Game Notes: Sporting KC at Colorado Rapids

Dangerous Duo Until the May 7 match against New England, the last time that both Conor Casey and Omar Cummings were out of the starting lineup was on March 26, 2011 (1-0 win vs. CHV). The last time neither Casey nor Cummings played in a Rapids match was on Oct. 12, 2008 (3-2 loss at LA Galaxy). In the 2010 season, Casey and Cummings scored 27 of the 44 goals scored, they both scored goals in the same game six times. They also had a combined 9 assists, six of which led to the other’s goal.

Scoring Machine Conor Casey returned from injury in the tie with D.C. United on May 14 as a late substitution. He is the Rapids’ all-time leading goal scorer (42 goals in 87 games played). He has scored at least two goals against 13 of the 17 other MLS teams (he has never scored against DC or Portland, and has never played against Philadelphia or Vancouver).

International Duty  Midfielder Sanna Nyassi was called up to The Gambia National Team to play in a friendly against Gabon on June 7. He will be available for this weekend’s match and then leave to join The Gambia for training camp in Banjul that begins on May 31.  Defender Tyrone Marshall and forward Omar Cummings were named to the Jamaica National Team for their 2011 Gold Cup Matches. Jamaica are in Group B of the tournament and play their first three matches against Grenada at The Home Depot Center on June 6, Guatemala at FIU Stadium in Miami, Fla., on June 10, and Honduras at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey on June 13. Marshall join the team in Los Angeles on June 2 and miss the June 4 game against Philadelphia Union and the June 11 match at Portland Timbers, and it is still unknown at this time when Cummings will report to the team.  Marshall has 70 caps with the Reggae Boyz and has scored five goals. He made his national team debut on May 17, 2000 in a friendly against Romania.  Cummings has scored seven goals for the national team in 23 appearances. In March, Cummings played in two friendlies against Venezuela and El Salvador, where he scored the game winning goal. He earned his first cap against El Salvador on July 26, 2008.  Rapids forward Caleb Folan was named to the Republic of Ireland’s national team provisional roster on May 4 for their upcoming matches, however will not be able to join the team due to the groin injury he sustained on May 7 against New England.