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reprint of COLORADO RAPIDS NEWS RELEASE -- byline Ben Grossman
NEWS RELEASE
DENVER (Tuesday, March 24, 1998) - Upon further review by MLS officials, the Colorado Rapids' lone goal in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Dallas Burn has now been credited to forward Paul Bravo. Originally ruled as an "own goal" by the Burn's Mark Santel, the 27th minute play now becomes an unassisted goal for Colorado's 1997 scoring leader.
The play began with Bravo collecting the ball at the top of the penalty box and turning and blindly shooting the ball. With the shot headed well to the left of the net, the ball struck the outstretched leg of Dallas' Mark Santel and deflected into an open net, past unsuspecting Dallas keeper Garth Lagerwey.
The play was originally ruled an own goal, but was reviewed today by the MLS office in New York and overturned. According to FIFA rules (soccer's world governing body), a defender's "intervention must be deliberate" for an own goal to be registered, and MLS today ruled that Santel was not attempting to direct the ball towards his goal.
The Rapids' goal was not enough Saturday, as the Burn went on to defeat the Rapids 2-1 in a shoot-out, sending Colorado to its third consecutive opening-day defeat.
Paul Bravo led Colorado in 1997 with eight regular season goals, before adding three more goals in five playoff games. Bravo became the only player in MLS to lead two different teams in scoring in two separate years after his 13 goals led the San Jose Clash in 1996.
MARQUINHO INJURED: Colorado's Brazilian forward Marquinho is listed as day-to-day with a slightly strained left groin. Marquinho, who made his Rapids debut on Saturday in Dallas, did not practice Tuesday.
NOTE TO MEDIA: The final Rapids' practice in Denver this week will take place Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. in Westminster. The team departs Thursday morning for two days of practice in San Jose before Saturday's game against the Clash at 8:30 p.m. MST. Saturday's game will be carried live on Fox Sports Rocky Mountain.
MEDIA CUP SET FOR APRIL 1: The third-annual media cup is set for Wednesday, April 1, at 12:00 p.m. at Mile High. Invitations should be arriving Tuesday and Wednesday for the event, which gives media members the chance to compete on the field with and against the Rapids.