MLS Tickets - Colorado 4, Chivas USA 0 by Brent Warnken

After being out of the lineup for two weeks, Conor Casey registered three first-half goals to lead the Colorado Rapids to a 4-0 victory over Chivas USA. Get MLS tickets and see Casey score three goals in a game. Casey said he felt good. Taking a couple of days off to get his legs back was not a bad idea. Colorado's Pablo Mastroeni scored his first goal of the season 26 seconds into the game. The last time the midfielder/defender scored was on April 3, 2005, against Los Angeles. Rapids coach Gary Smith told the press that Casey had a big game, but it was Mastroeni who gave his team a big lift early. The coach praised his defender, calling him a real "Scorcher."

Chivas goalkeeper Lance Parker made his MLS debut in place of injured Zack Thornton. It wasn't Parker's night. Casey sent a shot over Parker's head in the fourth minute to make it 2-0. The forward put the Rapids (8-6-6) ahead 3-0 when he scored off a cross from Omar Cummings, who had three assists in the match. Casey also faked Parker out of the crease on a penalty kick at the end of the half to make it 4-0. It was his second three-goal game of the season and third in his career. Colorado's leading scorer did not participate in the July 25 game against New York due to yellow-card accumulation and missed the August 1 matchup against Columbus after injuring his left thigh in the All-Star match.

The prolific scorer said he had a good night, but gave his teammate Mastroeni credit for giving the team a lift with the first goal of the game. Casey acknowledged that a score that early and in that fashion was a big boost for the team. The loss was the fifth straight for Chivas (8-7-3). During that span, they were only able to produce one goal. The team has been shut out three consecutive times. Chivas' midfielder Jesse March said the game was a nightmare for his team. He continued to say that if his club wants to win, it's going to take a collective effort and not just one guy figuring out how to win. Thornton was sidelined due to a strained right quadriceps, which he injured during the All-Star game.

Smith stated that the strategy from the beginning of the game was to put pressure on a young goalkeeper in his first start. The coach believes the Rapids completed their mission and emphasized that Mastroeni's goal was "massive" for the team. Chivas Defender Shavar Thomas received a red card ejection on Casey's third goad. Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens was not challenged in this contest, he faced only two shots during the game. Parker prevented Colorado from scoring a fifth goal when he smothered Cummings' shot in the 49th minute. Chivas coach Preki noted that his club started the game poorly. He expressed his disappointment in turning the ball over in their end and allowing Mastroeni to come in all alone to score a huge goal. The coach stated that the match was over in the first 50 minutes.

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