COMMERCE CITY — Keeping up with their annual tradition, the Rapids have set the table for a white-knuckle ride for a playoff spot after a dour 1-1 draw Saturday night with the New England Revolution.
In their final game of the regular season at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, the Rapids (10-8-10) could have given themselves and the 16,535 fans real security with a victory. Instead, they’ll be watching scores this weekend on a bye week, before wrapping up with two away games to unfriendly destinations.
It’s an eternal rerun for a team that is winless in its past five games, hasn’t made the playoffs since 2006 and seems resistant to helping itself. One gets the feeling that if the Rapids jumped in a lifeboat, they’d probably poke holes in it first.
“The thing that is frustrating is that every time we need the three points, we give up a goal,” Mehdi Ballouchy said. “Giving up a goal at home is difficult because now teams sit back and defend.”
Striker Omar Cummings, who was inches from a goal several times and hit the crossbar in the 88th minute, was everything in a moment. Never one not to talk, the Jamaican sat at the foot of his locker and just shook his head.
“What we’re finding is a group of players that have never achieved anything are now being asked to go and achieve something,” Rapids coach Gary Smith said. “They’re on the cusp of something or nothing. They’ve fallen on the side of nothing far too often. And to change that mentality is one of the biggest challenges that anybody faces in any sport.”
There was good news. Conor Casey scored from the penalty spot in the 58th minute to cancel out Kheli Dube’s 29th-minute opener. Casey is again tied for the league lead for goals with 16.
But Casey is destined to join the U.S. national team for its crucial upcoming World Cup qualifiers, and defender Julien Baudet (red card) and Ballouchy (yellow card accumulation) — part of the threadbare midfield — are both suspended for Colorado’s next game in Dallas.
Baudet was sent off one minute after Casey’s equalizer for violent conduct when he made contact with Dube’s head. Baudet said he apologized to the team and Smith for the incident.
“A player with my experience should know better that if you raise your arm, you might get yourself in trouble,” he said.
Even with 40 points, the Rapids slipped from the No. 5 seed to No. 7, but remain two points ahead of the Revolution (10-9-8), which currently holds the eighth and final playoff berth. Smith, who talked all season that 40 points should be enough for playoffs, admitted that that number might be more like 42.
And that means the final games in Dallas and at rival Salt Lake will test Colorado’s ability to get tough results against tough odds.
“I don’t know,” Casey said when asked if this team is a better road team. “I guess we’ll see. We need to step it up and get a win. We need to get a win in the next couple games.”
New England10—1
Colorado01—1 First half — 1, New England, Dube 8 (Mansally), 29th minute.
Second half — 2, Colorado, Casey 16 (penalty kick), 58th.
Goalies — New England, Matt Reis; Colorado, Preston Burpo.
Yellow cards — Osei, New England, 64th; Mehdi Ballouchy, 59th. Red cards — Baudet, Colorado, 59th. Referee — Baldomero Toledo. Assistant referees — Corey Rockwell. Eric Boria. 4th official — Landis Wiley.
A — 16,535 (18,086)
Down to the wire
Top eight teams make the MLS playoffs (three points for a win, one for a tie):
Team (games remaining) Pts.
1. Columbus (3) 46
2. Los Angeles (2) 44
3. Houston (3) 43
4. Chicago (2) 41
5. Chivas USA (4) 41
6. Seattle (2) 41
7. Colorado (2) 40
8. New England (3) 38
9. D.C. United (2) 36
10. Toronto FC (3) 35
Rapids’ games remaining: Oct. 17 at FC Dallas, Oct. 24 at Real Salt Lake
