Giving Pareja the reins of his first MLS team is going to create a roster shakeup. The Colombian, a veteran of MLS campaigns from 1998 through 2005, has already talked about the need to find a Carlos Valderrama-type playmaker for the Rapids.

Considering this is a team built on a model of rugged defense, over-the-top balls and just enough skill to get the ball in the back of the net, replacing Gary Smith with Pareja will mean replacing many of the fundamentals that led to an MLS crown in 2010 and the second round of the playoffs in 2011.

This change will produce winners and losers. Here’s some of both.

Winner: Jeff Larentowicz. Bringing in ballhandler for midfield means someone will have to double up on defensive midfield duties. This responsibility will fall to Larentowicz.

The defensive midfielder has consistently been one of the best Rapids on the field since joining the team in 2010. Look for him to have even more work to do, with few shots on goal to take. The workhorse will be critically needed.

Loser: Wells Thompson. He plays with great energy. He plays with great passion. He rarely plays with finesse. The last item will cost him.

Thompson’s lack of touch is anathema to type of short-passing game Pareja espouses. He might get some time as a late defensive substitute, but look for his minutes to dry up in ’12.

Winner: Omar Cummings. Cummings goal scoring went from league-leading in 2010 to barely measureable in 2011. This will reverse with a team that emphasizes getting passes to the feet of players.

Conor Casey did a fabulous job in ’10 of getting the ball to Cummings. Without Casey, Cummings was adrift. With Casey back from injury in ’12, and more short passes, Cummings should thrive.

Loser: Caleb Folan. Pareja’s not looking for the “big and strong” forward to pair with a “small and fast,” and that means Folan’s time on the roster should be limited.

Casey’s nose for the goal and years remaining under contract means the new coach will have to find a way to use him. The same is not true for Folan. The 29-year-old Irish international was going to be under pressure with the return of Macoumba Kandji from injury. Hiring Pareja likely sealed Folan’s fate to find another team for 2012.

Winner: Steven Emory. No, you haven’t seen him on the field for the Rapids. You will this season. From his college playing days at Metro State, we know that Emory can thrive in the short passing game. Expect the young midfielder to show that in training and find his way on to the reserves bench early in the season.

Winner and Loser: Pablo Mastroeni. Hiring Pareja should guarantee Mastroeni makes the move from defensive midfield to center back. This could easily extend a playing career that has produced renaissance seasons in 2010 and 2011.

A new coach and a new position are likely to mean a new role, too. The captain’s armband will likely wrap around the as-yet-unnamed central midfielder that Pareja is seeking. Pareja is looking for a triggerman for attack. That player will set the tone for the 2012 Rapids. And that means the quiet professionalism of Mastroeni is unlikely to allow him to hold on to the captain’s title.

The coach, who had agreed to a new contract, and the team announced a parting of the ways on Monday afternoon. The departure came the same day that Rapids players cleared out their lockers following a 4-0 aggregate loss to Kansas City in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Late in the season, Smith indicated that there was a rift between himself and technical director Paul Bravo. Smith indicated at the time that problems there were causing the team to miss opportunities.

The rift seem to add fuel to speculation that might leave for a position with Portsmouth in England or at some other club with a larger budget and underperforming side.

The speculation did not, however, derail the Rapids from making the 2011 playoffs and defeating the Columbus Crew 1-0 in a Wild Card match at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City.

Rumors, however, proved true when managing partner Jeff Plush announced Smith would be leaving. The team will now begin the search for its sixth coach in 16 years.

Bizarre: Evidently, 39 wins marks the point at which a Rapids coach leaves. Smith’s two immediate predecessors, Fernando Clavijo and Tim Harkinson, each won 39 matches while at the helm.

Smith’s regular season MLS record with the Rapids was 39-31-35.

Continuity: Since joining as an assistant coach in 2008 and taking over two-thirds of the way through that season, Smith has added consistency as he milked the most out of his team’s talent.

With his departure, the Rapids are left with a low payroll, an aging midfield, and a superstar — Conor Casey — returning from surgery for 2012. Not exactly the ideal spot for any manager coming aboard.

CSN’s View: This was a loss for the Rapids. Smith produced a winner without spending big. He was a stable presence on the sideline and always supported his lads. For a team that goes through coaches every few seasons, Smith will be a tough one to replace.

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.

It was as match a wrestling match as a battle of soccer teams on Saturday. Here, Brian Mullan tangles with two Dallas defenders. Colorado won 1-0. (Photograph by Joel Baud/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

The Saturday night showdown between FC Dallas and the Colorado Rapids was not so much a rematch of the 2010 MLS Cup as it was a desperate 90 minutes for two teams stumbling toward the playoffs.

