute- RSL just doesn't look good. It's do-or-die time and they're not showing much.

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83rd minute- SAVE RIMANDO. Great shot by Terry Cooke but Rimando tips it over the bar.

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82nd minute- Colin Clark breaks free and forces Nat Borchers into a foul. Rapids with a good free kick chance.

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80th minute- Jacob Peterson in for Ballouchy.

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78th minute- Olave with a terrible touch and poor foul in the follow up. Ugh

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76th minute- RSL starting to show some urgency. Took long enough.

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75th minute- RSL putting some passes together but Mathis sends a weak shot wide.

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73rd minute- Findley for Wingert, and now RSL will go with a 3-5-2.

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72nd minute- Findley is set to come in.

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71st minute- Not sure what Jason Kreis is waiting for to get Robbie Findley into this game.

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69th minute- Mathis and Morales get yellows for dissent on different plays. Mathis protested the penalty non-call, which he had every right to.

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68th minute- I don't want to say Ihemelu committed a clear foul, but he would have gotten four points in wrestling for what he did.

Will Johnson just kicked teammate chris Wingert in the head. No blood fortunately.

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67th minute- Movsisyan comes oh so close, but his shot goes high. He was completely mugged by Ihemelu on the play and the ref makes no call. He probably should have just gone down instead of fighting through and shooting.

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66th minute- RSL struggling to string together passes. Their attack does rely a lot on jailbreaks and numbers getting forward, not so much about intricate passing. As long as the Rapids stay disciplined I'm not sure RSL can break them down.

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64th minute- Morales and Mastroeni doing a little bit of jawing.

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63rd minute- RSL is actually still in a 4-4-2. That's what I get for listening to a TV announcer.

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62nd minute- RSL pressing hard for the equalizer, comes close but Movsisyan can't get a bicycle kick off.

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61st minute- RSL looking better now that they've switched to a 3-5-2.

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59th minute- And just like that, look who shows up? Morales gets into the box to force a corner.

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58th minute- If you see Javier Morales tonight, please call 1-800-LostNo10.

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56th minute- Robbie Russell comes in for Ian Joy, a speed boost that should help.

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55th minute- Andy Williams comes in for Dema Kovalenko, who was pretty well useless tonight.

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54th minute- Wow, LaBrocca curls a shot just wide of goal. Colorado is pressing hard and Omar Cummings is just doing what he wants.

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49th minute- Rimando SAVE on a LaBrocca shot from close range as Cummings wreaks havoc again.

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46th minute- And we're off. Second half is under way and Jason Kreis is doing an in-game interview. Not a fan of these things.

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HALFTIME- TOUCHDOWN PENN STATE!!! The Nittany Lions go up 10-6 after Terrell Pryor's fumble. (Oops, wrong sport).

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HALFTIME- As for Colorado, the Rapids played a great 45 minutes and only some good goalkeeping kept them from building a big lead. If they can keep up the defensive discipline and Mastroeni, Ballouchy and LaBrocca can keep up their solid play, the Rapids will win.

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HALFTIME- Real Salt Lake looked bad but they're not in terrible shape. They need to get their midfield organized. Kovalenko has been pretty invisible out there and Beckerman has spent too much time getting forward, leaving a lot of room in front of the RSL defense for Colorado's midfielders to roam.

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HALFTIME- Rapids 1, Real Salt Lake 0. An ugly first half for RSL, but Real Salt Lake is still within a goal from getting the result it needs. The Rapids showed great fire and determination. Can they keep it up for another 45 minutes?

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45th minute- Coundoul with a save on a long-range Wingert shot.

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43rd minute- MATHIS OFF THE POST!!! Wow, a header from Mathis comes so close but Bouna Coundoul saves it off the right post.

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43rd minute- RSL should be down 3-0 but Rimando came to play tonight. The Real Salt Lake defense is a mess, I actually think the blame goes to Dema Kovalenko and Kyle Beckerman, who are nowhere to be found as the Rapids midfield just races in.

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42nd minute- SAVE RIMANDO!!! What a great save on a close-range blast. WOW.

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41st minute- WOW, LaBrocca nearly makes it 2-0 but his shot was deflected by Joy just wide. Rapids are dominating.

