Does he play the starters at Santos Laguna on Wednesday, or does he go with the reserves againg?

Smith has been conservative in use of his starters, relying on backups for CONCACAF Champions League matches. Along the way, the reserves have compiled a 2-2-1 record in the CCL and arrived at the precipice of a birth in the next round.

Standing in the way is a Santos Laguna side that whipped the Rapids 4-1 at home and already grabbed a spot in the second round. The Rapids could make it to the second round with a tie and same help, or the team could ensure a spot with a win.

Now, knowing that Santos is likely to field reserves in what has become a meaningless game for them, Smith has decide whether he wants to gamble his regulars for a win, or keep them fresh for a final regular season game on Saturday at Vancouver and a first-round playoff match on Oct. 26 or 27.

After the 0-0 tie with Salt Lake, the Rapids (11-9-13, 46 points) aren’t showing much on offense, but they aren’t giving up much either. The Rapids haven’t scored more than two goals in an MLS game since Aug. 20, but they have also shutout Salt Lake and Dallas in consecutive games.

Next Up: The final regular season game has the Rapids traveling to the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday. The team can move up or down in the standings, but will stay face a first round game.

In the process, the Rapids (2-2-1, 7 points) also threw a lifeline to a CONCACAF Champions League campaign that appeared dead after losing two matches at home by a combined 6-2 margin.

For a team that hadn’t won since it beat Metapan at home 3-2 in the opening match of CCL play on Aug. 17, the win was as delightful as it was unexpected.

The Rapids, who were winless in eight matches in all competitions (0-5-3), got a 31st minute goal from Eddie Ababio, but conceded the equalizer five minutes later.

Colorado, however, was not done scoring. A team that hadn’t scored more than two goals since it last met Metapan, came out pushing the pace in the second half. This effort was awarded in the 49th minute when Quincy Amarikwa buried a free kick to put the Rapids back in front.

Omar Cummings, who replaced Andre Akpan in the 72nd minute, found the insurance goal five minutes later. Cummings took a Mike Holody pass on the right side and fired a right-footed shot into the goal.

Goalkeeper Steward Ceus then weathered repeated shots from Metapan through the cloasing minutes and four minutes of stoppage time to get the win.

What’s Next?: As the Rapids were winning, Santos Laguna was settling for a 1-1 tie with Real Espana and a spot in the quarterfinals. The Rapids moved into second place in the group with one game to play, but only two points separating them from last place in the four-team group.

Colorado Travels to Santos Laguna on Oct. 19 for the final group match. Meanwhile, Metapan — 6 points — and Real Espana — 5 points — meet that same evening. If the Rapids win, a tall order against a team that beat Colorado 4-1 at home, the team would advance to the quarterfinals.

Metapan needs a win and a Colorado tie or loss to advance. Real Espana would need a win and a Colorado loss to advance.

Colorado, which hosts its opening match in CCL play on Aug. 17 against Metapan, will also host matches against Santos Laguna on Sept. 13 and Real Espana on Sept. 21.

The Rapids travel to Honduras to meet Real Espana on Aug. 23. The final two rounds will also be on the road as Colorado journeys to El Salvador to meet Metapan on Sept. 28, and then travels to Mexico to close the opening rounds of matches against Santos Laguna on Oct. 19.

For the complete schedule for all five MLS teams, click here. For tickets to the matches at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, click here.

The Rapids qualified for the club championship of the North and Central American and Caribbean region as 2010 MLS Cup Champions. Real Salt Lake, the 2009 MLS Cup Champions, fell to Monterrey in this year’s CCL final.

The top two teams from each group qualify for the knockout round games this fall.

Mexico, which beat the U.S. 5-0 to claim the 2009 cup, delivered a similar undressing to New Zealand at Invesco Field on Wednesday night. Even with the team’s best forward resting in preparation of the start of Gold Cup play, Mexico had more than enough firepower against the All Whites.

Playing on the pitch that looked half dead, Mexico scored early, often and looked ready to add more. El Tricolores sauntered out of Denver with a 3-0 win that flattered the visitors from the Antipodes.

Warning Shots: For the other teams gathering for the Gold Cup, it was a warning that this Mexico squad is playing the game with speed and organization. Giovani Dos Santos scored twice and Aldo de Nigris added the third as Mexico took command in the first half.

In fact, Mexico was so in control that the side opened the second half by substituting four players, including all three that had supported de Nigris in the attack. This gave the team a chance to try out some younger players, and it also brought the scoring opportunities down.

Next Up: Mexico had to leave Denver feeling confident ahead of the tournament. Not only did El Tri dismantle the Kiwis, but Mexico gets its best forward, Javier Hernandez, back for Sunday’s match.

Mexico, which begins Gold Cup tournament play in Dallas on Sunday against El Salavador, tied Ecuador 1-1 on Saturday in Seattle. New Zealand’s last match was a 1-1 tie with China in March and the team will next play a friendly against Australia, also on Sunday.