Colorado came in winless in its last five MLS matches (0-3-2) and Dallas arrived on a string of getting shutout in three straight matches. For the teams clinging to the top two wild card spots, neither side was in a position to allow for too many errors.

Mercifully for the Rapids, the team with the biggest chinks in its armor proved to be the visitors from Texas.

Drew Moor, whom FC Dallas traded to Colorado in 2009, rose to get a head on a Sanna Nyassi corner kick in the 25th minute and deliver the game’s only goal. Matt Pickens was solid in the net and the Rapids weathered a late challenge while a man down to win 1-0 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, the team’s first home win since Aug. 5.

With the victory, the Rapids improved to 11-9-12, 45 points, with two matches remaining. Dallas — shutout for the fourth game in a row — dropped to 13-11-7, 46 points, with three matches remaining.

The result likely meant that both sides will make the postseason, but with several teams still having four games to play after the weekend, it’s too soon to start making playoff decisions in Dallas or Denver.

The LA Galaxy, Seattle Sounders and Real Salt Lake have all booked playoff spots. The top three spots in the Eastern Conference are still to be sorted with six teams bunched only seven points apart. The top three from the East will go through with the remainder battling FC Dallas and the Rapids for the four wild card spots.

Next Up: The Rapids get a rest. Colorado’s two regular season MLS matches include a home date with Salt Lake on Oct. 14, and a visit to the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps on Oct. 22.

In the final group stage match of the CONCACAF Champions League, Colorado travels to Santos Laguna on Oct. 19 to face a side that is already in the CCL quarterfinals. The Rapids need a win to advance in the champions league or a tie and some lucky circumstances to move forward.

Still Searching: Murphy Brown had greater success finding an assistant than coach Gary Smith has in finding a leftback. Moor, Anthony Wallace, Danny Earls, Scott Palguta and even Wells Thompson have spent some time in the spot. The latest choice, Miguel Comminges, was sent off for a second yellow card on Saturday. This means he will be sitting out on Oct. 14, and another back will have a chance in the unsettled corner.

Isidro Metapan's Alfredo Pacheco (left), watches as Colorado Rapids Andre Akpan (top), uses the back of Pacheco's teammate Alex Escobar during the CCL opener, Aug. 17. (Photograph by Jessica Taves/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

The Colorado Rapids players have to stop thinking about the three points at home that got away in the 86th minute on Saturday and turn their attention to a Honduran champion.

Coach Gary Smith blamed the fatigue from Wednesday’s CONCACAF Champions League among the culprits that led to Chivas USA’s tying goal in a 2-2 game at home on Saturday.

With seven regular starters playing significant minutes against Isidro Metapan in the team’s 3-2 CCL opener, Colorado took a different squad to San Pedro Sula, Honduras to meet Real Espana on Tuesday.

For the 8 p.m. match with Real Espana (on Fox Soccer), goalkeeper Matt Pickens and defender Marvell Wynne were the only players who appeared in Wednesday’s match against Metapan who did not travel to Honduras on Monday.

The 18-man game day roster will come from the following 19 travellers.

GOALKEEPERS: Steward Ceus, Chris Sharpe

DEFENDERS: Tyrone Marshall, Drew Moor, Kosuke Kimura, Danny Earls, Mike Holody, Scott Palguta.

MIDFIELDERS: Jeff Larentowicz, Brian Mullan, Sanna Nyassi, Joseph Nane, Ross LaBauex, Wells Thompson.

FORWARDS: Omar Cummings, Macoumba Kandji, Caleb Folan, Quincy Amarikwa, Andre Akpan.

Sharpe is an MLS pool goalkeeper who trains regularly with the Rapids. CONCACAF and MLS agreed that Sharpe could be added to the Rapids 30-man Champions League roster for the group stage of the tournament.

Smith opted for an attack-minded CCL roster, taking all five healthy forwards plus Nyassi, who has blossomed in a forward position alongside Cummings.

What should have felled a team that was struggling to score instead led to a four goal outburst from Nyassi and 10 points from four games.

In the Earthquakes, the Rapids face a team at Buck Shaw Stadium that is struggling to find the back of the net, just lost its most promising scoring threat, and has another scorer still looking for his finishing touch. The toothless attack explains how the ‘Quakes are mired in a 10-game winless streak.

Colorado, however, has searched for the winning edge against San Jose since the Earthquakes rejoined the league in 2008. The Rapids were winless against San Jose the first five times the two teams met before claiming a victory at home last fall.

Long Shot: Kosuke Kimura provided the winning difference when these two teams met during the Eastern Conference finals last November. His long range pass to Omar Cummings sailed past the forward’s foot and ‘keeper Jon Busch in the 1-0 game.

