May 18, 2008
US Open Cup Qualification
It's been unveiled that the Rapids have to win two qualification games to enter the formal first round of the US Open Cup. Click Here for the Official Release.
This coming Saturday, May 24th the Rapids play Chivas USA and then head off to Los Angles for the first qualifying game against the Galaxy, Tuesday, May 27th. Five days later they head host FC Dallas on a Sunday afternoon. If they have beaten the Galaxy in the first Open Cup game, they then have to head to Kansas City for the second qualification match Wednesday June 4th. Three days later they will fly to Los Angles for the second regular season meeting with the Galaxy.
2007 US Open Cup Champions
What does this all mean? It means the Rapids have a tremendous advantage in these qualifying games. LA basically has the same situation as the Rapids, and KC has a game three days after their scheduled meeting of the winner of the LA vs Rapids game.
Why the advantage? Fernando Clavijo has had tremendous success playing his full roster in this first third of the season. All but three field players (when you filter out injured players that have been ineligible this season) have seen regular season minutes and that experience is going to drive this team through the US Open Cup.
While other teams will be fielding player that have never seen an MLS Game this season, if ever, the Rapids will be starting players like Stephen Keel, Jose Burciaga (or Jordan Harvey), Mehdi Ballouchy, Terry Cooke (or Jacob Peterson), Rafeal Gomes, Conor Casey (or Tom McManus or Herculez Gomez), and Kelly Gray. Players that could easily be in the first team any given week. It's a tremendous example of the depth the Rapids have built in Fernando Clavijo's time in Colorado.
The US Open Cup should be among the highest of priorities for the Rapids this season. They have the depth to compete for the Cup without taking away from their efforts to qualify for the playoffs and win MLS Cup.
Could this be the year the Rapids hoist some hardware and put something in the Trophy Cabinet associated with the First Team? If so, it's because of the trophies won in the last two years by the Rapids Reserve Team.
Posted by mark at May 18, 2008 04:15 PM