The Colorado Rapids were injected with some real optimism after their 4-0 romp against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night at Dick's Sporting Goods.
Sure, the rousing game included entertaining goals, multiple ejections and the kind of offensive output that Rapids fans have not seen in some time.
But the victory also came with a starting lineup that included Omar Cummings in attack (11 games, no starts in 2007), John DiRaimondo (making his first-team MLS debut) and Nick LaBrocca (two appearances in 2007) in midfield, and Kosuke Kimura (four games in '07) and Stephen Keel (four career games) in defense.
"I thought the young guys performed really well," said Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo. "When you look at the team, there are seven players I would consider rookies in that lineup, and that's something that really makes you proud. It's pushing some of the veteran players really hard to get into the lineup."
For Clavijo, that "rookie" group also included Colin Clark, who scored two goals in 16 games last year, his second year in the league (23 career appearances) and Ciaran O'Brien, the club's first-round draft pick this year, who came on as a 71st-minute substitute.
Clark threatened the Galaxy defense all night along the left side, creating numerous chances before scoring the final goal of the night. On the goal, he first beat Galaxy defender Abel Xavier before slipping a shot under Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin from close range.
"I got a little fortunate," said Clark. "I got a touch in and it bounced through [Xavier], so it was a little lucky, but what really matters is that we got the points."
Clavijo had noticed Clark's intensity all week in practice, and it seemed to carry into Saturday's game.
"He was not going to start tonight, but in the last two days he really showed me he wanted to," Clavijo said. "I asked him if he was ready, and his answer was very clear."
Fullback Jose Burciaga Jr. also noticed the contributions of younger players on the Rapids.
"We've got a lot of confidence in our young guys," he said. "We've got to keep showing our confidence in them and help them to keep improving."
Burciaga himself is a new addition to the Rapids, acquired in an offseason trade with the Kansas City Wizards to solidify the left back position.
"I think I played well," Burciaga said. "Your first game with a new team is always exciting -- you want to show the fans why they traded for you."
Combined with the performance the club's more heralded new addition, Christian Gomez, who scored the second goal of the game from the penalty spot, and Terry Cooke, who began his fourth season in MLS with a goal and two assists in claiming man of the match honors, optimism abounds in the Rapids locker room.
"We've set the bar high, now we've just got to keep doing things the we have been, by battling and fighting for each other," said Burciaga. "We have a little bit of everything. We have guys who can cross, we have guys who can kill you with the long shot and we have guys who can beat you with speed. We've got a lot of talent."
Clavijo agreed. "I thought we did very well. Throughout the game we possessed the ball well. We never allowed them to get any rhythm in the game, playing a good team with great players," he said.
While the Rapids are feeling good about their team, they also realize the outing against the Galaxy was just one win and there is plenty still to do if they are to climb among the league's elite. The next test comes this Saturday on the road when they take on the Kansas City Wizards, who defeated D.C. United 2-0 in their season opener.
"Today, beating them 4-0, it boosts up the team's energy," said goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul. "But we have to worry about next week because this one is gone. The past is the past, and now we have to work on getting better."
Added Clark: "This is a great win to fill us with confidence as we go into two tough road games."
Chris DiLauro is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
