COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Omar Cummings may be wearing a new pair of cleats for Saturday’s Rapids game against Houston. The Jamaican striker is hoping that the new super light white and blue Pumas will bring back his scoring touch.
The Rapids are struggling in front of goal. With 22 goals on the season so far, they are a full 10 goals behind where they were this time last year. The team is enjoying several periods in each game dominating possession, but is not doing well at converting that advantage into goals.
Cummings last scored against Seattle on July 25, a beautiful left-footed shot high into the goal after a typical mazy run. His strike partner Conor Casey has not scored since an equalizer against Kansas City at home on July 17.
Maybe this weekend’s game against Houston – the team with the worst defensive record in the Western Conference this year – could be a breakout game for at least one of the pair.
The Jamaican international, with five goals on the season so far, rejects the idea that Houston should be an easier game than most given their poor record this season.
“I think over the years we have made that mistake,” he said at training this week. “We traditionally do better with teams that are doing well. We just have to focus on the weekend and go for the win.”
Cummings said that while his personal confidence levels remain good, there have been times this year when he feels he could have done better. There are few forwards in the MLS who can run at defenders and potentially reduce them to quivering wrecks like Cummings does. The problem has been the final product.
“You do everything and it still doesn’t come off,” he said. “There have definitely been a few games where I felt I let myself down and my teammates down. That is your job as a forward to score goals. It is always a question of finishing.”
For now, Cummings, who has recently been the subject of transfer speculation with an approach from Mexican club Necaxa eventually being turned down, is aiming at the holy grail of improved consistency in front of goal.
“Consistency is one of the hardest things in soccer, in any sport for that matter,” he said. “To keep that consistent high level is very difficult. That is what I am trying to do.”
And Cummings will try and do that in a burgundy shirt. Ultimate aspirations may be elsewhere, but there is no question where his commitment lies right now. The Necaxa incident is over.
“For me, that’s gone,” he said. “For me, it’s here right now.”
No time like the present.
