Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo plans to do a little shopping during his team’s bye week.
With two developmental roster spots and one prized senior international spot open, and a little extra cash after the Mark Chung and Chris Henderson trades, Clavijo will try out a handful of players this week and go on a scouting trip to Trinidad and Tobago.
Reinforcements are a priority for the Rapids (2-7-2), who have one win in their past seven games and have conceded 16 goals – third-worst in Major League Soccer.
Although trading Henderson for defender Mike Petke last week was an effort to shore up the defense, Henderson’s absence in midfield has been aggravated by recent injuries to Terry Cooke (knee), Pablo Mastroeni (quadriceps) and Luchi Gonzalez (ankle).
“We knew we were going to take the hits with some of the trades,” Clavijo said.
Clavijo said he expects his injured players to be fit when the Rapids play the Columbus Crew on June 11.
One notable face in camp this week is French forward Eloi Wagneur, whom Clavijo calls “a big-time player.” Clavijo said he has been tracking Wagneur for about a year and came into contact with him through his Haitian parents.
Freeman going Dutch
Coach Sigi Schmid named Rapids rookie defender Hunter Freeman to the U.S. under-20 national team’s roster for the FIFA World Youth Championship, beginning next week in the Netherlands.
Freeman leaves today, and Clavijo expects to be without his services for a month.
The seventh pick in the draft joins MLS standouts Eddie Gaven and Freddy Adu in the tournament, which culminates July 2. The U.S. opens play in Group D on June 11 against Argentina, then must get past Germany and Egypt to reach the second round.
Colorado will use Ricky Lewis or Matt Crawford to fill the right back position.
Chivas USA shake-up
Hans Westerhoff will take over as coach of Chivas USA as soon as his international paperwork clears, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Westerhoff, 56, serves as director of Chivas de Guadalajara, Costa Rican club Saprissa and Chivas USA, and made his name coaching in Holland with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven.
Two days after losing to Southern California rival Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday, Chivas USA president Antonio Cue stripped Thomas Rongen of his coaching duties and appointed assistant Javier “Zully” Ledesma interim coach. Rongen was named the club’s sporting director.
Chivas USA (1-8-1) has lost four consecutive games, scored only nine goals and conceded an MLS-worst 23.
Footnotes
The Rapids’ reserve squad tied the New England Revolution reserves 1-1 on Sunday outside Gillette Stadium. Colorado fell behind on a goal from Connally Edozien, but evened the match in the 71st minute on a goal from rookie forward Eugene Sepuya. The Rapids reserves are 1-2-2 this season under assistant coach Steve Tritt- schuh. … Rookie Guy Melamed will serve his one-game suspension when the Rapids visit Columbus. Melamed picked up two yellow cards in Saturday’s game against New England.