Rapids forward Cummings and defender Marshall were named to the Jamaica National Team’s final 23-man roster for the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup on Monday afternoon.

Jamaica, managed by Theodore Whitmore, was drawn into Group B and will play against Grenada on June 6 at 9 p.m. ET at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California, Guatemala on June 10 at 7 p.m. ET at FIU Stadium in Miami, and Honduras on June 13 at 9 p.m. ET at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey.

Cummings made his debut with the Reggae Boyz on July 26, 2008, against El Salvador and has since earned 23 caps and scored seven goals. Cummings, who has scored two goals in seven games for Colorado this season, has missed the past three Rapids games with a sprained ankle. It is unknown at this time when he will report to the Jamaica camp.

A long-time veteran of the squad, Marshall has appeared in 70 matches for Jamaica and contributed five goals. He earned his first cap on May 17, 2000, against Romania and last played for Jamaica on January 31, 2010, against Canada. Marshall will join the Gold Cup camp in Los Angeles on June 2, and will therefore be available for the Rapids’ two regular season matches this week against New York Red Bulls and Sporting Kansas City.

CONCACAF Gold Cup Roster: GOALKEEPERS (3): Donovan Rickets, Dwayne Miller, Duwayne Kerr.

DEFENDERS (8): Dicoy Williams, Shavar Thomas, Ian Goodison, Jermaine Taylor, Erik Vernan, Demar Phillips, Tyrone Marshall, Adrian Reid

MIDFIELDERS (7): Richard Edwards, Jason Morrison, Damian Williams, Jevaughn Watson, Omar Daley, Rodolph Austin, Keammar Daley.

FORWARDS (5): Ryan Johnson, Omar Cummings, Dane Richards, Navion Boyd, Luton Shelton.

Among the 23 players named there were only seven from Major League Soccer and none from the Colorado Rapids.

Gold Cup: The USA will begin Group C play on June 7 against Canada at Ford Field in Detroit at 8 p.m. ET. Group play continues June 11 against Panama at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., with kickoff slated for 8 p.m. ET. The group stage will end for the U.S. on June 14 against Guadeloupe at 8 p.m. CT at the newly christened LIVESTRONG Park in Kansas City, Kan. The broadcast schedule is expected to be announced in the near future.

The U.S. will use the same roster to take on 2010 FIFA World Cup champion Spain on June 4 in Foxborough, Mass. Kickoff against the current No.1-ranked team in the world is set for 4:30 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN and Univision.

“We have said since the start of the new cycle that winning the Gold Cup this year is a top priority, and that was our focus as we built this roster,” said Bradley. “We have a very experienced group, and we know that in a tournament like this all 23 players will need to contribute in order for us to be successful.”

Veteran Selections: In making his selections, Bradley went for experience and is leaning heavily on European veterans who just concluded their seasons. The roster includes 14 players from the squad that won its group at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. There are 11 players on the roster with a Gold Cup title to their credit, with Landon Donovan a three-time winner.

Donovan, who is the USA’s all-time leader in Gold Cup scoring with 12 career goals, is one appearance shy of tying Kasey Keller (23) for the most ever by a U.S. player. Carlos Bocanegra, who has captained the United States since 2007, Clint Dempsey and Oguchi Onyewu have each collected a pair of championships. At the other end of the spectrum, nine players will be playing in their first Gold Cup finals.

History: The United States has won four Gold Cup championships since the tournament began in 1991, including three of the last five, and has reached the final of the past three editions of the event. Incredibly, the U.S. has never lost a match in group play, holding a 23-0-2 lifetime record. Overall, the U.S. has a 38-5-6 record in Gold Cup action.

The winner of the 2011 Gold Cup will represent CONCACAF at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil. In 2007, the U.S. parlayed a 2-1 victory against Mexico in the Gold Cup final into an historic performance at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, reaching its first ever final of a major FIFA tournament after defeating No.-1 ranked and eventual World Cup Champion Spain in the semifinal.

US Roster: GOALKEEPERS (3): Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS (8): Carlos Bocanegra (Saint-Etienne), Jonathan Bornstein (UANL Tigres), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Eric Lichaj (Leeds), Oguchi Onyewu (FC Twente), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)

MIDFIELDERS (9): Freddy Adu (Rizespor), Michael Bradley (Aston Villa), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (New England Revolution), Jermaine Jones (Blackburn Rovers), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

FORWARDS (3): Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Jozy Altidore (Bursaspor), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

I wrote a post recently.

MLS Daily wrote a post today.

Big Soccer has been discussing it.

The attendance at Tuesday night’s Colorado Rapids-Los Angeles Galaxy game in the U.S. Open Cup at the Home Depot Center was 6,219.

At Tuesday’s CONCACAF Champions League semifinal between Cruz Azul and the Puerto Rico Islanders at Stadio Azul in Mexico City, where tickets cost 50 pesos (about $4), empty blue seats vastly outnumbered spectators. I’ve searched for that official attendance figures, but I have had no luck. 

Anyone seen an official tally for that game?

Isn’t the population of Mexico City something like 18 million people?