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38th minute- Rapids pouring on the pressure and RSL holds up, barely. Rimando had to punch away one very dangerous ball in.

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37th minute- Borchers heads the free kick but it's well wide.

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36th minute- Another RSL free kick is coming. Can they make this one count?

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35th minute- Olave just hammered Casey at the top of the box but no call. Ref is letting them play tonight.

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33rd minute- Conor Casey is hurt after Olave comes in with a very tough challenge. He's back up though.

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30th minute- I really don't get a sense of what RSL's tactics are in this match. They are a little all over the place.

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29th minute- Cummings speed is creating problems for RSL. Rapids corner kick

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27th minute- Will Johnson took it and sent it a yard or so wide.

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27th minute- RSL with a long free kick chance.

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26th minute- I'll say one thing. HD definitely shows off the fresh head wound Clint Mathis suffered courtesy of Red Bulls hatchet man Juan Pietravallo.

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24th minute- Not exactly a packed house at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Pretty disappointing for such a big game.

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23rd minute- HDNet is interviewing Gary Smith. This has to be a record for earliest in-game interview of a coach. There's no way that doesn't jinx the Rapids.

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22nd minute- RSL is looking a bit shaky right now and the Rapids have a confidence boost after that goal.

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20th minute- Perfect lofted ball in from the left flank finds Casey behind the RSL defense and he delivers a perfect chip shot.

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19th minute- GOAL RAPIDS!!!!!!!! Conor Casey with the finish, chipping it over Rimando!!! Rapids 1, RSL 0.

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19th minute- Mehdi Ballouchy looking good early on tonight. Very active.

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17th minute- Nick Rimando with some time-wasting. Nobody comes near him so he just stands on the ball for like 30 seconds. Not sure what that's about.

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16th minute- Action has slowed down at this point as the early jitters have died down.

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11th minute- Okay folks, if you're following along please let me know by posting a comment. Otherwise I might bag the commentary if nobody is following along.

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10th minute- Rapids pressing now.

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7th minute- Casey works hard in the area and Cummings nearly buries a loose ball, but it goes high.

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6th minute- Movsisyan with a golden opportunity that he sent wide. Kid misses a lot of easy ones.

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6th minute- Movsisyan with a dangerous ball across that Mathis can't redirect to anybody. RSL is attacking, no playing for the tie early on.

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5th minute- The kick is blocked and cleared away.

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4th minute- RSL with a dangerous free kick chance.

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2nd minute- LaBrocca hits the side netting off a nice ball in from Omar Cummings.

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1st minute- And we're off, and the satellite is cooperating for now.

Hard foul by Wingert just seconds in. Nice tone setter.

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PRE-GAME- Yes, as I feared, the big storm hitting the North Jersey area has knocked out my satelitte for now. I will begin commenting as soon as I get a signal.

Comments

[socmin]

Any online streaming?

[Matt]

I'm following, but I think I might be one of the few...Stupid they put this game on HDNet

[HowdyDoody]

Following along

[aristotle]

Am I the only one who is wondering what the h*el is wrong with Colorado's coach? Game after game you look at the list of subs and it blows the mind! Christian Gomez, Facundo Erpen, Jose Burciaga, and Terry Cooke being beaten out by Kosuke Kimura, Mehdi Ballouchy, Jordan Harvey, and Nick LaBrocca?

[Major Payne]

I am following

[Zach]

I am following, please keep it up! Thanks!

[jman81]

I'm following too. Thanks for the pbp ives.

[Betinho]

I'm here too

[Urine Pants]

I really hope RSL is able to pull this out.

[Pork Chop]

Thanks for the PBP

[Matt]

From listening to the radio, it doesn't seem like RSL is pressing very hard. Bad idea.

[aristotle]

Sound strategic move by Nick. Playing for the tie in the 17th minute.

[socmin]

I'm in on the play-by-play.

[Cadet Alex Stone]

Rimando is stalling cause RSL is content with the tie. By the by Ives you may have the most captivating eyes I have ever seen.

