Pickens possible, Wynne doubtful for Sat.
Colorado's Pickens has been an important part of MLS' second-best defense.
Commerce City, Colo. – Through the first 20 games of the season, three Rapids players had played every minute of every game: goalkeeper Matt Pickens and defenders Marvell Wynne and Drew Moor. Going into game 22, only Moor still has that streak in tact.
Pickens injured his back in Columbus on August 21 on the Crew’s second goal of the game. He remained in the match, but then during the following week he had back spasms that kept him out of the Houston game. Ian Joyce made his first MLS appearance and registered the shutout in the 3-0 win over the Dynamo last Saturday.
“With regards to the goalkeepers, I’ll wait until the last minute to make a decision on that,” said Rapids head coach Gary Smith following training on Thursday. “I wanted to see how Matt trained today. Of course he’s been a very, very big part of some of the statistics that we have defensively.
“But Ian came in and performed exceptionally well on the weekend. So we’ll see how Matt’s back is in the morning, if there’s any reaction. And I now know I’ve got to excellent goalkeepers to choose from; not that I didn’t before, but now Ian’s got a game under his belt. He’s boosted his own confidence.”
Wynne, who has alternated between right back and center back since joining Colorado before the season, was forced to leave the game against Houston before halftime with a left hamstring injury. Danny Earls replaced him, going in at left back with Moor moving over from the left to the center position.
“Marvel is a doubt for the weekend, he’s not done an awful lot this week, and the likelihood is that he may not be involved,” said Smith. “We have to consider that and have a look at how might fulfill that role.”
Smith has several options to consider should Wynne not be available. At center back, Smith has also used Scott Palguta, Julien Baudet, and Moor this season, and Kosuke Kimura has split the games with Wynne at right back. Moor has started the last four games at left back, but Smith has the option of bringing Earls back into the lineup, or the newly acquired Anthony Wallace.
The Rapids host Chivas USA on Saturday at 7 pm.
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