COMMERCE CITY — The news came down four minutes apart in early August.
Gone was 21-year-old homegrown center back Shane O’Neill — the U.S. Under-23 captain had been . In his place, the Rapids had signed 30-year-old center back Sean St. Ledger, released days earlier by Orlando City SC for a ” .”
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The results, however, speak for themselves. The Rapids are 3-1 since St. Ledger entered the starting 11 and have yet to allow more than one goal when the Irish international plays.
“It’s gone really well,” St. Ledger said.
The run of three consecutive victories gives Colorado six wins in its last nine matches, and reviving hopes the club could make a playoff push over the .
“Experience has a lot of value, and he’s brought a wealth of that,” Rapids coach Pablo Mastroeni said. “Competitiveness, desire to want to drive the team on, and he’s just been a great pro to have.”
Mastroeni also credited St. Ledger’s positioning and communication along the back line as a key to recent success.
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St. Ledger has an accomplished résumé: more than 300 games in professional English soccer, mainly in the second-tier Championship, and 37 caps for the Republic of Ireland national team, including goals in 2010 World Cup qualifying and the 2012 European Championships.
If the Rapids can somehow pull off a Harry Houdini and grab the sixth and final playoff spot in the West, many will remember .
Late in the Aug. 26 game, St. Ledger made an improbable 60-yard run upfield, feeding a perfect cross to countryman Kevin Doyle, who headed home the game-winner.
St. Ledger, however, is quick to share the credit.
“The lads have done all the work all season, and it’s probably just paying dividends now,” he said.
He added that the team’s organized play has made it simple for him and Honduran international left back Maynor Figueroa, also signed ahead of the Aug. 6 transfer window deadline, to slot in.
“Everyone knows their jobs,” St. Ledger said. “And that’s credit to the manager.”
Daniel Boniface: 303-954-1104, dboniface@denverpost.com or twitter.com/danielboniface
