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reprint of COLORADO RAPIDS NEWS RELEASE -- byline Andy Engel


NEWS RELEASE



RAPIDS' CHUNG ROLLS OVER REVOLUTION, CLAIMS MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS

Colorado Midfielder Scores Twice as Rapids Jump on Revs Early and Often in 5-2 Victory

NEW YORK (Tuesday, May 28, 2002) - Colorado Rapids midfielder Mark Chung was selected as Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for the week ending May 26, 2002. Chung tallied twice for the Rapids to key a first-half onslaught during a 5-2 win against New England Wednesday night in Denver. In claiming the honor Chung becomes the first individual in League history to earn Player of the Week accolades with three different clubs.

The Rapids began the assault immediately after the opening kickoff, as Chung converted only 32 seconds from the opening whistle. Intercepting a Jay Heaps pass, Chris Henderson sent the ball downfield to Chung. The veteran flanker took a wicked one-time shot that blazed past goalkeeper Juergen Sommer and buried itself deep into the back of the net. Chung's goal is tied for the third fastest from the opening kickoff in MLS history.

Chung added his second goal of the night in the 31st minute, catching Sommer off his line with a looping strike. As Sommer moved out to cut down a potential cross, the Rapids' midfielder hammered the ball across the mouth of the goal and into the upper right corner of the net. Carlos Valderrama became the first player in MLS history to amass 100 career assists on the play.

The University of South Florida product was also awarded MLS Player of the Week honors with the MetroStars in 1999 when he scored a goal and added two helpers in a 3-2 victory against the Miami Fusion and with the Kansas City Wizards in 1996 when he totaled a goal and three assists in a 5-1 drubbing of D.C. United.

Now with three goals and two assists on the season, Chung has helped lead the Rapids (5-3-1, 16 pts) past the Los Angeles Galaxy into second place in the Western Conference behind the League-leading San Jose Earthquakes.

In collecting his third weekly award with three different teams, Chung outdistanced the New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman, Rapids teammate Chris Henderson, MetroStars midfielder Tab Ramos and Dallas Burn midfielder Chad Deering for the honor. Major League Soccer's Player of the Week is selected every Monday throughout the MLS season by a panel of journalists from PSRA.

2002 MLS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Week	Player			Team			Note

1	Carlos Ruiz		Los Angeles Galaxy	Ruiz's two-goal MLS debut fends off D.C. United's short-handed charge 
2	Marco Etcheverry	D.C. United		Etcheverry's first goal since the 2000 season nets United's first win of 2002
3	Carlos Ruiz		Los Angeles Galaxy	Ruiz earns his second award with another two-goal, golden goal performance 
4	Chris Klein		Kansas City Wizards	Game-winning goal, insurance assist earn Klein award in first game after ACL tear
5	Ariel Graziani		San Jose Earthquakes	First goal in Earthquakes uniform and a helper push San Jose past Colorado, 2-0
6	Peter Nowak		Chicago Fire		Goal and assist lead Fire in 2-2 deadlock with Revs at Cardinal Stadium opener
7	Jason Kreis		Dallas Burn		Kreis leads Burn to 2-1 win vs. MetroStars with goal & assist; scores in 5th straight
8	Taylor Twellman 	New England Revolution	Newcomer's two goals unveil new CMGI Field in style with 2-0 win vs. Dallas
9	Ante Razov		Chicago Fire		Razov single-handedly downs Revs with a hat trick in 3-1 win at CMGi Field 
10	Mark Chung		Colorado Rapids		Two goals, one in first 32 seconds of the match, lead Rapids to 5-2 romp over Revs	

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