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 latest evidence came Sunday evening as the Rapids fell 2-0 to Sporting Kansas City in the first leg of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Colorado, which edged the Columbus Crew 1-0 in the wild card match on Thursday, couldn’t generate legitimate threats as Sporting spent the evening shoving them around the field.

There was a great deal of literal shoving as Kosuke Kimura, Drew Moor and Caleb Folan all departed with injuries. Moor injured his shoulder, Kimura broke a bone in his left foot, and Folan left with an ankle sprain.

This means a team that hasn’t scored more than two goals in an MLS match since July 20 would have to win by at least that margin just to get a penalty kick chance against KC on Wednesday night. Or, the team could repeat its three-goal win from July 20 and advance to the next round.

Otherwise, Kimura, Moor, Folan, Jamie Smith, Pablo Mastroeni, Conor Casey and Anthony Wallace — who will all be out with injuries on Wednesday — will have company in the training room.

Teal Deal: Teal Bunbury scored both goals for Kansas City on Sunday. The second-year player from Akron continues to make a fool of my prediction that he would be a bust when KC drafted him in the first round before the 2010 season.

Also Missing: Defender Tyrone Marshall was ejected during the Sunday match, which makes him unavailable for Wednesday’s return leg.

This ejection and the injuries leave Marvell Wynne guiding a back line of Scott Palguta, Danny Earls and either Mike Holody or a player transplanted from another spot (Wells Thompson?) on Wednesday night. This is not good news for a defensive clampdown.

It will be chilly in Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for the 8 p.m. battle with the Columbus Crew. But there will be plenty of heat on the field for the Rapids. Win, and they face the LA Galaxy in the next round of the playoffs. Lose, and the team can head to the training room and join rehabilitating forward Conor Casey.

Looking Back: For this playoff edition of The Thursday List, we take a look back at past playoff performances for the Rapids. The list starts with the team’s first playoff appearance and opponent and grows from there.

1997: at Kansas City, Win, 3-0
Kansas City, Win, 3-2
at Dallas, Win, 1-0
Dallas, Win, 2-1
at D.C. United, Loss, 2-1

1998: at Chicago, Loss, 1-1 (shootout)
Chicago, Loss, 1-0

1999: at Los Angeles, Loss, 3-0
Los Angeles, Loss, 2-0

2000: at Kansas City, Loss, 1-0
Kansas City, Tie, 0-0
at Kansas City, Loss, 3-2

2002: at Dallas, Loss, 4-2
Dallas, Win, 1-0
at Dallas, Tie, 2-1 (second overtime)
at Los Angeles, Loss, 4-0
Los Angeles, Loss, 1-0

2003: Kansas City, Tie, 1-1
at Kansas City, Loss, 2-0

2004: Los Angeles, Win, 1-0
at Los Angeles, Loss, 2-0

2005: FC Dallas, Tie, 0-0
at FC Dallas, Win, 2-2 (overtime)
Los Angeles, Loss, 2-0

2006: FC Dallas, Loss, 2-1
at FC Dallas, Win, 3-2 (overtime)
at Houston, Loss, 3-1

2010: Columbus, Win, 1-0
at Columbus, Loss, 2-1 (advanced on PK’s)
San Jose, Win, 1-0
FC Dallas, Win, 2-1 (overtime)

Opening Match: In 10 previous playoff appearances the Colorado Rapids are 3-5-2 in opening matches.

The bad news for the Rapids is that this year’s wild card match is a one-and-done affair for the losers.

The good news for the Rapids is the team’s record in home playoff matches in the opening round. Counting the two-leg affairs of the past, the team is a respectable 4-3-3 through the years.

Home Openers: The Rapids have played at home to open the playoffs five times. In those games — which includes the 2010 opener against the Crew — the team is 2-1-2.

Missing: The two players who scored against Columbus in the past season will be absent tonight. Casey is out for the season with a leg injury and Pablo Mastroeni is recovering from a concussion suffered against Real Salt Lake on Oct. 14.

Present: Kosuke Kimura, who was the last person to score for the Rapids at home in a playoff match, will be on the field tonight. The right back scored a wonder goal against San Jose in 2010 that eluded a charging Omar Cummings and goalkeeper Jon Busch.