Gordon Gone: No sooner had Alan Gordon joined the ‘Quakes and scored to preserve a tie last weekend then he was gone. The striker underwent surgery this week for injuries in both hips.

Mac Back: Macoumba Kandji played 78 minutes in a reserve league 1-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City on Monday and appears ready to go again. The big striker has been out since tearing his ACL on the pass that led to an own goal in extra time and the Rapids 2-1 win over FC Dallas at the MLS Cup Championship in November.

Traveling Men: Cummings rejoined the Rapids on Friday after appearing in an international friendly for Jamaica. Nyassi was due to meet the team today after playing for Gambia against Congo. Coach Gary Smith said if and how much each will play today will be a game time decision.

While that win put the Rapids (8-6-10, 34 points) on the road to the MLS Cup title in 2010, the stakes are not much lower this Friday when the two teams meet at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Pablo Mastroeni (2nd to left) and teammates Wells Thompson (left), Marvell Wynne (#22) and Anthony Wallace (right), congratulate Mastroeni after he scores the only goal of the first playoff game at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Oct. 28, 2010. Colorado defeated Columbus 1-0. (Photograph by Jessica Taves/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

The 7:30 p.m. match features a Rapids team that seems to be finding its form after losing star forward Conor Casey for the season, and a Crew squad that has managed to claw its way to the top of the Eastern Conference.

Columbus (9-6-7, 34 points) is riding two straight wins after defeating Portland Timbers at home 1-0 and shutting out Real Salt Lake 2-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Watching Columbus: Robbie Rogers was the man of the match against Salt Lake, handing out both assists on goals scored in the first 10 minutes.

Beyond the attack, the Crew defense is allowing less than a goal a game. The Crew has gone 3-1-1 in the past five games.

Watching Colorado: Sanna Nyassi has been the difference maker for Colorado. Since moving from midfield to forward, the Gambian has scored four goals in three games. He also drew a penalty that led to a fifth tally in that span.

Nyassi and Omar Cummings, who has assists on all four Nyassi tallies, have formed a striking tandem that is fast and lethal. Most of the damage those two have done has come by running straight into the center of the defense.

Erratic: Speaking of defense, the Rapids did just enough in getting by the Philadelphia Union 2-1 on July 29, but the backline has been erratic. The team needed a critical save from Matt Pickens to avoid a draw, despite being a man up for the final 25 minutes.

Colorado also surrendered two goals in drawing 2-2 with a 10-man Revolution side six days earlier. The Rapids, however, are also 3-1-1 in the team’s past five games

Sore Point: Colorado has given up four goals twice this season. Once was the 4-3 loss at Seattle, and the other was a 4-1 drowning at Columbus in June.

Kandji Sighting: Macoumba Kandji played in an intrasquad scrimmage this week and coach Gary Smith said Kandji may be on the game day roster for Friday. Kandji has been out since injuring his leg on the play that produced the winning goal in November’s MLS final.

Plus: This Friday’s match is also a Heineken Lads Night Out, where fans can get two tickets, two beers, two hot dogs and two T-shirts for $44. Tickets are available by calling 303-825-GOAL.

No amount of pleading can change the fact the New England Revolution snuck out of Dick's Sporting Goods Park with a point on the road. (Photograph by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

For the Colorado Rapids, it was the old sinking feeling that comes from letting points slip away at home to a poor side that has mustered only one win on the road. The fact that the tie came after Kosuke Kimura scored a ludicrous goal made the 2-2 draw with the New England Revolution only that much more unsettling.

The Rapids moved to 7-6-10 on the season after taking the lead but failing to put away the Revs.

Benny Feilhaber opened the scoring with a shot against the run of play in the 25th minute. It appeared that the Revs goal was enough to unhinge a Colorado side that was dominating play for the first half, but unable to break through.

Caleb Folan put the Rapids on the board from the penalty spot in the 65th minute. His goal came after a one-two with Sanna Nyassi and Omar Cummings that ended with Chris Tierney upending Nyassi in the box and getting an early trip to the showers via a red card.

While Colorado kept pressing, the goal that put the Rapids up came from an unlikely source and an unlikely goalkeeping error by Matt Reis. Kimura sent a long pass from inside his half toward the New England penalty area. Reis got caught out of position and watched the ball bounce over him and into the back of the net in the 82nd minute.

Three points eluded the Rapids in the 90th minute when Kenny Mansally went down in the penalty area as he jockeyed with Scott Palguta for position. Shalrie Josephy calmly slotted the spot kick past Matt Pickens for the draw.

Up Next: The Rapids travel to Philadelphia to play the Union on Friday.

All-Star: Coach Gary Smith rested Cummings for the first half in anticipation of the forward’s appearance at Wednesday’s All-Star Game at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.

