Kimura Goal Gives Colorado The Win

In the end it was like every other game from San Jose’s unexpected run to the playoffs. The Quakes were outmanned and outplayed for 90 minutes, playing at high altitude and in bitter, freezing cold. But tireless defending and heroic goalkeeping kept them in the game. Colorado controlled the ball, they created more chances and better chances, and fully earned the win. But as the game wound down there was always the chance that Chris Wondolowski would find another goal out of nowhere, that a streaking Bobby Convey could smash in a rebound. But this time the key strike wasn’t there and San Jose’s season came to a close.

Kosuke Kimura and Omar Cummings were the clear players of the game. Frequently working on concert, Kimura supplied fantastic crosses and through balls to Rapid attackers, and Cumming’s speed frequently caused panic for San Jose defenders. It was his lurking presence that turned a relatively standard Kimura cross into the only goal, as Jon Busch had to account for Cummings as the ball surprisingly straying into the goal. Kimura also played sound defense, and his close out on a fantastic through ball to Ryan Johnson denied one of San Jose’s best chances.

But it’s not all doom and gloom for San Jose. Even in defeat this season marked a major step forward for a franchise attempted to revive itself as an expansion team. San Jose found a formula that allowed it to compete against even the most talented teams in MLS, and with a new stadium on the way and ownership apparently committed to building a winning team there’s no reason to expect less in 2011. Personnel decisions will have to be made – choosing a goalkeeper between Jon Busch and Joe Cannnon, strengthening midfield, finding more production at forward – but this is a team with a good foundation for success.

Colorado Rapids vs. San Jose Earthquakes: Rapids Hold 1-0 Lead Late

The Colorado Rapids are closing in on a berth in the MLS Cup as they lead the San Jose Earthquakes 1-0. The Rapids took their lead in the 42nd minute on a Kosuke Limura unassisted goal. They’ve been pushing all game long as the Earthquakes are doing everything they can to just hang around. Colorado has taken seven shots with three on goal, while San Jose has managed just one shot all night.

I’m not a huge soccer fan but one could even look at the difference in offsides penalties as an example of Colorado’s dominance thus far. The Rapids have been called offsides five times to the Earthquakes single offsides. Offsides certainly isn’t a good thing but one could look at this as a sign that Colorado is pushing the ball as hard as they can.

Of course, San Jose only trails by a single goal and are one shot away from equalizing the match. It’s been an impressive run by the Earthquakes, but they’ll need another score to keep the magic alive.

Colorado Rapids Preview With Burgundy Wave

In preparation for this Saturday’s Eastern Conference Finals, SBNation Bay Area exchanged questions with Chris White of Burgundy Wave, SBNation’s Colorado Rapids blog. Thanks to Chris for providing his insight into this weekend’s game!

Q. Connor Casey and Omar Cummings. Omar Cummings and Connor Casey. The highest scoring duo in the league. What does San Jose have to do to prevent them from running amok?

A. One of the reasons the duo is so effective is because they are so fundamentally different players. There’s few defenders that have the pure speed of Omar and the strength of Casey. If you saw the first Colorado/Columbus game you saw that Colorado can use the “dump the ball to Omar on the wing and have him run full speed before crossing to Casey in the box” method of attack to great effect over and over. In fact, it was that sort of move that got Pablo Mastroeni his goal. You cannot stop the duo effectively, you can only hope to contain them. The easiest way is to cover the relatively slow Casey and keep him away from the front of goal so that Cummings has to do the work himself – Omar seems to hate shooting and prefer to look for the pass, he can be quite mistake prone at times between his brilliant goals if he can’t pump the ball to Conor.

Q. Casey and Cummings get all the press, what what are some other Rapids to watch out for?

A. You obviously know about Brian Mullan, who helped San Jose to an MLS Cup earlier in the decade. Since getting him in a trade with Houston, the Rapids have suddenly had a wing presence that we haven’t seen in Colorado since Colin Clark’s fantastic play until his injury in 2009. Obviously Pablo Mastroeni and Jeff Larentowicz are the worst kept secret in MLS when it comes to a dominating defensive midfield, both are killer with passes and both have a strange ability to score beautiful goals at random times. And naturally, you can’t forget about Matt Pickens, who despite his one horrible mistake late in the season was completely solid all year long.

Q. Only four teams in the MLS were stingier about allowing goals, and the Rapids decreased their goals allowed from 2009 by 6. What has been key to the defensive improvement?

A. Before the season, the Rapids picked up Drew Moor and Marvell Wynne from Dallas and Toronto respectively. Those two quickly became the heart of the defense and both of them managed to have career seasons, Moor while playing every minute of every game this season. A trade for Anthony Wallace mid-way through the season worked wonders as Wallace has slowly started to mature into the fantastic Left Back that Dallas hoped he would when they picked him in the first round. Matt Pickens having a fantastic year didn’t hurt either.

Q. Colorado has only lost two games at home all season, and both by just one goal. What makes the Rapids so successful at home, and what can the Quakes do to overcome that advantage?

A. The cop-out answer here would just be to say “the altitude”, which does seem to affect opponents stamina throughout games at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. That said, it’s also pretty clear that the Rapids are much more at ease with their offense – although I have no idea why – when they’re playing in front of their home fans. Only playing the best team in the league and starting their B squad featuring Scott Palguta, Danny Earls and Mac Kandji all starting has been able to hand them a loss.

Q. Give us some predictions!

A. 2-1 Colorado is my prediction, as I said before. I think the home-field advantage and wonderful defense at Dick’s that Colorado has shown all season cannot be understated, and the attacking mentalities of both coaches as evidenced by that press conference means that we’ll more than likely be seeing more than just a 1-0 slog. I say Omar Cummings gets a goal, Brian Mullan notches his first ever goal in a Colorado uniform as well, with Wondolowski getting a late glimmer of hope for San Jose.

Ramiro Corrales Out With Hamstring Injury

According to the San Jose Mercury News San Jose left back Ramiro Corrales will not be able to play this Saturday in the Eastern Conference Finals:

San Jose might be at a disadvantage because left fullback Ramiro Corrales can’t play after suffering a hamstring muscle strain at the end of the first half at New York. Convey moved to left back but prefers to operate in the midfield where he directs the offense.

Corrales, a team captain, worked hard to return to the lineup in time for the playoffs after suffering a strained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. While out Bobby Convey played admirably in defense but his value as an attacking midfielder is tough to give up, as witnessed in his man-of-the-match performance in San Jose’s 3-1 win over New York.

Frank Yallop is leaning towards starting Chris Leitch at left back to keep Convey in the midfield. If that is the case Leitch will have the unenviable task of dealing with Connor Casey and Omar Cummings, Colorado’s dynamic offensive duo.

MLS Conference Finals: San Jose Earthquakes Taking On Colorado Rapids

San Jose's Cinderella season continues this Saturday against the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Denver. San Jose advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals by becoming just the 2nd team in MLS history to win a two game tie after losing the first game at home. Bobby Convey and Chris Wondolowski led the Quakes to a 3-1 victory in New York, eliminating the Red Bulls in the process. Colorado, meanwhile, advanced past the Columbus Crew after scoring a late goal to force overtime before winning a penalty shootout.

Colorado and San Jose exchanged 1-0 home victories in their only regular season matchups this year, and both teams finished tied in the standings. Colorado earned home field advantage with a superior goal differential (+12 vs. +1). It means that San Jose will once again put one of the better road records in MLS on the line.

For a look at the Rapids check out Burdundy Wave as they recap Colorado's win over Columbus and preview this weekend's matchup. We'll be doing our best to bring you the news and previews as the week moves forward.