Gashi Trying to Stay Positive on Road

By Brian Jennings

Photo by @Photog_JohnB

Colorado lost a great chance to join FC Dallas at the top of the Western Conference last Saturday.  Only a Goal-of-the-Year candidate long range strike from FCD’s Victor Ulloa keeps the Rapids in second place.

As they travel later this week to New York City to face the Eastern Conference leaders on the cracker-box field at Yankees Stadium, one Rapids player refuses to be disappointed and says his teammates should be commended for what they have done so far.

“We are in the front of the standings,” exclaimed an upbeat Shkelzin Gashi after last Saturday’s draw at home.  “We want to win and every day work hard.  Sometimes the goals go in and sometimes not but we don’t lose.  It’s a big mentality of this team.”

“We don’t watch too much the standings because the standings are important at the end of the season but we want to win every game. 15 games we don’t lose I think is a big compliment for the team.  I’m proud of everyone.”

Colorado’s Achilles heel has been scoring goals, multiple ones at that, and Gashi admits they all know that needs to improve if they are to extend their unbeaten run on the East Coast this coming weekend.  “The next game in New York we have to train good to win. (We are) Positive.  We know we have good chances but we need to make more.”

That task could continue to be a challenge against NYCFC this weekend as Jermaine Jones will again be absent from the lineup as he attends the MLS All-Star activities all week and has not trained with the Rapids in over 2 weeks.  That being said, look for Gashi, Kevin Doyle, and the scoring sensation Marlon Hairston as keys to getting on the scoreboard.  If the Rapids can show they can start scoring more than a goal per game the unbeaten streak and the standings will take care of themselves.