MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER GAME SUMMARY
SEPTEMBER 1, 2002 - COLORADO RAPIDS 3, DALLAS BURN 2

DENVER - The Colorado Rapids secured a spot in the 2002 MLS Cup Playoff Race with a 3-2 win over the visiting Dallas Burn Sunday night at INVESCO Field. Chris Carrieri sent the Rapids into the postseason with an 87th minute goal to break the deadlock.

Carlos Valderrama set up the Rapids' first goal of the match, just 11 minutes into the first half when he sent a long cross into the Dallas box from the left flank. The ball into traffic resulted in a Lee Morrison handball and Henderson was quick to step up to the penalty spot, easily converting the opportunity for his 11th goal of the season, giving Colorado the 1-0 lead.

Working his magic again just 10 minutes later, Valderrama did well to thread the needle through the Burn back line, right to an open Zach Kingsley who got in behind the defense and squeezed a low shot between Jordan and the near post, giving Colorado the early 2-0 lead.

Dallas got one back in the 35th minute with Eddie Johnson's first goal of the 2002 season. Defender Ronnie O'Brien, patrolling the right flank, sent a long ball over the Colorado defense to Johnson in the left side of the box. Johnson nodded the ball down sharply, putting it underneath an onrushing David Kramer.

Antonio Martinez knotted the game at 2-2 with a goal in the 67th minute, flashing a one-touch rocket past Kramer. Bobby Rhine dribbled unchallenged up the spine of the field, slipping a pass into open space on the left side of the field. Martinez ran onto the ball and ripped off a low shot to the far post for the equalizer.

Colorado, however, smelling a shot at post-season life and its first win over Dallas all year, shut the door on the Burn in the 87th minute, posting the final tally of the game on a pretty play between Carrieri and Valderrama. Carrieri, receiving a ball near the top of the box, laid off a touch to Pibe before streaking into the open near the penalty area. Perfectly reading the run, Valderrama sent a lead pass over two Burn defenders to the open Carrieri. With sacrifice and selfless abandon, a determined Carrieri bent down to get a head on the ball, sending it to Jordan's left before being dropped by the 'keeper just a split second later.

Three minutes of stoppage time was not enough for the visitors as the final whistle signified the victory and sealed Colorado's first trip to the postseason in two years.

The Rapids (12-11-3, 39 points) clinches a playoff position with the win, thanks to Saturday's 0-0 draw between the New England Revolution and the Columbus Crew. Colorado gets a week off from MLS League play, next taking the field on Saturday, September 14th, when they face the Kansas City Wizards at Arrowhead stadium.

SEPTEMBER 01--COLORADO RAPIDS 3, DALLAS BURN 2

                   1     2     F
DALLAS BURN        1     1     2
COLORADO RAPIDS    2     1     3

Scoring Summary:
COL--Henderson (PK) 12
COL--Kingsley (Valderrama, Chung) 21
DAL--Johnson (O'Brien, Bussey) 34
DAL--Martinez (Rhine, Rodriguez) 67
COL--Carrieri (Valderrama) 87

DALLAS BURN--Matt Jordan, Lee Morrison, Tenywa Bonseu, Percy Olivares
(Antonio Martinez 54), Carl Bussey, Jorge Rodriguez, Matt Behncke, Jordan
Stone (Chad Deering 61), Ronnie O'Brien, Edward Johnson (Ronald Cerritos
68), Bobby Rhine
TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (O'Brien 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (O'Brien 2); FOULS: 21 (five
players with 3); OFFSIDE: 2; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: Jordan 1; CAUTIONS:
Martinez 71, O'Brien 74; EJECTIONS: Martinez 94+; POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 36%

COLORADO RAPIDS--David Kramer, Rick Titus, Robin Fraser, Steven Herdsman,
Wes Hart (John Spencer 69), Pablo Mastroeni, Mark Chung, Zach Kingsley,
Carlos Valderrama, Chris Henderson, Chris Carrieri
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Carrieri 3, Henderson 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Henderson 2);
FOULS: 24 (Mastroeni 4, Carrieri 4, Kingsley 4); OFFSIDE: 3; CORNER KICKS:
3; SAVES: Kramer 2; CAUTIONS: Kingsley 32, Titus 35, Mastroeni 59, Carrieri
91+; EJECTIONS: none; POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 64%

Referee: Ricardo Valenzuela; Assistant Referees: Ben Chouaf, Jose Corro
Attendance: 12,754; Weather: Overcast, 84F, Breezy, Clear

Don't miss the next Colorado Rapids match at INVESCO Field: Sunday, September 1- 7:00 p.m. - Rapids v. Dallas Burn Don't Miss the Fiesta de Dollar con Los Rapids, with live music and dancing, bull rides, and a free beer with the purchase of a $1 taco from Illegal Pete's.. For information or group tickets call 303-299-1599. To reserve individual tickets, visit or call Ticketmaster at 303-830-TIXS or log on to coloradorapids.com.

Click Here to Return to COLORADO RAPIDS News Releases Home Page

Click Here to Return to COLORADO RAPIDS HOME PAGE