COLORADO RAPIDS' LATE-GAME COMEBACK FALLS SHORT IN 3-2 LOSS TO MIAMI FUSION

FT. LAUDERDALE -- (Saturday, May 2, 1998) -- The expansion Miami Fusion built a 3-0 lead and survived a two-goal Rapids rally in the final thirteen minutes to defeat Colorado 3-2 on Saturday night in Ft. Lauderdale on a night marred by three ejections, two for Miami and one for Colorado. Colorado (3-4) lost despite playing the final 31 minutes with ten men, compared to nine for Miami (4-4).

Trailing 3-0 with thirteen minutes remaining, Jamaican international Wolde Harris, a surprise, last-minute starter over Peruvian striker Waldir, scored off a header from a Jason Boyce cross for Colorado's first goal. Boyce, a second-round 1998 college draft pick, was making his first MLS appearance.

Harris' goal was his third of the season, tying him with MLS Player of the Week Paul Bravo and Waldir for the team lead.

With one minute remaining, Colorado made things interesting, as substitute Marquinho chipped in a goal from twenty yards out to bring the Rapids within a goal, but Colorado was unable to threaten again. The goal was the second of the season for the Brazilian midfielder.

Fusion forward Dan Stebbins scored the first goal for Miami, before Fusion midfielder David Vaudreuil scored a pair, the first two of his MLS career.

The game was officiated by Bolivian referee Juan Carlos Paniaqua, as part of a five-game exchange program that will send an MLS referee to Bolivia in the fall. Paniaqua sent off Colorado's Peter Vermes in the 37th minute for a second yellow card, before also ejecting Miami's Henry Gutierrez and Marcelo Herrera in the 47th and 59th minutes, respectively, both for second yellow cards. In all, Paniaqua handed out nine yellow cards to go with the three ejections.

After neither team really threatened for much of the half, the tide turned in the 37th minute when Peter Vermes, booked earlier for a foul on Carlos Valderrama, was given a second yellow card, and subsequently ejected, forcing Colorado to play short-handed.

Once the Rapids were down to ten men, Miami took advantage immediately, nearly taking the lead just two minutes later when Diego Serna came loose at the top of the box and ripped a low, hard shot, only kept out by a diving save from Hahnemann.

Two minutes after that, in the 41st minute, Miami did take the lead, when Valderrama found Stebbins in the box, who then got tangled up with Paul Bravo before regaining control of the ball and hitting a high shot into the upper corner, past a diving Hahnemann to put the Fusion up 1-0.

Two minutes after half-time, the game became ten-on-ten when Miami's Henry Gutierrez was shown his second yellow card of the game, and subsequently ejected.

But in the 52nd minute, it was Miami who extended its lead when Diego Serna found David Vaudreuil running down the left side in the box. Vaudreuil outran Tahj Jakins before shooting high into the net past Hahnemann, beating the Rapids keeper at the near post to put Miami up 2-0.

In the 57th minute, Rapids coach Glenn "Mooch" Myernick brought on Brazilian midfielder Marquinho, and took off defender Tahj Jakins, looking to infuse some life into the rather timid Rapids attack.

Two minutes after that, Colorado received another break from referee Paniaqua when Miami's Marcelo Herrera was ejected for his second yellow card, leaving Colorado with a ten-on-nine advantage for the rest of the game.

But Colorado could not take advantage, and Miami added to the lead in the 63rd minute on Vaudreuil's second goal of the game.

Colorado pulled the first goal back in the 77th minute, when Harris got on the end of a long Boyce cross, and powerfully headed home his third goal of the season.

Colorado continued to press, and got the late goal in the 90th minute when a flurry in front of the net ended with Marquinho chipping a shot over a crowd of players, which included Miami goalkeeper Jeff Cassar.

The Rapids were unable to find the equalizer, and the rally fell short, as Colorado lost 3-2, snapping the two-game win streak