Kimura, in fact, seems to always be on the field. Team golden boot winner Jeff Larentowicz, goalkeeper Matt Pickens and Kimura were the only Rapids to appear in all 34 games this season.

You Again: Brian Mullan, a late-season pickup from Houston in 2010, makes his 11th consecutive appearance in the MLS playoffs. Mullan, a Colorado soccer product, has appeared in the playoffs every season of his career.

The record book will show that Chris Wondolowski scored an unassisted goal for San Jose in the 18th minute, and Drew Moor delivered an unassisted equalizer in the 71st. What the stats line will fail to show is the frenzy and oddity on display at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

The result pushed the defending MLS Cup Champions to 10-9-12, 42 points, and closer to clinching a playoff spot. It left the Earthquakes at 6-11-13, 31 points, and on the outside of the MLS playoffs.

Perhaps the result is all that mattered, because what went on for 90 minutes was so off-kilter. Forwards pouted. Yellow cards flew. Offsides mounted. Veterans returned. Combined, it added up to a tense evening where it was tough to tell much about either side.

Colorado came out with the accelerator jammed to the floor. Omar Cummings nearly delivered a strike before 25 seconds had run off the clock. Finally, when the Rapids looked their most dangerous, it was a rare gaffe from ‘keeper Matt Pickens that gifted the Earthquakes a goal. Pickens chested down a ball to a running Wondolowski, who obliged by scoring his 11th of the season.

All the control and a one-goal deficit put the Rapids on their heels for the rest of the half. The switch in sides brought new vigor to Colorado, but the team still seemed to miss at critical moments. In the first 60 minutes, the Rapids had more offsides (seven) than shots on goal (three by my count).

Still, tenacity was rewarded. Moor cleaned up the mess following a Sanna Nyassi corner kick to put the Rapids level. And it looked in the 85th and 89th minutes like Colorado might get a winner from the same set piece, but it was not to be, on a night where nothing seemed quite right.

Caleb Concerns: Forward Caleb Folan has been seeing few quality chances in recent weeks, and the frustration he has been wearing in his shoulders produced a caution in the second half. It also produced regular diatribes from Folan to his fellow attackers.

While it’s easy to side with Folan for not getting the service he wants, the Republic of Ireland striker also needs to put direct play back in the game. He was continually looking to flick by head, toe and heel during the night. Trying to out-”cute” defenders doesn’t consistently work.

His one true shot came on a header in the first minute of stoppage time that Jon Busch miraculously saved. The pain on Folan’s face said it all. Sometimes you have to take the ball yourself, turn and go for the goal of the foul. Conor Casey has demonstrated this many times. With a chance to shine in Casey’s absence, Folan hasn’t quite gotten the same result.

Comminges Communication: The quest for a left back does not appear to have ended with the acquisition of Miguel Comminges. Putting the Guadeloupe native on the left allowed Moor to have a stellar game at center back, but Comminges play did little to assuage fears.

Saturday, he looked like he was fighting to adjust to teammates and altitude. He timed his headers poorly, sent errant balls long, and left late in the match for Wells Thompson. Much of the rest of the time, Comminges looked like he was needing a translator to work with the rest of the squad.

Kandji Delivers: Macoumba Kandji came on for Cummings late in the second half. While he also suffered from some timing troubles, the tall striker had ‘Quakes defenders on their back foot. He forced Busch into a late save, set up Nyassi for what should have been a much better shot, and startled Pablo Mastroeni with a pass into the box that the captain could have turned into the winning goal. It was a revelatory match for the man who missed much of the year recovering from a torn ACL.

Dubious Title: With the tie, the 2011 Rapids broke the record for most ties in a season. The 2004 squad tied 11 times. Colorado has three games remaining. A couple more ties would ensure a playoff spot.

Veterans Back: Jamie Smith played 58 minutes in his first significant action since July. Kandji was also getting his first major minutes since November.

All Yellow: Folan, Moor, Simon Dawkins, Brad Ring and Steven Beitashour all picked up cautions during the night.

Next Up: A host of reserves will travel to El Salvador to play Isidro Metapan on Wednesday. They will return to join most of the regulars for an Oct. 1 home match with FC Dallas. The Texas side, who lost to Colorado in the MLS Cup Final, defeated the Rapids at Pizza Hut Park 3-0 in their first meeting this season.

