If you missed it, the first half of the game featured a Glinton goal-that-wasn’t called back on a hand-ball and several pretty bad misses by Ronnie O’Brian. But O’Brian made up for it with the game winner in the 43rd. In the second half, the Rapids had one real opportunity at the start, but failed to control the ball much thereafter. In 61st, O’Brian got an assist to go with his goal when he slotted the ball past Erpen to Kei Kamara who scored to put the game away.

Last week during San Jose – Chicago, when there was that monstrosity of a miss by Shea Salinas of San Jose in stoppage time, the announcer said, “San Jose just can’t score. Everything else is good, but the scoring gets away.” I think that was a good description of their first two games, but bad news for the rest of MLS: they can score now. San Jose didn’t look like an expansion team tonight.

So, what do the Rapids take from this? Mainly, the 4-4-2 just isn’t for them. We tried to make it work all of last year and apparently this match, moving Colin up to forward. I really hope the team moves back to the 4-5-1. They have no trouble scoring IF they dominate the midfield. From left to right: Cooke, DiRaimondo, Gomez, LaBrocca, Clark. When Pablo gets healthy, put him in LaBrocca’s place.

One thing worth noting though is that the Rapids played defense very well, despite the two goals. It would have been three or four for most defenses. If you watch the extended highlights over at Quick Kicks, especially in the first half, it’s is mostly the Rapids back four breaking up San Jose’s attacks. Before tonight, the Rapids averaged only one goal allowed per game, and that same defense was there despite the shoddy midfield work.

So, let’s stay optimistic Rapids fans. Talent like we saw in the first three games doesn’t just disappear. I am fairly sure the Rapids will take the west back, (maybe not next week, they play Chicago at Toyota Park; yikes) and are still very capable of having an incredible year. One game in thirty is a shame to loose but not the end of the season. Worst case scenario (depending on how tomorrow’s games go): is that the Rapids are in second place in the west, 2 pts. back. I’m going to be cheering for a draw in the Chivas USA – Dallas game tomorrow. If the draw happens, the Rapids will still be tied for first place.

So, in summary, I guess it’s fair to stay that this was a disheartening loss, but not a decimating one. This should just be a single error in an otherwise great season.

Box Score
Highlights

4/21 UPDATE: I’m reading something strange (by my reckoning) on the Rapids blog row (i.e. Black Panther, a fine Rapids fan blog). Even over at The MLS Offside, there is an insistence that the Rapids played poor defense on Saturday. I think that’s a bit off. If they mean that the team as a whole did a poor job preventing opportunities by the ‘Quakes, then they might have a point, but that happened in the midfield, and those mistakes (mostly) were made by midfielders. If they were talking about the back four themselves, I couldn’t disagree more. The defense’s (as in defenders’) job is break down attacks by the other squad. In the game I watched, the back four did a fine job doing that. As I said, most defenses would have allowed three or four against that attack. The fatal errors were in the midfield, not the backfield; things like battles for lose balls, heading contests, and simple maintaining of possession.

Reason 10,000 to love MLS: One of the powerhouses of the league has all of their players sent to another city, and then replaced with members of every team’s reserves (and Joe Cannon).

Reason 10,001 to love MLS: The league then starts threatening the city which received those players after it won back to back MLS Cups. You can’t make this stuff up.

Oh, on a tangent: did you catch “The Commissioner Speaks” (whatever that’s supposed to mean) on MLS’s website? Scroll down to the bottom where Garber insists, “I wasn’t threatening the Mayor [of Houston] in any way.” Yeah, I was just saying that I would take the team from him if he doesn’t do what I want. How’s that a threat?

So for the Rapids, it means this: Colorado has an opportunity to get a good jump on the rest of the West.
-Dallas (1 pt. back) and Chivas (2 pts. back) are matched, which means that only one of the teams chasing the Rapids will get 3 pts, or better yet, both get 1.
-Salt Lake (2 pts. back) plays Toronto, so could Dichio actually do something this week? I know, probably not (Okay, that’s probably not fair after his goal last week. But if you don’t score on Real, Danny…).
-Los Angeles (3 pts. back) plays Houston (4 pts. back), and sadly, I think they might win this one. Let’s hope that DeRo and Ching can string something together like they used to. But with Onstad out, the team will probably continue allowing 2 goals a game.

So what does all this mean? It means that with a win this weekend (and it’s a gimme if there ever was one), the Rapids should get 1-4 pts ahead in the West. And more good news: we might see Pablo back on the field. He’s listed as Probable. Really, the only member of the club that we really might like back from injury at this point is Ugo. I miss that guy.

It’s also worth mentioning that, according to the guys over at the Rocky Mountain News, San Jose picked up ex-Rapids striker Jean-Philippe Peguero, but he won’t be able to play tomorrow night.

My prediction: Rapids 2-0 San Jose

The quakes are not a team which scores goals. San Jose has proven that it is unlikely that they will score in a given game, and there’s no reason to believe that this week will be any different, especially with Bouna between the posts.

Other game predictions:
Toronto 1-3 Real Salt Lake
New York Red Bulls 1-1 New England Revolution
Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 Houston Dynamo
Chicago Fire 2-0 Kansas City Wizards
Chivas USA 2-3 Dallas

Safe to say the Rapids are feeling pretty chuffed these days. With some big outlets showering them with praise – ESPN.com, Goal.com, USSoccerplayers.com – even believing in them (GASP!), The Official Organ could even take a day off…not that they ever will. Hell, the last two of those outlets even suggest that retaining head coach Fernando Clavijo might not have been such a bad idea (sacrilege or insanity; you decide!). Another win – and with the San Jose Earthquakes on the menu for Game 4, why wouldn’t they get it? – would in all probability cement Colorado’s status as April’s Flavor of the Month. Take a big lick, Rapids fans. You’ve earned the sweet, sweet reward.

Getting back to the San Jose game, predicting a win seems like leading into a jinx with your chin. As such, it’s not surprising to see wewantrapidman play it safe (and while I’m mentioning that site, I may as well plug it; that’s a good source, people, better than The Official Organ by a country mile…several country miles, even; where else can you read good dish about all the $ tied up on the bench – or even off it – or get the scoop on a possible May/June absence for the magical Bouna? Nowhere. So, go. Don’t waste your time here; I’m like one of those dolls with a damn pull-string…GO!). I’m just going to say, caution be damned! (Referring now to the content before the long, parenthetical digression.) Look, in your heart of hearts, you know you’re already counting this a win, Rapids fans. You smirked at wewantrapidsman’s cautionary mention of Gavin Glinton and Kei Kamara; c’mon, admit it. You’re already dreaming of 3-1, building on that goals-for tally, etc. It’s OK. That unfamiliar sensation you’re feeling is called optimism. No, I’m not surprised it’s new to you. Enjoy it a while because it’s nothing like automatic…I’m just sayin’.

With a win looking likely – hell, why don’t I just guarantee it? – Denver/Colorado locals could do a lot worse than head to The Dick this Saturday. There’s a really killer promo (kids’ tickets free with one adults, which makes even sideline seats affordable; it’s listed at the bottom of this), and the good folks of Class VI are advertising a pre-game tail-gate. Good times…made better by a win….remember, I guaranteed it.