The timing couldn't be better, as the Rapids have found themselves clicking at a critical time in their season, when every game feels like a must-win. They leapt up from a fifth-place tie, reinforcing their belief that the postseason remains within reach.
"Obviously, we looked at where we are on the table, and you have to put out more effort," said striker Omar Cummings, whose 37th-minute goal sealed the victory for the Rapids. "The coach emphasized, we have to dig deep and see what we're made of. These are the results you get."
Cummings was making just his second start in the past five matches, and his addition to the starting lineup was the only change from the side that blanked FC Dallas on the road last week, replacing Conor Casey on the front line alongside Tom McManus.
After the Rapids took the lead when Jordan Harvey forced an own goal from Chicago 'keeper Jon Busch in the 30th minute, Cummings delivered with a much-appreciated insurance goal on an assist from Terry Cooke.
But despite the spark provided from relative youngsters like Cummings and Harvey, it was the veteran spine of the team that set the standard on the field, with Mike Petke and Cory Gibbs playing tight defense while sharing center back duties and team captain Pablo Mastroeni dominating on both sides of the field. Cap it off with goalie Preston Burpo's second clean sheet in as many games, and the Rapids have found a winning formula.
"They're a good team. There was no way we were ever going to take them lightly," interim head coach Gary Smith said of the Fire. "They've not got the best defensive record in the league for no reason. We knew that maybe even one goal would be the difference. We weren't expecting an enormous amount of chances. But with the opportunity in front of the goal, we knew that we needed to be a bit more clinical than we've been in previous games.
"But also, they've got quality on the team. So there was preparation in keeping the game compact, making sure that individuals such as [Cuauhtemoc] Blanco and [Brian] McBride, who've got real pedigree, weren't allowed opportunities in front of the goal, or they certainly would capitalize on them."
The bulk of that responsibility fell on Petke and Gibbs, but the entire back line rose to the occasion, with Kosuke Kimura and Harvey playing solid on the flanks to the strong central defense presence.
"Our fullbacks have not played a lot of football, and the demands upon them are enormous," Smith said. "We're asking them to join in attacks, to be productive on the ball, and also limit their opponent to not an awful lot going forward. I thought the pair of them did it fantastically. They're young players, they don't have a lot of experience. Fortunately, inside them they have two extremely experienced players who I thought were absolutely immense."
Petke's return to the team after missing much of the season to injury essentially coincided with the acquisition of Gibbs, giving the Rapids a strong boost in the middle and anchoring the defense, making it easier to implement a sense of total team defense from a strong central foundation.
"In the first half, it was probably the best 45 minutes I've seen Mike play since I've been here," Smith said of Petke's play. He was removed in the 64th minute as a result of an ankle injury suffered in the first half. "Cory took over the middle [after the substitution], and he was a colossus."
Gibbs echoed his coach's comments, relishing the role he's been able to play as a part of a backline that has been all but impenetrable over the past two matches.
"Let me tell you, in this league [good defenders] are what you need," Gibbs said. "Mike and I can fill the hole in the middle, and you can't ask more of Jordan and Kosuke. I feel comfortable playing next to Jordan and Mike does with Kosuke. They know their jobs, and that's what you need in this league."
The other piece of that puzzle was Mastroeni in the midfield. As the defensive line has solidified, the team has benefited from liberating Mastroeni, relying less on him as a defensive key and making the most of his ability to impact the match on both ends of the field.
"I believe [Mastroeni] is as good as anything in this league," Smith said. "He's reliable, he's talented, he's got the passion of a 21-year-old. It's just an absolute delight to have him on the team."
The back-to-back wins enabled the Rapids to climb back into the playoff hunt, tying Chivas for third in the Western Conference following their loss Thursday. The Rapids were able to watch second place Real Salt Lake fall to New York on Saturday and saw first-place Houston play to a draw with fourth-place San Jose, setting the stage for the Rapids to leapfrog over the Quakes into the thick of the postseason push.
"You've still got to win your game," Smith said, noting the weekend results had all gone Colorado's way. "So there's a bit of added pressure there, especially for the younger players. I thought the more experienced players pulled them through at times of need. Terry Cooke, Tom McManus, the three I've already mentioned [Petke, Gibbs, and Mastroeni], they're great to have in the changing room. They're great for the other players to inspire them and lead them on.
"At the moment there's a great feeling, as you can well imagine in the changing room. Another clean sheet. To get consecutive wins is very, very important to the team. It just adds to that belief that we can actually turn the tables and maybe cause a little bit of an upset."
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