COMMERCE CITY — Despite playing seven of their first 11 games on the road, the Rapids occupy an enviable position in the MLS Western Conference standings a third of the way through the season. Now coach Gary Smith wants them to take advantage as the schedule swings in their favor.
Nine of the team’s next 12 games will be at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, including tonight’s encounter with Eastern Conference leader D.C. United and a showdown on Wednesday with conference-rival FC Dallas.
“We’ve had some tough away games,” said Smith, whose team is coming off a bye week. “I think the group has done incredibly well to slot themselves into the position they’re in, but there’s a lot of hard work still to be done. We need to make sure we get off on the right foot to have a good week — two home games and then away at Seattle.”
The Rapids are in fourth place in the conference, despite having played two or three fewer games than every other team. Colorado (4-2-5) was undefeated in four games in May, and if not for a saved penalty kick at conference-leader Houston on April 19, it would have only one loss this season.
“We’re very, very pleased, but we certainly can’t be complacent,” Smith said. “We’ve got some good teams coming into our turf. D.C. are on a nice run. Dallas have not had a lot of fortune, but are just starting to change their form, I feel. And then Seattle at the end of (next) week, who have proved that their home form is going to take them where they want to be, which is the playoffs. So we’ve got three very difficult games in a week.”
With Conor Casey away on U.S. national team duty and fellow starting forward Omar Cummings apt to be called to play for his native Jamaica in the Gold Cup next month, Smith this week traded a first-round SuperDraft pick for Columbus Crew forward Pat Noonan, who shared the 2004 MLS scoring title with Amado Guevara (30 points).
Casey, the MLS player of the month in May with four goals and an assist, is in South Africa, where the U.S. has one more game to play in the Confederations Cup.
“I’ve been delighted with Omar and Conor, obviously — they’ve formed a very nice relationship, but we have to be mindful of losing them,” Smith said. “We’ve lost Conor already. We’re probably looking at losing Omar for a period to Jamaica. To have Pat around and to have added him to the group is of the utmost importance to continue that push towards the playoffs. It would be such a shame to let all the good work that’s already been done dissipate due to a lack of forwards.”
Even when Casey and Cummings are available, Smith believes Noonan has the versatility to contribute as an attacking midfielder. Noonan, who grew up in the soccer hotbed of St. Louis and played for Indiana University, has the ability to challenge defenders and create off the dribble. When he shared the league scoring lead for the New England Revolution five years ago, he had 11 goals and eight assists.
“When Conor’s back, I’ll try to be available when called upon, if called upon,” said Noonan, 28. “I’ll try to put myself in a good position to make it tough on them for having to make a (lineup) decision come game day, and be dangerous if I’m coming off the bench. I know they’re going to give me an opportunity to get the minutes to show what I can do. Now I just need to do it.”
John Meyer: 303-954-1616 or jmeyer@denverpost.com