[aristotle]

What a surprise! Is there a team that chokes more than RSL? They should have been in the playoffs before this game. I didn't want to see K.C. in the playoffs, but I really don't want Colorado in. Oh well, it's early.

[aristotle]

He should ask Gary why he didn't trade Gomez, Erpen, and Burciaga.

[Thigh Master]

Conor Casey has had an excellent 2nd half of the season.

[aristotle]

Another reason I didn't want the rapids in the playoffs. They have a new stadium and still don't have any fans. DC's fans deserve to be in. I wish Dc could have benefited from this game.

[Jack Demetov]

They should ask Gary just exactly why Ives can make anyones heart melt.

[aristotle]

He's been scoring but he has been missing a LOT of good chances.

[Matt]

RSL needs to start playing with some sort of game plan. It seems like they are only reacting.

[Cupcakes Montague]

Love you Ives.

[David Lee Roth's Spandex]

Their tactics are to choke in front of the 35 or so fans in Colorado.

[aristotle]

RSL is to defensive , dull, and predictable. Kreis is too reluctant to use skill players. Bring in Andy Williams and stop playing with two defensive midfielders.

[Juicy Jones]

I can't believe I thought RSL would be able to at least tie.

[Ives]

Listen, whoever Juicy/David Lee Roth/Cupcake/Jack Demetov/etc. is, I'm going to ban you from the site in about a minute if you don't cut out the pointless comments.

[aristotle]

Who will Colorado Nofans play in the playoffs? Chivas?

[mitchell]

I found the game stream.

[mitchell]

http://www.justin.tv/widgets/jtv_live.ra787c460a9a44a05467d6aa20077f827fb8577c8.swf?channel=rsl_live_stream

[aristotle]

Kreis sucks.

[Ives' Jock Strap]

RSL needs to get their act together quick.

[Betinho]

i bet rimando's fave song is " i wish i was a little bit taller". He's such agood goalie. If he was taller he be a much richer goalie...

[aristotle]

You might say RSL are a team in Kreisis right now.

[Ives]

Don't say you weren't warned David Lee/Fu Man Chu/Demetov/etc.

[Isaac]

RSL can be creatively deadly they just need to take a deep breath(and an earful from Kreis)calm down, and find their shape.

[Matt]

Slightly better at the end for RSL, but they need to play with purpose next half.

[Geoff]

I can't see the game but I am really pulling for RSL. Sounds like they came out nervous?

[Mike Kurowski]

Some guys on RSl look flat. It definitely looks like the last game of the season. RSL is having trouble keeping with their men and Beckerman is giving the ball away too cheaply. Thank goodness it's halftime, they need the break to regroup. I hope they keep the same group and play through Johnson, who looks sharp. Colorado is really battling, they're being very aggressive.

[Isaac]

lol Chewy's in the crowd

[aristotle]

RSL needs to go to the bench. Andy Williams Andy Williams Andy Williams

[Tim F.]

Thanks for the running commentary Ives.

Conor Casey has indeed had a strong showing the second half of a season. The second half of this game should be quite entertaining as both are battling for the right to play Chivas in the playoffs.

[Tim F.]

From the "what were they thinking" department, how did Gabriel Badilla and Khano Smith both manage to get RED cards today and will now have to miss the opening playoff match against Chicago. As if Steve Ralston's injury was not enough of an obstacle. That scream in the background you hear is Mr. Nicols not some fake torture scene from a Halloween party.

[Igor]

Re: Revs red cards

As a Red Bulls fan, all I can say is HA-HA!

[aristotle]

Trivia:

Who holds the MLS single game scoring record?

[Betinho]

Khano Smith's tackle was a hit job of Hercules Gomez.

[aristotle]

Is he explaining why he was a striker when he played, but hates offense as a coach?

[aristotle]

Finally Williams is in. Kovalenko stinking takes precedent over Williams because Williams isn't a Kreis type player. I think Kreis would rather see someone work hard and play awful than have a player have a great game without much effort.

[mikeK]

Not a fan of Kreis as a coach, but at least he's got a decent defense.

Metro should steal the entire St. Pauli backline based on the way Ian Joy plays.

[mikeK]

Well, normally at least... Maybe he didn't have such a good night, but normally RSL are solid.