Teammates swarm Jeff Larentowicz after his 69th minute header put the Rapids up 2-1 on Chivas USA. The Goats rallied to tie 2-2 on Saturday night. (Photograph by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Twice Colorado led on Saturday night, and twice Chivas USA came back, eventually claiming a share of the points at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Goals from Caleb Folan and Jeff Larentowicz, both clinical strikes, were countered by the visiting Goats, who exploited the few openings they found on the night.

Ultimately, the 2-2 draw proved that remaining undefeated over the past six games (4-0-2) is not the same as winning for the Rapids, and earning another draw on the road (the second straight) was a solid result for Chivas USA.

It could have been much better for the Rapids (10-6-11, 41 points). Colorado started in a 4-5-1 formation with Folan as the lone striker, and the early results were encouraging. The Rapids controlled play for the first 25 minutes, and Folan snapped a precise goal off a Pablo Mastroeni cross in the 13th minute. The Ireland striker has now quietly tied Conor Casey for the team scoring lead in 2011 with six goals.

With Chivas doing an effective job disrupting the midfield, the Goats latest acquisition paid an immediate dividend in the 36th minute. Former Rapids Nick LaBrocca sent a pass to a rushing Juan Pablo Angel, who beat the offsides trap and tapped the ball past ‘keeper Matt Pickens.

In the second half, the Rapids came out the most dangerous side, but struggled to finish. Finally, Sanna Nyassi delivered a corner in the 69th minute that Larentowicz headed home. The two had nearly connected earlier, and Larentowicz made no mistake as he put the ball in the side netting.

The second goal wasn’t enough, however, as Chivas took advantage of a squad that lost its tactical shape. Laurent Courtois was the beneficiary as he ran on to a Michael Lahoud pass and put it between Pickens’ legs in the 86th minute.

Colorado got two chances in second half injury time to grab three points. ‘Keeper Dan Kennedy misplayed a Nyassi free kick in the 93rd minute that no one could latch on to. Then, on the resulting corner kick, Macoumba Kandji fired a rebound into the box. Defenders knocked it out as time was called on the tie.

Iron Man: Drew Moor is now the MLS iron man. The defender, playing at left back, played the full 90 minutes for the 68th consecutive game, setting a record for field players.

Next Up: The Rapids travel to Honduras for a Tuesday match against Real Espana in the team’s second CONCACAF Champions League group stage match. Colorado will remain on the road, facing the Chicago Fire in Bridgeview, Ill., on Aug. 27.

The next home match comes Sept. 13 against Santos Laguna in CCL play. The next MLS home game is more than a month away when the San Jose Earthquakes visit DSG Park on Sept. 24.

Caleb Folan delivers the header that gave Colorado an early lead in a 2-2 tie with Chivas USA. (Photograph by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

It was satisfying because it was the sort of game the Rapids should win, but the team has stumbled to get earlier this season and at many times in the past three or four years. San Jose is trapped in a team-record swoon, trailing Colorado in the standings and desperate for goals.

On Saturday night at Buck Shaw Stadium, the Rapids (10-6-10, 40 points) fell behind on a Joey Gjertsen header in the 22nd minute. But the Rapids kept coming with the sort of possession and attack that seemed to make a tying goal inevitable.

It came in the 39th minute when a sliding Sam Cronin knocked Pablo Mastroeni’s cross out of bounds with his left arm. Caleb Folan tallied on the subsequent penalty kick. Then the Rapids continued pressing for the lead.

The job got easier in the 50th minute when Cronin saw red for a studs up tackle on Mastroeni. Colorado finally capitalized in the 72nd minute on a free kick restart. Wells Thompson and Mastroeni tapped and then stopped the ball for Jeff Larentowicz, who put his shot through the legs in the wall and past ‘keeper Jon Busch.

From there, the Rapids held the beter of possession and used that control to ride out 90 minutes plus more than four minutes of stoppaged time to pick up the team’s fourth win in the past five games (4-0-1) and a sense of satisfaction. Meanwhile, San Jose stretched its winless streak to 11 matches and fell to 5-9-10, 25 points.

Absent Starters: Neither Sanna Nyassi nor Omar Cummings started for the Rapids. The two have been crucial in the recent run of wins, but both were on international duty during the week. Cummings, who played 90 minutes for Jamaica in China on Wednesday, came on in the 60th minute. Nyassi, who played 45 for Gambia against the Congo, did not make the trip to San Jose.

