MLS Standings 2012: Colorado Still In 4th In West

The Colorado Rapids are stuck in fourth place in the MLS Western Conference standings, which is as comforting as it is unsettling. If the Rapids stay in fourth for the remainder of the year, they'll face the conference's fifth seed in a one-game showdown for the right to play the conference's first seed in the MLS playoffs. So, for the meantime, it looks like the Rapids have a solid shot at postseason play, but it is likely concerning to the team that they're closer to sixth place, where they would be left out of the postseason, than third, where they wouldn't have to play an elimination game.

Here are the West standings heading into the week:

1. Real Salt Lake, 29 points
2. San Jose Earthquakes, 27 points
3. Seattle Sounders FC, 24 points
4. Colorado Rapids, 19 points
5. Vancouver Whitecaps, 19 points
6. Chivas USA, 15 points
7. Portland Timbers, 13 points
8. FC Dallas, 13 points
9. Los Angeles Galaxy, 11 points

For more on the game, stick with SB Nation Denver. For more in-depth coverage, visit Rapids blog Burgundy Wave. Head over to SB Nation's soccer news hub for all things footy.

MLS Standings 2012: Colorado Rapids Sit In 4th In The Western Conference

The Colorado Rapids won their most recent game -- a 3-2 decision over the Montreal Impact -- though it was not without some controversy. But the win pushed the Rapids back to .500 (6-6-1) and has them in a tie for fourth place in the MLS Western Conference with 19 points. They are 10 points behind first place Real Salt Lake.

Related: Impact Vs. Rapids Final Score: Late Goal Gives Colorado 3-2 Win

The current Western Conference standings:

1. Real Salt Lake (29 points)
2. San Jose Earthquakes (27)
3. Seattle Sounders FC (24)
T4. Colorado Rapids (19)
T4. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (19)
6. Chivas USA (15)
T7. Portland Timbers (13)
T7. FC Dallas
9. LA Galaxy (11)

The Rapids return to MLS play on June 16 with a road game against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

For more on the game, stick with SB Nation Denver. For more in-depth coverage, visit Rapids blog Burgundy Wave. Head over to SB Nation's soccer news hub for all things footy.

Impact Vs. Rapids Final Score: Late Goal Gives Colorado 3-2 Win

The Colorado Rapids (6-6-1, 19 pts) and the Montreal Impact (3-7-3, 12 pts) scored four goals in the first 48 minutes, but the final goal -- the deciding goal -- did not come until the 83rd minute, when a controversial goal gave the Rapids a 3-2 win.

Colorado took a 2-1 lead in the first half when Jeff Larentowicz and Drew Moor first erased and moved ahead of the opening goal from Patrice Bernier. But just minutes into the second half, Andrew Wenger tied the game at 2-2 after Bernier cut through the Rapids defense to feed Wenger the easy shot.

The game-decider, however, did not come without scandal. After an initial header attempt from the Rapids sent the ball dancing along the top railing, a whistle -- presumably from one of the officials -- blew, but the Rapids played on as Castrillon knocked the ball in for a 3-2 advantage:

The Rapids ultimately took the game as G Matt Pickens collected 4 saves on the night and the Rapids reached 19 points for a fourth place standing in the Western Conference. Colorado will be back in action on Tuesday when the club travels to Tampa to take on the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the NASL.

For more on the game, stick with SB Nation Denver. For more on the Rapids, visit Burgundy Wave and for more on the Impact, visit Mount Royal Soccer. Head over to SB Nation's soccer news hub for all things footy.

Impact Vs. Rapids: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The Colorado Rapids take on the Montreal Impact for the first time ever on Saturday night.