Colorado Rapids coach Gary Smith will have to deal with the absence of forward Omar Cummings this weekend, and that won't be an easy task. It's not as though the Rapids have a full complement of fit strikers to choose from.
Cummings will be on international duty with Jamaica as they face Venezuela and El Salvador and will be unavailable for the Rapids’ first road trip of the 2011 MLS season against Chivas USA on Saturday (10:30 pm ET, Direct Kick, MatchDay Live).
The prolific striker was his usual dangerous self in the Rapids’ 3-1 season-opening victory over the Portland Timbers last weekend, scoring one and assisting on Jeff Larentowicz's goal in the eighth minute. He was named to MLSsoccer.com's Team of the Week.
Of the forward options to partner Conor Casey this weekend, Macoumba Kandji and Andre Akpan are both out injured. Kandji is a long-term concern with his cruciate injury and Akpan has a torn hamstring and is targeted to come back for the March 30 US Open Cup game against the Chicago Fire. Casey is also an injury concern and will be testing a calf problem before the team travels to California on Friday.
[inline_node:328885]That leaves the recently signed Caleb Folan and Quincy Amarikwa (at right). Folan, a former Hull City striker, was officially unveiled as the club’s newest signing last week and was left out of the Portland game squad because of his recent arrival and a slight injury concern. Folan and Amarikwa played as a striking partnership in training on Thursday.
Smith told MLSsoccer.com last week that because of Cummings' absence, Folan could play an important role in the Chivas game. However, the Rapids coach added that though Folan played 30 minutes in this week’s reserve team defeat to the Colorado School of Mines, he is still working toward match fitness.
“He’s ready and raring to go but the likelihood is that he’s not going to go for 90 minutes,” Smith said.
If Casey does start, Folan faces a big challenge to a starting role from Amarikwa, who was impressive coming off the bench after an hour of the Portland game. Numerous times the young striker turned his man and helped launch dangerous attacks.
Casey and Folan could prove a handful for the Chivas USA back line. Casey is a big, physical brute with plenty of skill and Folan is even bigger at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds. Amarikwa, however, would provide the speed and hustle to complement Casey’s strength — a little like Cummings does.
“Two of the three will start,” Smith told MLSsoccer.com. “Caleb, because of his lungs, and Conor, because of his calf, [are doubts],” he said. “Quincy, coming off the back of some decent form, is also in there. I really don’t know at this point.”
The smart money may be on the two big forwards to start with Amarikwa playing a significant role off the bench, just as he did last weekend. The smarter money still may be that all three of the forwards will be involved at some point in the game. Amarikwa, who scored the only Colorado goal in the reserve game this week, can only keep doing what he does and hope for the call.
“It was great to get the opportunity to show what I can do,” Amarikwa told MLSsoccer.com this week about his 30 minutes against Portland. “I have been working hard all preseason and I am hoping to get more opportunities.”