Card Crazy: Referee Paul Ward handed out seven cards during the match. Thompson, Larentowicz, Drew Moor and Folan all saw yellow for Colorado. Along with Cronin’s ejection, Khari Stephenson and Chris Wondolowski went into the book for San Jose.

Of all of them, Moor’s whistle for a reckless foul in the 79th minute was the only questionable call. Moor and a defender were fighting for a ball, each player had an arm out on the other. Moor, however, had leverage. When he used that leverage, he was booked. It seemed a bit harsh for what had transpired.

Next Up: The Rapids continue a run of matches against teams chasing them in the Western Conference with a match against Chivas USA at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday. Before that game, Colorado begins CONCACAF Champions League play at home on Wednesday with a match against Matapan.

Looking at the 2011 roster, we go back in time to who was here in each of the previous seasons. We looked at who was on the roster at the end of the season and remains today.

2007 Roster: Conor Casey*, Omar Cummings, Pablo Mastroeni, Kosuke Kimura

2008 Roster: Casey, Cummings, Mastroeni, Kimura

2009 Roster: Casey, Cummings, Mastroeni, Kimura, Drew Moor*, Jamie Smith, Scott Palguta, Matt Pickens, Steward Ceus

2010 Roster: Casey, Cummings, Mastroeni, Kimura, Moor, Smith, Palguta, Pickens, Ceus, Jeff Larentowicz, Brian Mullan*, Wells Thompson, Macomba Kandji*, Quincy Amarikwa*, Anthony Wallace*, Andre Akpan, Danny Earls, Ian Joyce, Ross LaBauex, Marvell Wynne, Davy Armstrong

*Joined the team during the season.

So, what does this list tell us? Soccer is a volatile sport, especially when you aren’t winning. Only three current players –Cummings, Mastroeni and Kimura — were on the roster when DSG Park opened 4 1/2 years ago. Only Mastroeni was a regular on the field, with Cummings making 11 appearances as a substitute and Kimura starting four games for an erratic defense that season. Add Casey from Toronto FC during 2007, and those four are the quartet of Rapids that started the DSG era.

It also tells us that while the team was missing the playoffs in ’07, ’08 and ’09, it was only in that 2009 season that the side started to come together. Looking at the players who came and went, ’08 was as dismal as it seemed. Fernando Clavijo departed as coach two-thirds of the way through the season and Gary Smith took over. Only the Casey-Cummings-Mastroeni-Kimura quartet continued from the depths of ’08 to the heights of the 2010 MLS Cup and beyond.

In ’09, the team added two starters — Pickens and Moor — and a third, Smith, who would start if not for nagging injuries. In ’10, the team added starters in Larentowicz, Mullan and Wynne, with Thompson, Earls and Wallace all seeing significant minutes.

Just in the way that a season is fleeting, so is time on the field for Rapids players. Now, Kimura is a constant at right back, Cummings is flourishing after early season injuries, Casey is out for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon, and Mastroeni continues to turn back time as he approaches his 35th birthday on Aug. 29.

So, The Tuesday List wants you to remember these names because you never know how many more times you’ll see them on the field.

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.

The Colorado Rapids faced the conference leaders for the second time in nine days and emerged with three points. This time it was in Philadelphia where the Rapids defeated the Union 2-1.

While it wasn’t as dominating as the 4-1 beating Colorado delivered to the New York Red Bulls on July 20, it was an even more rare creature. Philadelphia had been undefeated (5-0-4) at home prior to the Friday loss.

Credit for the win goes to a crafty veteran, a speedy newcomer and a stalwart ‘keeper. Pablo Mastroeni delivered his first goal of the season in the 35th minute. Mastroeni took a throw-in from fellow veteran midfielder Brian Mullan, cutback on a defender and delivered the ball to the far left corner.

Just before the half, Sanna Nyassi doubled the margin. Omar Cummings dribbled upfield in the 45th minute and passed it to Nyassi, who zipped past the Union defense before punching in his fourth goal in three games at forward.

Philadelphia’s rally took a significant hit in the 65th minute when Sheanon Williams was ejected for abusive language. The Union, however, continued to get the better of play despite being a man down.