New York Red Bulls Tim ream just can't stop Colorado Rapids Sanna Nyassi as he shoots pass New York Red Bulls goalie Frank Rost, not once but three times during the game Wednesday night, July 20, at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The Rapids crushed the Red Bulls 4-1. (Photograph by Jessica Taves/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Wednesday night’s offensive explosion could not have come at a better time for the Colorado Rapids. The team needed a home win and it needed to improve its playoff position. Now it’s more of the same for Saturday.

Fresh off a 4-1 win over the then Eastern Conference-leading New York Red Bulls, the Rapids players now have to turn their attention to another visitor from the East, the New England Revolution. New England makes its only visit of the seaon to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Lone Win: The Revs have been abysmal on the road (1-6-3), but the team is coming off its first road win of the season, a 1-0 Wednesday victory at D.C. United. While the Rapids can relish Wednesday’s hat trick from Sanna Nyassi, the outpouring only improved the home record to a tepid 4-2-5.

So, for the sake of playoff positioning and keeping the home fans burning, the Rapids need three points from the Revs on Saturday. Standing it the team’s way will be Revolution stalwarts Matt Reis and Shalrie Joseph.

Reis is back on form and delivered crisp goalkeeping in holding D.C. at bay. He’s keeping a mediocre backline from giving away games. Joseph continues to be a leader and a pest. He’s the sort of player who gets under an opponent’s skin, and then has enough skill to do something about it. From his midfield spot, he props up the defense and propels the offense. He makes New England go.

Another Nyassi: New England also injected some speed in the second half against D.C. by bringing on Sainey Nyassi, the twin brother of Colorado’s Sanna.

Surgery Success: Although he is gone for the season, the Rapids did have some good news on Conor Casey. Before Wednesday’s game he underwent successful surgery on his left Achilles tendon. Casey suffered the injury in the 38th minute of a 4-3 loss to the Seattle Sounders. Coach Gary Smith pointed to the temporary field in Seattle as being culpable in Casey’s injury.

Worthy Venture?: The temporary field was brought on to allow Seattle to host plastic grass-hating Manchester United in a friendly on Wednesday. ManU won that match 7-0.

The MLS suspended Colorado Rapids midfielder Brian Mullan for 10 games and fined him $5,000 for his tackle that broke Seattle Sounder Steve Zakuani’s leg on Friday.

Meeting in New York, the Major League Soccer Disciplinary Committee today determined that Mullan’s challenge was reckless, egregious, and showed utter disregard for the safety of his opponent. Mullan will be suspended for a total of 10 games and fined a total of $5,000, including the automatic one-game suspension and $250 fine for receiving a red card.

“The Committee felt the egregious nature of the foul and the severity of the injury warranted the discipline issued,” executive vice president of competition and game operations Nelson Rodriguez said in a statement. “The Committee believes the challenge showed an utter disregard for Zakuani’s safety.

“In making this decision, the Committee took several factors into account: the timing of the challenge, the location on the field, the moments immediately before the challenge where it is clear that Mullan is frustrated and the severity of Zakuani’s injury”

Rapids Reaction: Mullan will not appeal the decision, according to a Rapids spokesperson.

Mullan released an official apology through the sports management firm James Grant Sports Ltd. on Wednesday.

“It is with regret that my tackle resulted in the injury of Steve and I am deeply sorry to Steve and all those impacted by his injury,” Mullan said in the statement.

Mullan did not report to Rapids practice on Tuesday, and coach Gary Smith told reporters that Mullan was “distraught” in the aftermath of the incident. Smith also said that Mullan has inquired about receiving psychological counseling to deal with the incident.

Recovery: Zakuani is still recovering at the Rose Medical Center in Denver after undergoing surgery late Friday night. Although the timeline for his recovery has not been officially released, Zakuani is expected to miss the duration of the season.

He issued a letter to fans in the days following the incident, saying that he “can’t thank my family, friends and fans enough for their love towards me.”

“After 24 hours, I had received about 400 e-mails, a couple hundred Facebook messages, hundreds of Facebook wall posts, 62 text messages and several phone calls from all over the world,” Zakuani said in the letter. “Thank you for your love, thoughts and prayers toward me.”

Collin Cleared: Also, U.S. Soccer has rescinded the red card issued to Sporting Kansas City defender Aurelien Collin in the 75th minute of the MLS match against New England Revolution on April 23 due to mistaken identity.

Collin was initially given the red card for serious foul play after it appeared he made contact above the shoulder on a New England player. After reviewing the video evidence, U.S. Soccer determined that the player who made contact above the shoulder was in fact Birahim Diop from Sporting Kansas City.

As a result, Collin will not be suspended for the next league match. Further, Diop cannot be issued a red card retroactively, and was not sanctioned by the MLS Disciplinary Committee.