SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- For most of this MLS season, Colorado Rapids head coach Fernando Clavijo has found himself in Dr. Frankenstein-mode: chopping and changing both players and tactics in an effort to find the optimum balance in his side. And while Saturday's 1-1 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes left the Colorado manager less than satisfied, it appears that Clavijo is closer to finding a lineup that plays to his side's strengths.
For the second consecutive game, Clavijo used the same players and formation, and the result was that the Rapids' trio of central midfielders took the game to the home side in the first half.
But the Quakes survived the opening stanza, and jumped on top in the 62nd minute when Ryan Johnson headed home Ramiro Corrales' free kick. Colorado came back with Conor Casey leveling matters in the 70th minute, and while Clavijo was pleased with the fortitude shown by his side, he thought his team deserved more than one point.
"We thought we did enough; I thought we lost two points today," said Clavijo. "But we know how this league is. Every game is difficult whether you are playing at home or on the road."
The biggest beneficiary of Clavijo's most recent attempt at stability is Mehdi Ballouchy. The former Real Salt Lake midfielder had done little in Colorado since being acquired in a trade last season. That former linchpin Kyle Beckerman went in the other direction made Ballouchy's miniscule contribution even more striking.
But the Santa Clara product, who returned on Saturday to the stadium where he performed as a collegian, looked plenty comfortable playing alongside Christian Gomez and Nick LaBrocca, with his possession passes allowing Gomez to probe further up field. For Ballouchy, this recent stretch of playing time is just reward for the work he put in earlier in the year.
"It's always tough when you're not playing," said Ballouchy. "It takes a good attitude I think. I worked pretty hard. Once I got my chance, I think I did a good job, and I've gotten the good faith of the manager again."
Ballouchy also attributes part of his success to the role he has been given in Clavijo's revamped attack.
"I think the three-man midfield is good for us," said Ballouchy. "I think all of us can keep the ball and pass the ball. The ability we have in the midfield is great, and the variety of forwards we have ... we have target guys and guys who can run in behind. I think we have a good team, it's just a matter of getting everyone on the same page, and gelling a little bit more."
One of the forwards Ballouchy alluded to is Casey. The former Mainz striker struggled to recuperate from a knee injury earlier in the season, but has been coming on of late, with his size and hold-up play adding some heft to the Rapids' attack. Casey indicated he is also feeling more comfortable with Clavijo's current approach.
"I think it's helped that we've had the same formation and the same guys on the field the last couple of weeks," said Casey. "We've been able to get in a better rhythm, I think the formation suits us, and I think we're slowly getting comfortable in that formation."
Still, Casey was kicking himself for squandering a 12th-minute breakaway, failing to even hit the target. But he stuck to his task, muscling aside Quakes defender Jason Hernandez to equalize on a looping header.
"You try and forget that [miss] as quickly as you can," said Casey. "After the game you're a little more frustrated than during. I'm happy to have been able to tie it up, but it would have been a big boost to go up early."
The Quakes were livid after Casey scored, insisting that the Colorado forward had fouled Hernandez, with the protests of San Jose manager Frank Yallop resulting in referee Hilario Grajeda asking him to leave the field. But Casey insisted that it was all part of the normal give-and-take that happens in any game.
"I thought that was strange," said Casey of San Jose's protests. "I don't know what to say about that. I don't remember anything like [a foul] happening. You look at their goal too, the [referee] gives them a free kick from 30 yards out that was never a free kick in the first place. I think it evens out in the end."
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