Sat Oct 11 21:23:49 2008

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Rapids need result vs. L.A. to keep hold of last playoff spot

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Carson, CA (Sports Network) - The Colorado Rapids, who had their four-game unbeaten run stopped last week in a loss to Houston, travel to take on the Los Angeles Galaxy, who are all but out of contention for a spot in the '08 Major League Soccer Cup playoffs, on Sunday at the Home Depot Center.

A loss by the Galaxy (7-12-8), along with a number other results breaking against them this weekend, would mathematically eliminate the Galaxy from postseason play for the third straight year.

"You can sort all the math you want but we're not winning games," L.A. coach Bruce Arena said. "Whether it's for the playoff race or not we need to win games. [a 1-0 loss to Columbus last week] was progress. You might look at me and say, 'That guy's crazy. They lost 1-0,' but for me that was progress."

The Rapids (10-13-4) are currently tied for fourth in the Western Conference and hold the tiebreaker for the eighth and final playoff spot, but need to continue to get favorable results with at least four other teams within striking distance.

"It will be difficult being on the road," Colorado interim coach Gary Smith said. "We have to look forward now and not backwards. We are in an extremely tight race for the playoffs and to cry about the outcome of [last week's 3-1 loss vs. Houston] would affect what would happen at the end of the season."

Both teams will be missing their top guns on Sunday. The Galaxy's Landon Donovan is the league's leading goal scorer with 19 goals, but will be absent because of his participation in the U.S. national team's 6-1 win over Cuba in a World Cup qualifier in D.C. on Saturday. Midfielder David Beckham will also be absent for L.A. after being called to play in England's match vs. Kazakhstan on Saturday.

The Rapids will be without leading scorer Conor Casey because of a red card he received in the loss last week. Forward Omar Cummings will also be out after being called up to play for Jamaica vs. Mexico this weekend. Forward Tom McManus will likely see time, however, after missing two games with a knee injury.

"There'll probably be some changes, given the way the last two games have gone in terms of conceding goals, which no coach would be very pleased with," Smith said of his starting lineup. "So we need to look at that. We're going away, difficult on the road, against a side that is very good going forward, albeit probably losing two of their more influential players. But we have to look forward and not backwards now. It's still an extremely tight race."