13th minute: Herrera gives ball away, Bravo picks up at six yard box and shoots, Cassar saves from point-blank and Fusion clear ball into stands.
17: Valderrama plays down left behind Rapids defense, Vaudreuil crosses to Stebbins at top of box in alone, Trittschuh gets a foot in from behind to disrupt Stebbins, who shoots wide right.
26: Bravo breaks loose and shoots from outside the top of the box, a low, hard shot that goes wide right of the net.
37: Peter Vermes picks up his second yellow card of the game, and is ejected.
39: Serna hits a rocket from the top of the box, Hahnemann makes a great diving save and Bravo clears away the rebound.
41: Dan Stebbins scores the first goal of the game off an assist from Carlos Valderrama. Valderrama crosses into the box, Stebbins gets tangled up with Paul Bravo, regains control, and beats Hahnemann.
47: Henry Gutierrez picks up his second yellow card of the game, and is ejected.
52: Diego Serna feeds David Vaudreuil down the left side of the goal, Vaudreuil beats Tahj Jakins and then roofs a shot past Hahnemann to the near post.
57: Marquinho replaces Tahj Jakins.
59: Miami's Marcelo Herrera picks up his second yellow card, and is ejected.
63: Vaudreuil scores his second goal of the game, putting Miami up 3-0.
77: Substitute Jason Boyce, making his first-ever MLS career appearance, crosses to Wolde Harris, who heads past Cassar to bring Colorado within two goals.
90: Marquinho chips the ball over a crowd of players and into the net to bring Colorado within a goal at 3-2.

U.S. OPEN CUP: With the win, Miami advances in the U.S. Open Cup, the tournament featuring every professional team (all divisions) in the United States. The MLS contest between the Rapids and the Fusion also doubled as a U.S. Open Cup qualifying match.

NEXT UP -- FIRST PLACE LOS ANGELES: Next up for the Rapids is a trip to the Rose Bowl to face the undefeated Los Angeles Galaxy on Wednesday, May 6. Colorado will be without defender Peter Vermes as a result of his red card. The two teams met back on April 4 at Mile High, with the Rapids dominating most of the flow of play, but unable to score in a 1-0 loss to Los Angeles on a Welton header in the first half. Wednesday's game is scheduled to be carried live on Fox Sports Rocky Mountain.

			1		2		F	
Colorado		0		2		2	
Miami			1		2		3	

MIA -- Dan Stebbins (Carlos Valderrama) 41; David Vaudreuil (Diego Serna) 52; Vaudreuil (Kris Kelderman) 65.
COL -- Wolde Harris (Jason Boyce) 77; Marquinho (unassisted) 90

COL -- Marcus Hahnemann, Tahj Jakins (Marquinho 57), Peter Vermes, Steve Trittschuh, Chris Martinez, Chris Henderson, Marcelo Balboa, Ross Paule, Adrian Paz (Jason Boyce 76), Wolde Harris, Paul Bravo.

MIA -- Jeff Cassar, Marcelo Herrera, Leo Cullen, Wade Webber, Henry Gutierrez, Diego Serna (Jerry Tamashiro 76), Pablo Mastroeni (John Maessner 63), Matt Kmosko, David Vaudreuil, Carlos Valderrama, Dan Stebbins (Kris Kelderman 60).

STATS			       MIA	                COL
Total shots			14			22
Shots on goal			7			8	
Saves				6			4			
Fouls				17			9
Offside				8			0
Corner kicks			6			6

Cautions:  	COL:  	Vermes (Reckless Foul) 26
			Harris (Ungentlemanly conduct) 36
			Vermes (Reckless Foul) 37
			Paz (Dissent) 42
			Trittschuh (Reckless Foul) 48

		MIA:  	Herrera (Reckless Foul) 23
			Gutierrez (Tackle From Behind) 39
			Gutierrez (Reckless Foul) 47
			Herrera (Reckless Foul) 59

Ejections:	COL:	Vermes (Second Yellow Card) 37
			MIA:	Gutierrez (Second Yellow Card) 47
			Herrera (Second Yellow Card) 59

Referee:	Juan Carlos Paniaqua
Asst:		Jorge Reyes
Asst:		Laszlo Nagy
4th Official:	George Banica
Shootout:	Alex Prus

Attendance:  10,096

"While we have a knack for scoring late goals, the last thing you want to be identified as is a team that is known for rallying."

"It's very disappointing, especially because one of our goals was to make the U.S. Open Cup final, and with this game doubling as a qualifier for the tournament, obviously that will not happen, now."

"Miami was able to take advantage of us when we pushed forward after we fell behind. It was simple: we needed some goals, they waited, we attacked, they countered, they added two more goals and won the game."

"The second yellow card I'm not sure about, but I was a bit disappointed to receive my first one for what I thought was a tame tackle. I was hoping the referee would identify the nature of the first yellow before pulling out the second card, but obviously that was not the case."

"All I can do is show up every day to practice and try to score goals, and when I get my chance in a game, try to score goals. I will keep doing what I've been doing, working hard, and hopefully capitalize when I do get in the game."

"It was a strange game tonight, especially at the end because we just ran out of gas."

"Colorado is a team that I respect a lot. They got to the final last year for one reason -- every player on that team goes for ninety minutes. No one expected them to reach the final last year, but they go up and down every game for ninety minutes, and you have to respect them as a team."