Colorado relying on "positive energy"
By Brian Forbes
Special to The Denver Post
It's a simple plan. A Rapids victory against the defending champion San Jose Earthquakes at 7 p.m. Saturday at Invesco Field at Mile High will clinch a playoff berth.
Despite Saturday's 1-0 loss in Kansas City, Colorado (10-9-9, 39 points) is tied for second in the Western Conference with Los Angeles and leads San Jose (9-10-8) by four points.
If the Rapids tie the Earthquakes, they still can wrap up their third consecutive playoff appearance if New England defeats the visiting Chicago Burn on Saturday.
"There's no avoiding it - it's big," Rapids coach Tim Hankinson said of Saturday's showdown. "We continue to remind the players what attracted them to this game was the love of the sport, but it's also the competition. The bigger games are made for those in it for fun and competition."
San Jose should offer plenty of both. Colorado is 1-1-1 this season against the Earthquakes. In their only appearance at Invesco Field this season, the Earthquakes lost to the Rapids 1-0 on a goal from Chris Henderson.
If the Rapids lose, they will have to wait until next Saturday to see what their playoff situation is. Colorado wraps up its regular season Oct. 16 against Columbus.
Defensive midfielder Pablo Mastroeni, who took over the captain's armband after it was relinquished last week by John Spencer, said the team is emotionally ready for San Jose.
"The team last year would have come into a game like this with a lot of nerves," Mastroeni said. "Instead now it's a lot of positive energy."
Spencer remains mum
Spencer said Tuesday he won't be speaking with the media for the remainder of the season. After announcing his decision to give up his role of team captain, Spencer issued the following statement on the team's website:
"It was a decision that had been building up for a couple of weeks. My 2004 season has been disappointing for me, and I thought that this would be a good time to give the team a positive kick in the backside."
Injury report
The Rapids listed Joey DiGiamarino (concussion), Darryl Powell (knee sprain), Zizi Roberts (knee), Jeff Stewart (knee) and Gary Sullivan (lower leg) out for Saturday's match. Forward Jean Philippe Peguero (abdominal strain) is questionable.
Defender Antonio de la Torre will miss his first start of the season against the Earthquakes while he serves a one-game suspension for yellow-card accumulation.
For San Jose, Chris Ronér (ankle surgery) is out; Chris Brown (hamstring) is questionable; Richard Mulrooney (neck) and Brian Ching (quadriceps) are probable.
Dream debut
Chicago forward Andy Herron scored two goals in his first-team debut Saturday to lead the Fire to a 2-0 victory over New England. Herron, who was making only his second appearance for the Fire since arriving from Club Sport Herediano in Costa Rica, was named MLS player of the week.
Footnotes
Western Conference leader Kansas City can clinch home- field advantage through the playoffs with a victory Saturday over Los Angeles at the Home Depot Center. ... Saturday's match at Giants Stadium between the MetroStars and D.C. United will be the third and final leg of the Atlantic Cup, a trophy contested between the clubs since 2002. The teams split victories in two meetings this season. The MetroStars have clinched a playoff spot while United is third in the Eastern Conference, six points clear of the last-place Revolution. ... Former MetroStars forward Clint Mathis reportedly will not be fined for the gesture he directed toward his coach after scoring for Germany's Hann- over 96 last weekend.
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