MLS

• Rapids, Dallas both gunning for points in Western showdown

  Commerce City, CO (Sports Network) - The Colorado Rapids host FC Dallas at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Major League Soccer action on Saturday night.

  The Rapids (6-5-5), who are winless in six league fixtures, should have their hands full because not only is Dallas (6-2-8) unbeaten seven, but only has one road loss this season.

  "Ithink it?s a physical thing," Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman told mlssoccer.com of his team's recent surge. "The guys are prepared for the contest, for the war. I think it's a mental thing where every time we find ourselves coming back, it just builds confidence that we can come back. If we keep working hard, we know we'll get the goal and the result." A lot of it also has to do with the lay off 2010 MLS All-Star David Ferreira, whose four goals and two assists over the last 10 games only show part of what he has been contributing for his team.

  "We're starting to put it all together," Hyndman said. "This is a huge game for us. This is a really important game because Colorado just lost on the road and they're behind us, so it's a six-point swing. They're looking for something to feel good about." The Rapids are coming off a 2-1 loss at Seattle last week in which they gave up two goals for the first time in four games. The Rapids are winless this season when they allow more than one goal.

  "The start killed us, but after that we played all right," Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens told mlssoccer.com. "They had limited chances, but they scored. We had way more opportunities than they did.

  Being away from home, it's overall a decent performance, but we didn't get the points. Giving up two goals is just unacceptable on the road. We need to really tie it down." Rapids coach Gary Smith was happy with his squad's performance after the first 20 minutes, when both goals were scored by Steve Zakuani.

  "They showed a lot of spirit, a lot of determination," he told mlssoccer.com about his team. "For probably the vast percentage of the game we were the better team overall. Better chances, more clear-cut chances, better football; I thought we looked the more composed and more efficient. The two big stats were the goals that they scored, and they've gotten the points." Now the Rapids will be gunning for the points on Saturday in an effort to move into a tie with FC Dallas.

  07/30 12:52:49 ET