Beckerman bracing for Rapids' U.S. Open match

Alan Pearce, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 23, 2006 at midnight

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Colorado Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo is playing it pretty close to the vest these days.

Clavijo wasn't in the mood Tuesday to disclose his starting lineup for tonight's U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against the Los Angeles Galaxy (8:30 MDT) in Carson,

Calif.

Everyone on the Rapids roster has made the 10-day trip, so there are several players to choose from. But Clavijo only ruled out playing Terry Cooke and Chris Wingert, who are injured, and recently acquired forward Melvin Tarley, who has played in the U.S. Open Cup tournament for the A-League's Minnesota Thunder.

Rapids midfielder Kyle Beckerman, though, said he will start tonight. The veteran scored the Rapids' goal Saturday in a 1-1 tie against D.C. United.

That makes five goals this season for the 24-year-old, by far his highest total in his Major League Soccer career. Beckerman hadn't scored more than once in any of his six previous seasons. His career total was three goals before this season.

His latest was a header off a corner kick by Nicolas Hernandez. D.C. United came back to tie the score, but the Rapids held on to gain a point in the MLS standings. Scoring was especially gratifying for Beckerman, who grew up in nearby Crofton, Md.

The U.S. Open Cup single-elimination tournament is run by the U.S. Soccer Federation and not MLS. The Rapids beat Real Salt Lake in their first Cup match and, if they beat the Galaxy, will play the winner of another quarterfinal between FC Dallas and the Houston Dynamo.

The Open Cup winner will receive $100,000, and that's not the only prize Beckerman and the Rapids are eyeing.

"It's very important," he said. "We're have a chance to get one step closer to a championship.

We're just a few steps away from a trophy and we don't have any of those."

Clavijo, though, has to make some tough decisions about who will play tonight, keeping in mind the team travels to Bridgeview, Ill., to play the Chicago Fire on Saturday.

"(The Open Cup) is a competition that means a lot for us and we will go out to win," Clavijo said. "But at the same time, I will put in a lineup that makes sense. You don't want to push a guy to where he breaks."

Beckerman said fatigue comes with the territory. He spent some of Tuesday afternoon in a hotel swimming pool trying to relax.

"I'm a little tired, but we're paid to do this," he said. "If you're tired, you just get over it. You have to push through and get it out of your head."

Beckerman did say having the entire team along for the trip has been a positive.

"It kind of brought back (memories) a little bit of the preseason," he said. "It adds to the camaraderie."

ON THE MEND: Clavijo said defender Mike Petke's son Dylan is doing better and has rejoined his mother at home after spending time with doctors because of unexplained seizures.

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