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reprint of COLORADO RAPIDS NEWS RELEASE -- byline Andy Engel
NEWS RELEASE
For the third time in as many months, the Rapids will travel to Dallas, Texas to meet their Western Conference opponent * the Dallas Burn * at the Cotton Bowl as U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal-round action resumes around the nation on Wednesday, Aug 7. Kickoff for Wednesday night's match is set for 6:30 p.m. MT. Colorado recently defeated the Charleston Battery (A-League), 1-0, on a late goal by John Spencer in third-round action on July 17 in Charleston, SC. The Rapids, making their first trip to the quarterfinals in three years, will look to improve upon their best performance in the nation's oldest tournament * appearing in the championship game in 1999. The meeting between the clubs on Wednesday will be the first-ever in Open Cup play.
Team USA star Brian McBride and the Columbus Crew will roll into INVESCO Field on Saturday, Aug. 10 for the first time ever, making their first and only showing of the 2002 MLS regular season in Colorado. Entering the game, the Rapids are 9-9-3 (30 pts.) while the Crew are 8-9-4 (28 pts.). The clubs battled to a 1-1 tie in Columbus on July 20, giving Colorado one of only three draws in 21 games this season. The Rapids have been more successful against the Crew than any other MLS team throughout franchise history, posting a 9-3-3 record since 1996 * including a 4-1-2 home mark. Currently, Columbus sits in the No. 3 position in the Eastern Conference, holding the No. 8 position in the MLS Playoff race. The Crew is one of only two teams in MLS that the Rapids have not defeated thus far in 2002.
The U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team opened their trip to Huddersfield, England, in a big way last week with three wins over professional reserve (U-21) clubs. For the trip, U.S. U-23 MNT head coach Glenn "Mooch" Myernick called in a 20-man roster that includes three members of MLS: former U-17 and U-20 Kyle Beckerman and Seth Trembly (both of the Colorado Rapids), as well as Columbus Crew forward Edson Buddle. The U-23s started the trip with a dominating 4-1 win over Bolton Wanderers reserves on Aug. 1 * a match-up which saw Rapids midfielders Seth Trembly and Kyle Beckerman in the starting 11 with Trembly recording an assist on Alecko Eskandarian's 50th minute goal. The U-23s, who now have an overall record of 4-1-2 in 2002, will finish with perhaps their toughest opponent, the Manchester United reserves, on Wednesday, Aug. 7, to conclude the four-game, seven-day tour. The following are the U.S. U-23 MNT results for the trip:
Date Opponent Result U.S. Goal Scorers Aug. 1 Bolton Wanderers Reserves 4-1 W Carroll (2), Eskandarian, Buddle Aug. 3 Huddersfield Town Reserves 2-1 W Testo, Eskandarian Aug. 5 Crewe Alexandria Reserves 4-1 W Testo, Buddle, J. Thompson, Pause
Representing the United States Men's National Team, Rapids midfielders Pablo Mastroeni and Chris Henderson played hard, but could not stop Carlos Valderrama, Mark Chung and the rest of the MLS All-Stars in the 2002 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game Saturday afternoon at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. After a scoreless first half marred by a severe weather delay, the midsummer showcase erupted in a five-goal outburst that saw the MLS All-Stars grab a 3-2 victory over the U.S. National Team. Colorado Rapids midfielder Mark Chung offered the first dangerous chance for the MLS side, unleashing a 30-yard rocket that forced a sprawling save from Tony Meola. The U.S. broke the deadlock in the 58th minute, as Chris Henderson turned a potentially broken play into a Landon Donovan goal. DaMarcus Beasley's pass wide to Henderson on the left flank sped forward on the slick grass, but Henderson slid to chop the ball back toward the center of the box. Donovan ran onto the cross, spiking it past a helpless Cannon for the 1-0 lead. With four players on the two rosters, Colorado was the most well represented team (along with the Chicago Fire) in the midsummer spectacular.
The Boulder Rapids, the Premier Development League (PDL) reserve affiliate of the Colorado Rapids, has advanced into the PDL National Championship after a convincing 5-1 victory over the South California Seahorses on Saturday at the Pleasant View Soccer Field in Boulder, CO. The Boulder Rapids will now face the Cape Cod Crusaders (who defeated the Bradenton Academics, 3-2, in the other semi-final) on Saturday, Aug 10, with the match being televised live on Fox Sports World from Dennis Yarmouth High School in South Yarmouth, MA at 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. MT).
The Colorado Rapids, in conjunction with the US Soccer Foundation, Eurosport and Kwik Goal, will be collecting old but usable soccer gear as part of the Third Annual Passback Day. The event is set for Saturday, August 10th and will coincide with the Rapids' match-up against the Columbus Crew at 7 p.m. MT at INVESCO Field. Collection tables will be set up outside the stadium at Gates 2, 9 and 10, and also at the Soccer Celebration area. Used shoes, soccer balls, shin guards, nets and other soccer equipment will be collected. The donated items will then be redistributed into the Denver community to needy teams and leagues. The individual or group that donates the most gear will receive a set of goals from the Foundation's Resource Center Partner, Kwik Goal.
Injury Report: Scott Garlick - OUT - left thumb fracture
Training Schedule:
Tuesday, August 6 - Training at 9:30 a.m. MT, Westminster Training Facility
Depart for Dallas at 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, August 7 - U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal Match vs. Dallas Burn 6:30
p.m. MT
Thursday, August 8 - Arrive in Denver at 10:55 a.m.
Training TBD
Friday, August 9 - Training at INVESCO Field 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, August 10 - Game vs. Columbus Crew at INVESCO Field 7:00 p.m. MT
LEAGUE STANDINGS - Thursday, August 1, 2002
Western Conference
TEAM GP W L T PTS GF GA STREAKS LAST 10
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San Jose Earthquakes 21 12 7 2 38 34 20 Lost 1 6-4-0
Kansas City Wizards 21 8 6 7 31 31 30 Won 2 5-2-3
Dallas Burn 20 8 5 7 31 28 27 Lost 1 5-3-2
Colorado Rapids 21 9 9 3 30 31 36 Tied 1 3-5-2
Los Angeles Galaxy 19 9 7 3 30 27 26 Won 1 5-4-1
Eastern Conference
TEAM GP W L T PTS GF GA STREAKS LAST 10
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MetroStars 21 9 10 2 29 35 34 Lost 2 5-5-0
Chicago Fire 20 8 8 4 28 30 25 Tied 1 3-5-2
Columbus Crew 21 8 9 4 28 30 33 Won 1 4-4-2
N.E. Revolution 20 7 12 1 22 35 42 Won 1 4-6-0
D.C. United 20 6 11 3 21 19 27 Tied 1 2-6-2
MLS CUP PLAYOFFS TABLE
(Top 8 teams qualify)
SD TEAM GP W L T PTS GF GA
--------------------------------------------------------
1. *San Jose Earthquakes 21 12 7 2 38 34 20
2. *MetroStars 21 9 10 2 29 35 34
3. Kansas City Wizards 21 8 6 7 31 31 30
4. Dallas Burn 20 8 5 7 31 28 27
5. Colorado Rapids 21 9 9 3 30 31 36
6. Los Angeles Galaxy 19 9 7 3 30 27 26
7. Chicago Fire 20 8 8 4 28 30 25
8. Columbus Crew 21 8 9 4 28 30 33
N.E. Revolution 20 7 12 1 22 35 42
D.C. United 20 6 11 3 21 19 27
* = Conference leader
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