Preserving the win was all up to the defense, and ‘keeper Matt Pickens came up strong. Pickens recorded five saves on the night, none bigger than after Roger Torres scored in second-half injury time. With the lead halved, Carlos Valdes appeared ready to give the Union a last-second share of the points. Pickens, however, got a right hand on that final header to preserve the win.

With the win, Colorado improved to 8-6-10, 34 points, and moved to fourth in the Western Conference. Philadelphia, 8-5-7, 31 points, remains tied with Columbus for first in the East.

Exceptional Assistant: Cummings picked up his sixth assist of the season. He has assists on all four goals Nyassi has scored.

Eastern Champions: The Colorado Rapids, who won the Eastern Conference thanks to the vagaries of MLS playoffs in 2010, have faced the Eastern Conference leaders four times this season. The Rapids have two wins and two draws in those matches.

Beware the Crew: The team now tied with the Union, the Columbus Crew, has been the exception to the Rapids run against the best of the East. The Crew, which Colorado faces at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Aug. 5, beat the Rapids 4-1 in Columbus on June 26.

With Omar Cummings picked at the lone representative for this year’s showdown against Manchester United at the New York Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., on Wednesday (6:30 p.m., live of ESPN2, Galavision and TSN), The Thursday List takes a look at the experience of Rapids players at past All-Star games.

(* did not play in the game; # additional selection per CBA; did not participate)

2010: MLS All-Stars 2, Manchester United 5 (Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas)
M – Jeff Larentowicz (46)
F – Conor Casey#

2009: MLS 1, Everton FC 1; Everton W 4-3 on penalties (Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah)
F – Conor Casey (90, converted penalty kick)

2008: MLS 3, West Ham United FC 2 (BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
F – Christian Gomez (58, one goal)
M – Pablo Mastroeni (90)

2007: MLS 2, Celtic FC 0 (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO)
M – Pablo Mastroeni (30)

2006: MLS 1, Chelsea FC 0 (Toyota Park, Bridgeview, IL)
GK – Joe Cannon (45)
M – Pablo Mastroeni*

2005: MLS 4, Fulham FC 1 (Crew Stadium, Columbus, OH)
GK – Joe Cannon#
F – Jeff Cunningham (22, two goals)
M – Pablo Mastroeni#
D – Mike Petke#

2004: East 3, West 2 (RFK Stadium, Washington DC)
M – Pablo Mastroeni*

2003: MLS 3, CD Guadalajara 1 (Home Depot Center, Carson, CA)
M – Mark Chung#
M – Pablo Mastroeni#
F – John Spencer#

2002: MLS 3, U.S. National Team 2 (RFK Stadium, Washington DC)
M – Mark Chung (70, MLS)
M – Chris Henderson (45, USA)
M – Pablo Mastroeni (90, USA)
M – Carlos ‘El Pibe’ Valderrama (70, MLS)

2001: East 6, West 6 (Spartan Stadium, San Jose, CA)
D – Marcelo Balboa (45)
F – John Spencer (45)

2000: East 9, West 4 (Crew Stadium, Columbus, OH)
D – Marcelo Balboa (90)
M – Anders Limpar*

1999: West 6, East 4 (Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California)
D – Marcelo Balboa (66)
F – Paul Bravo (45)
M – Ross Paule (45)
Glenn ‘Mooch’ Myernick (coach)

1998: MLS USA 6, MLS World 1 (Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Fla.)
D – Marcelo Balboa (45, USA)
F – Paul Bravo (45, USA)
M – Ross Paule (45, USA)
M – Adrian Paz (60, World)

1997: East 5, West 4 (Giants Stadium, E Rutherford, NJ)
D – Marcelo Balboa (45)
M – Chris Henderson (90)

1996: East 3, West 2 (Giants Stadium, E Rutherford, NJ)
D – Marcelo Balboa*

So, that’s four goals from Rapids representatives over 15 matches. This is not surprising when you consider how many of the Rapids that made the match where defenders or defensive-minded midfielders.

Midfielder Pablo Mastroeni has played in seven All-Star matches, defender Marcelo Balboa made six, and Rapids forwards have only made six appearances on the field in 15 years.

Perhaps Cummings, in his first appearance, can add another Rapid to the list of offensive threats in the Wednesday showdown with ManU. After his three assists in Colorado’s 4-1 home win over All-Star Game coach Hans Backe’s Red Bulls, anything seems possible.