Random notes from the Colorado Rapids’ third draw in nine days …

For the second time in less than a week, Conor Casey scored on a penalty kick in extra time as the Colorado Rapids tied the Earthquakes 1-1. Casey scored his 15th goal of the season about a minute before the end of Wednesday’s match. Jason Hernandez tripped Omar Cummings in the box in extra time, and referee Ricardo Salazar had little choice but to blow the whistle.
(photo by Tom Auclair/ ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Imagine the array of emotions for Ryan Johnson on Friday night. The San Jose Earthquakes striker scored his team’s only goal in the eighth minute of a 1-1 tie against the Colorado Rapids. Then the 24-year-old committed the foul deep into extra time that produced a penalty kick for Colorado and the Rapids’ only goal.

We discuss Colorado College’s four-team tournament, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference men’s and women’s honors, the possibilities for MVP of Major League Soccer, and the MLS playoff race. Read on, McDuff. …

Conor Casey, above right, who missed the U.S. national team’s game in Utah because he had his wisdom teeth pulled, scored in the 52nd minute as the Colorado Rapids defeated Toronto FC 1-0 on Saturday.
(photo by Tom Auclair/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

A little more than a month after breaking both bones in his left forearm, Rapids defender Julien Baudet headed in a goal on a corner kick to lift Colorado past league-leading Houston on Sunday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. (photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Chad Marshall scored on a free kick in the 39th minute as the Crew defeated Colorado 1-0 on Saturday night despite being outshot 16-5 by the Rapids. Above, Columbus goalkeeper William Hesmer denies the Rapids again. (photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Jacob Peterson, Pat Noonan, Nick LaBrocca and Mehdi Ballouchy scored as the Colorado Rapids poured on the offense against the last-place New York Red Bulls, winning 4-0 on Saturday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Above: Peterson, left, Ballouchy and LaBrocca celebrate Ballouchy’s second-half goal. (photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Rapids coach Gary Smith said Wednesday’s exhibition against Club America was a good opportunity for members of the squad to get playing time against a quality opponent. It almost was a disaster for one of Colorado’s starters. Above, Rapids midfielder Greg Dalby tries to keep the ball away from Club America striker Enrique Esqueda.
(photo by Tom Auclair/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Smith discusses his team’s 1-0 victory over FC Dallas on Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, the effects of losing players to national-team duties and Wednesday night’s international friendly against Club America. (photo by George Tanner/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)