RAPIDS DEFEAT AIR FORCE ACADEMY 5-0 IN EXHIBITION

Rapids explode for four second-half goals to defeat the Cadets;
Second-half substitute Paul Bravo scores a hat-trick

COLORADO SPRINGS (Tuesday, April 24, 2001) - The Colorado Rapids defeated the Air Force Academy Falcons, 5-0, in an exhibition match played at Cadet Soccer Stadium in Colorado Springs. The Rapids are 5-0-1 against the Falcons in exhibition play.

The Falcons struggled to muster shots against the Rapids, not registering a shot on goal until ten minutes into the second half.

The Rapids received a scare when defender Lance Key went down two minutes into the game with a kick to the shin. Guest-player Craig Waibel was substituted for Key as a precautionary measure.

The Rapids started pressuring in the ninth minute when midfielder Geoff Aunger, from the middle of the field, 30 yards out, chipped for Marcelo Balboa on the left side, Balboa controlled with one touch and fired a shot from 20 yards out that sailed just wide right.

In the 25th minute, Waibel played a give-and-go with Ross Paule on the right side about 40 yards out. Paule's through-ball for Waibel provided an open look and the defender's hard shot just barely missed the upper left corner of the goal.

Five minutes later, Balboa, on the right side, tracked down an errant Falcon pass 40 yards out and crossed for Paule at the far post. Paule's header was saved by Air Force 'keeper Mike Brophy.

Brophy came up big again with six minutes left in the half as a Balboa through-pass to Paule on the right side was cleared by a sliding Falcons defender. The ball caromed and looked to be headed for an own goal before Brophy got a hand to it.

The Rapids struck in the 40th minute when Imad Baba took a corner kick from the right side. Balboa out-leapt Brophy and headed the ball straight up in the air allowing Aunger to head home the ball amidst a chaotic scramble of Falcon defenders. The Rapids took the lead 1-0.

Balboa again made trouble for Brophy with a hard, rising shot in the 43rd minute after a set-up pass from Paule who posted up at the top of the box.

The first half ended with the Rapids leading the Falcons, 1-0.

The Rapids substituted Paul Bravo for Ross Paule and Junior Agogo for Imad Baba at halftime.

The Rapids scored again in the 55th minute when Seth Trembly played to Bravo in the middle of the field, Bravo turned and played a give-and-go with Gibson at the top of the box, finishing with a powerful strike past a sprawled-out, halftime substitute goalkeeper Mike Taylor.

In the 60th minute, Jason Moore crossed for Gibson far post who jumped to head but the Falcon defender marking him scored an own-goal header past the Falcons 'keeper, Taylor.

It was Bravo scoring again for the Rapids in the 67th minute, finishing off a pass from Agogo to put the Rapids up 4-0.

Bravo recorded the hat-trick with 5 minutes left in the game when he one-timed a cross from a streaking Moore on the left side, adding to the final line score of 5-0 in favor of the Rapids.

UP NEXT: The Rapids take on the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday, April 28. Kickoff is set for 2:00 pm (MT), at Mile High Stadium.

LINESCORE:
		1		2		F
Rapids		1		4		5
Falcons 	0		0		0	

SCORING:
COL:	Aunger (Balboa) 40
COL:	Bravo (Gibson) 55
COL:	Own goal 60
COL:	Bravo (Agogo) 67
COL:	Bravo (Moore) 85

Lineups (Players are listed right-to-left in starting formation by
position):
COL (4-5-1) -- GK - David Kramer; D - Seth Trembly, Steve Herdsman, Chris
Martinez, Lance Key (Craig Waibel 3); M - Imad Baba (Junior Agogo 46), Geoff
Aunger, Marcelo Balboa (Aaron Lujan 54), Ross Paule (Paul Bravo 46), Jason
Moore; F - Neathan Gibson.

AFA (3-4-3) -- GK - Mike Brophy (Mike Taylor); D - Armando Ruiz, Terrence
Welliver, Mike Alfaro (Jeremiah Kirschman); M - Allan Smith, Noah
Merica-Jones, Matt Rabe (Ryan Mansfield), William Minor; F - Brandon Jones,
Casey Chronister, Britton Miller.


Cautions:  	COL: Geoff Aunger (persistent misconduct) 44 
     	AFA: None
Ejections:  	COL: None
				AFA: None

Referee:  Craig Burns
Asst: Casey Doudt
Asst: Rob Kieffer
4th Official: Robin Albert

Click Here to Return to COLORADO RAPIDS News Releases Home Page

Click Here to Return to COLORADO RAPIDS HOME PAGE