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US: MLS Preview- Colorado Rapids v DC United [Fri Sep 2nd, 2005]
Colorado Rapids (8-11-4, 28 pts) v DC United (12-8-5, 41 pts)
When: 9 pm ET, Saturday, September 3, 2005
Where: Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
The Rapids are riding a 4-game unbeaten streak, quietly solidifying their playoff spot. DC United have looked like the champions they are, though their form hasn’t always translated into results.
The Pids will be without two of their on-field leaders this weekend: leading scorer Jeff Cunningham and defensive stalward Pablo Mastroeni are away on international duty. But the Pids have shored up their defense, allowing only 2 goals over the past four games, which should make up for the lack of offensive punch.
Nat Borchers and Mike Petke have fixed the sloppy communication problems that plagued the backline early on in the season, and Joe Cannon is once again looking like a world-beater. Up top, Jean Philippe Peguero is playing well again, and newcomers Dedi and Fabrice Noel add unexpected creativity and pace, respectively.
DC United thumped Real Salt Lake 5-1 on Wednesday. Even without attacking midfielder Santino Quaranta, the Red-and-Black put everyone on notice that the champions are back with a vengeance. Four different scorers were involved in the action, including Freddy Adu and Jaime Moreno, who actually celebrated their goals with each other, an indication that they have patched up their previous differences.
But United’s engine is burning a new fuel right now: Ben Olsen. He is changing games with his tough midfield defence and late runs into the attack. He and Christian Gomez will be the difference against the Mastroeni-less Rapid midfield.
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