It was just another Saturday with a full slate of games in Major League Soccer.

Yet for the Colorado Rapids and Houston Dynamo, the events of May 26, though seemingly mundane at the time, became the launching point for two seasons that caromed quickly in opposite directions.

That day, the Rapids won at home against the Los Angeles Galaxy, improving to 4-2-3 while basking in the euphoria of the opening of Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

Houston, meanwhile, suffered a loss at D.C. United, the defending MLS Cup champion's fifth loss in six matches.

Oh, how times have changed.

The Rapids have not won in 10 MLS matches since. Houston rebounded by reeling off a 12-match MLS unbeaten streak that ended with a loss Aug. 4 at Real Salt Lake.

The Rapids will try to win for the first time in nearly three months and keep the Western Conference-leading Dynamo spinning when the teams meet for the third time this season, tonight at Dick's Sporting Goods Park (7, no television).

With their playoff chances dwindling, the Rapids begin a stretch of three consecutive home matches - they will host Eastern Conference-leading New England on Thursday and David Beckham and the Galaxy on Aug. 26. - that either could save the campaign or put the finishing touches on a disappointing season.

"We have, right now, probably the three most important games of the season to create and get some momentum for us," Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo said. "We have to come out and play to win. One point is not good enough. We need to win. To get in the playoffs, we need points right now."

After scoring only five goals during the 10-match slide, the Rapids have slipped to eight points behind the final playoff spot with 11 games remaining, including six at home. But frustration is mounting, and some of it boiled over during a 5-0 loss to the United Soccer League's Seattle Sounders in a quarterfinal match of the U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday.

But a win against Houston, with an MLS-best 34 points, could provide the sort of spark the club needs.

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't think this was a good team. I'd ask to be traded," forward Herculez Gomez said. "I want to be on a good, winning team, and I see that here."

TIME CHANGE: The home match against New England on Thursday will begin at 7 p.m. instead of 8, as previously scheduled, because the contest no longer will be televised by ESPN2.