Intensity cranks up as Colorado Rapids return to full health: "They know they’re competing for a job"

Intensity cranks up as Colorado Rapids return to full health: "They know they’re competing for a job" <a href="/image/oscar-pareja-looks-vs-toronto-fc">Oscar Pareja looks on vs. Toronto FC</a> 05/23/2013 - 11:36am COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – It’s exactly what Oscar Pareja’s been waiting for since he took the <a href="http://www.coloradorapids.com/" target="_blank">Colorado Rapids</a>’ head coaching job back in January 2012. For the first time in his 16 months in charge, Pareja has competition at just about every position on the field. For the first time, he has full confidence in his 18-man squad on Saturdays. And for the first time, he has what he believes is the squad that he’s wanted ever since his arrival at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. AT&T Goal of the Week update: Michel's corner kick olimpico claiming half the vote <a href="/image/att-goal-week-week-12">AT&T Goal of the Week: Week 12</a> 05/23/2013 - 11:33am <object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="349" id="cfa1cb0oi" name="cfa1cb0on" width="620"><param name="movie" value="http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1735970/goal_of_the_week_2013-05-20-122110.640hq.mp4" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="349" id="cfa1cb0ei" name="cfa1cb0en" src="http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1735970/goal_of_the_week_2013-05-20-122110.640hq.mp4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620"></embed></object> Kick Off: New York City FC, Red Bulls rivalry heating up already <a href="/image/kick-mike-petke">Kick Off: Mike Petke</a> 05/23/2013 - 9:29am <object width="620" height="349" id="cf89549oi" name="cf89549on" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1741278/the-daily_2013-05-23-112718.640hq.mp4"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed width="620" height="349" src="http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1741278/the-daily_2013-05-23-112718.640hq.mp4" id="cf89549ei" name="cf89549en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" /></object> FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman questions Blas Perez's red card: "It's really a peculiar call" <a href="/image/blas-perez-5">Blas Perez</a> 05/22/2013 - 9:20pm <object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="349" id="cfdc545oi" name="cfdc545on" width="620"><param name="movie" value="http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1734626/mls_2013-05-19-001826.640hq.mp4" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="349" id="cfdc545ei" name="cfdc545en" src="http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1734626/mls_2013-05-19-001826.640hq.mp4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620"></embed></object> FC Dallas' Michel says olimpico was "fortunate" but "we practice that play" <a href="/image/michel-fc-dallas">Michel FC Dallas</a> 05/22/2013 - 8:23pm <object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="349" id="cf07994oi" name="cf07994on" width="620"><param name="movie" value="http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1734616/mls_2013-05-19-000616.640hq.mp4" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="349" id="cf07994ei" name="cf07994en" src="http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1734616/mls_2013-05-19-000616.640hq.mp4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620"></embed></object> San Jose Earthquakes' Mehdi Ballouchy: Injury layoff has been "one of the hardest things in my life" <a href="/image/mehdi-ballouchy-quakes">Mehdi Ballouchy with the Quakes</a> 05/22/2013 - 7:43pm SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Professional athletes tear their anterior cruciate ligaments so often these days, the injury has become almost commonplace. As his road to recovery nears its end, San Jose Earthquakes midfielder <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/players/mehdi-ballouchy">Mehdi Ballouchy</a> can readily admit his ACL experience was hardly routine. Vancouver Whitecaps must make do without Jamaica-bound Darren Mattocks <a href="/image/vancouver-whitecaps-striker-darren-mattocks">Vancouver Whitecaps striker Darren Mattocks</a> 05/22/2013 - 7:36pm VANCOUVER, B.C. – The Vancouver Whitecaps must make do without <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/players/darren-mattocks">Darren Mattocks</a> for their next two Major League Soccer matches, but will crucially have him available for the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship final against the Montreal Impact on May 29 before he departs. The five-times-capped 22-year-old has linked up with the Jamaican national team for a training camp in the Bahamas as the Reggae Boyz prepare for World Cup qualifying matches next month against Mexico, the United States and Honduras. Everybody wins: Real Salt Lake, Nick Rimando delighted with goalkeeper rotation for USMNT <a href="/image/nick-rimando-26">Nick Rimando</a> 05/22/2013 - 7:28pm SANDY, Utah – When Jurgen Klinsmann announced his roster for the US national team's upcoming friendlies and World Cup qualifiers, one of the biggest talking points was his decision to include six goalkeepers. To nobody's surprise, English Premier League veterans Tim Howard and Brad Guzan were invited, and it wasn't a stretch to see Real Salt Lake's <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/players/nick-rimando">Nick Rimando</a> get the nod as well, considering his frequent stints as the USMNT's No. 3 'keeper over the past few years. Frequent flyers: Seattle Sounders brace themselves for massive road trip in MLS, Open Cup <a href="/image/sounders-celebrate-us-open-cup">Sounders celebrate US Open Cup</a> 05/22/2013 - 7:05pm TUKWILA, Wash. — Seattle to Los Angeles to Florida and back. It’s a trip that will span about 7,000 miles and take place over the course of a little more than a week. Menelik Watson: From soccer fan in the UK to the NFL | THE SIDELINE <a href="/image/menelik-watson">Menelik Watson</a> 05/22/2013 - 6:42pm In a bit of role reversal from what you usually read about here at MLSsoccer.com — American soccer players signing for clubs in England and Europe — today we've got the tale of a 6-foot-6, 330-pound American football offensive lineman, who just so happens to come from Manchester, England, and just so happens to support Manchester City.