COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — The Colorado Rapids are currently enjoying some time off after five CONCACAF Champions League and MLS games in 15 days. It is somewhat the quiet before the storm, however.
The Rapids' next game — on Sept. 9 away to the LA Galaxy — heralds an even more chaotic schedule: seven games in 23 days, culminating in an Oct. 1 home tilt against FC Dallas.
One player who won’t be available for the LA game is defender Drew Moor, whose yellow card last weekend against the Chicago Fire means a one-game suspension for card accumulation. Finally, the record-breaking streak of 69 consecutive 90-minute regular-season league games is over.
Head coach Gary Smith will be deprived of one of his core players and one of the first names he puts down every week on the team sheet.
“He’s been on an incredible run but, at some point, everything comes to an end and the shame is it’s for a suspension,” Smith said of iron man Moor. “He’s been absolutely wonderful and you don’t play that many games without performing well and being in good form. It’ll be a strange occurrence when I have to pick the team in two weeks time.”
Moor said he would use the next couple of weeks or so to rest and prepare for a busy September. His suspension may mean he plays in the CCL home game against Mexico's Santos Laguna on Sept. 13. Moor was used as a late substitute against Honduran side Real España in Colorado’s 1-1 road draw last week, but did start in the home CCL game against Isidro Metapán of El Salvador.
“I don’t think about the streak, but it’s disappointing to miss a game,” Moor said. “But I will start another one next time coach Smith calls upon me.”
One player who could make a welcome return for the LA game is midfielder Jamie Smith. The Scotsman has not played since the 2-1 road victory over the Philadelphia Union on July 29 because of a combination of hamstring and calf issues that appear to be back related. Last week, he received some anti-inflammatory injections in his back area.
“There’s been some good progress,” Gary Smith said. “LA would seem to be a very viable target for him to be back.”
When ya gotta go...
The Rapids came out of their CCL draw against Real España in Honduras with both a point and their dignity intact — except, of course, for attacker Sanna Nyassi, who confirmed he did indeed urinate in the bushes at the stadium during the game.
“I was so dehydrated,” Nyassi said.
No deal for Mejía
In slightly more substantial news from the Honduras game, Gary Smith denied there had been any approaches made by the club towards Real España and Honduran national-teamer Alfredo Mejía. The midfielder was reported to be on Smith’s radar by local sports magazine Diez.
“Where did that come from?” Smith asked MLSsoccer.com. “Honestly, the press pick up on all sorts of different things but no, there is no truth in that.”