[Tim F.]

mitchell the man!

[aristotle]

Morales misses his fellow countryman Espindola. Actually, I think RSL is really missing Espindola. Can anyone picture Kreis screaming at Espindola for the way he injured himself?

[eric]

What a miss!

[eric]

What is the Espindola story, btw?

[aristotle]

Time for the final substitution. Kreis needs to bring in Findley.

[aristotle]

Espindola did a Jason Kreis style celebration, a la the flip, and injured himself.

[Mike Kurowski]

Terrible no call by the referee. The defender completely wrapped him up. Movsisyan is damned if he does go down or doesn't.

[aristotle]

Will Johnson should have kicked Movsisyan in the head.

[aristotle]

I don't understand how a player can just self destruct the way Mathis did. (He was the answer to the trivia question by the way.)

[aristotle]

Morales should have been a major contributor in a game like this. He has really let his team down. I guess the whole team has been a let down though.

[eric]

Yes, the flip. That was awful, seeing how bad he felt about it afterwords.

[aristotle]

That flip may symbolize RSL's season at this point.

[aristotle]

and now....the end is near............of that I'm certain. Mistakes...... RSL made a few......of that I'm certain.

[aristotle]

but more..........much more than this......they blew it their way!

[eric]

Life for RSL!!!

[aristotle]

Yes!

[Joamiq]

Wow!

[Rudy]

wow, crazy finish. Hope the mormons hang on, I want to see the Crapids kicking rocks.

[Mike Kurowski]

AWESOME AWESOME!

[aristotle]

Apparently there was a method to their madness, either that or they were finally lucky. Andy is da man!

[eric]

Cheap give-away, gotta waste time better than that...

[Tim F.]

This is how you play if your season is on the line.

[aristotle]

Perhaps it's poetic justice after the way Colorado has treated RSL in the past. Anyone think RSL players will rub it in if they hold on?

[eric]

Er, please don't waste time rolling on the turf, that's unbecoming

[eric]

Bravo! Good show, that was some clutch play!

[aristotle]

Yay! No Rapids and their no fans, and their refusal to play their spectacular bench.

[Betinho]

thanks Ives

[Mike Kurowski]

What a great performance by both teams. Colorado played their best and RSL did enough to prove their spot in the playoffs. Fantastic stuff.

[Matt]

Terribly played by RSL, but THEY ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS!!!!

[Tim F.]

What a great header on RSL's tying goal. I believe it was by Robbie Russell.

[Betinho]

Can't wait for the DC game tomorrow!

[Betinho]

Also glad that crappy no-call by the ref didn't screw RSL.

[aristotle]

Yeah, that could have been another fine and suspension for Kreis!

[Geoff]

Guys totally off topic but Harry Redknapp new Tottenham manager!! Ramos is gone!!!!! What the hell is going on!!!!

[ben]

Thanks for the commentary Ives. Much appreciated.

A complete turd for RSL, but a beautiful turd... hahaha

GO RSL! Take down Chivas!

[Don]

So, with colorado tying..does this mean the red bulls are in the playoffs in the west even if united wins tomorrow?

[Kramer]

as Pablo said "this is a kick in the guts" well let me say, this is a kick in the nuts for you pabla... good luck floppin around in Italia.. ha.. RSL,RSL,RSL!!!!!!

[Matt in Japan]

I can't follow along live from tokyo sometimes, but I always enjoy reading your commentaries later to see how the game went.

[KingSnake]

"Not a fan of Kreis as a coach ..." -- Posted by: mikeK

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Perhaps so, but he in the playoffs and the second coming, Juan Carlos Osorio, the coach New York absolutely had to have, so desperately could not live with out ... is not.

Oh, and Redknapp to Tottenham? No surprise. 'appy 'arry would gladly knife his current team in the back for a bigger pay day elsewhere, since he has done it so many times before.

[COJohnny]

Just curious as I couldn't watch the game, how many people were in the stands? The rapids web site list over 16K. While not setting the world on fire, it's not horrible for a team that has gone through so many years of mediocrity. I have high hopes for next year with Gary Smith. There is no shortage of Rapids supporters, just a shortage of good soccer prior to Gary Smith.