COLORADO RAPIDS DROP THIRD STRAIGHT IN 3-2 LOSS TO THE SAN JOSE CLASH

DENVER-- (Saturday, May 9, 1998) -- The Colorado Rapids were defeated by the San Jose Clash, 3-2, on Saturday night at Mile High Stadium. The loss was the Rapids' (3-6) third straight, while the Clash (3-6) ended a three-game skid of its own.

San Jose was led by a goal and assist from forward Jeff Baicher. Colorado received a goal and an assist from Brazilian midfielder Marquinho, making his second consecutive start.

Paul Bravo, who was traded to Colorado after his thirteen goals led the Clash in 1996, scored for Colorado, his fourth goal in six games for the Rapids against his former mates.

San Jose opened the scoring in the 20th minute, when Martin Vasquez crossed for Baicher. Peter Vermes attempted to head the ball away, but Baicher dispossed him, and dribbled in and beat Grafer to put the visitors up, 1-0.

Colorado equalized twelve minutes later when a skirmish in front of the goal ended with Waldir poking the ball to Marquinho at the top of the box. The Brazilian beat one defender before bending a low shot around Clash keeper Andy Kirk and into the far corner of the net. The goal was the Brazilian's third goal since joining the Rapids in the off-season.

Tied at half-time, San Jose took the lead again within ten seconds of the second-half kick-off. Baicher and Wade Barrett did the set-up work, with Eddie Lewis doing the final damage to put the Clash up 2-1 immediately after the break.

Colorado dropped the 4-4-2 formation for a 3-5-2 with the introduction of midfielder Ross Paule for defender Chris Martinez in the 63rd minute. Ten minutes later, the move paid dividends when Marquinho found Paz, who crossed into the box. Bravo took the ball down on his chest, before sliding it under Kirk and into the net to bring the game level at 2-2.

Sensing the momentum switching to their favor, and perhaps the end of the two-game losing streak, Colorado continued to attack with numbers, but was victimized by a San Jose counter-attack in the 80th minute. Substitute Brian "Baby Jake" Sebapole found Ronald Cerritos, who beat Grafer on an odd-man rush to put the Clash up 3-2.

Down a goal with ten minutes to play, Colorado rallied furiously, but twice found the crossbar in the dying minutes. A loose ball in the box found the foot of Steve Trittschuh, who blasted the ball towards the goal, beating Kirk, but banging off the crossbar and away to safety. In the closing two minutes, Bravo soared over the defense to flick a header over Kirk, but harmlessly off the woodwork, and the Rapids had fallen for the third consecutive outing.

NEXT UP -- Colorado plays its first match without Marcelo Balboa (gone to join the World Cup team) when it faces the Dallas Burn on Saturday night, May 16, at the Cotton Bowl. The Rapids will also be without Adrian Paz, who will serve a one-game suspension for picking up his third yellow card in as many games.

			1		2		F	
San Jose		1		2		3
Colorado 		1		1		2

Scoring
SJ -- Baicher (Vasquez) 20; Lewis (Baicher, Barrett) 46; Cerritos
(Sebapole) 80.
COL -- Marquinho (Waldir) 32; Bravo (Paz, Marquinho) 73.
Lineups
COL -- Paul Grafer, Joey DiGiamarino, Steve Trittschuh, Peter Vermes,
Chris Martinez (Ross Paule 63), Chris Henderson (Wolde Harris 74),
Marcelo Balboa, Marquinho, Adrian Paz, Waldir (Jason Boyce 84), Paul
Bravo.
SJ -- Andy Kirk, Tim Martin, Oscar Draguicevich, Tim Weaver, Wade
Barrett (John Doyle 89), Martin Vasquez, Eddie Lewis, Victor Mella,
Braeden Cloutier (Vincent Figueroa 79), Ronald Cerritos, Jeff Baicher
(Brian Sebapole 65).

STATS			        SJ			COL
Total shots			15			18
Shots on goal			8			8	
Saves				6			5	
Fouls				17			14
Offside				7			4
Corner kicks			5			7

Cautions:  	COL: Trittschuh (tackle f/ behind) 7; DiGiamarino
(tripping) 38; Martinez (dissent) 40; Paz (tackle f/ behind) 90. 	
		SJ:  Vasquez (dissent) 15; Lewis (dissent) 22;
Draguicevich (tackle f/ behind) 54; Weaver (Tackle from behind) 55.

Ejections:	COL:	None
		SJ:	None	

Referee:	Michael Kennedy
Asst:		Chris Nuezil
Asst:		Sandra Hunt
4th Official:	Scott McCaslin
Attendance:  11,543

"The idea was to not let the Rapids get into a rhythm. When Colorado gets into a rhythm and knocks the ball around, they are very dangerous. We were fortunate to not let that happen tonight."

"I can't explain what's going on right now. We are making mistakes we don't usually make and we are giving up goals that we absolutely should not be giving up. I have no idea what is happening, to tell the truth."

"There was a matter of respect tonight in that we did not respect their counter-attack, and that is in the end what cost us the game."

"I don't even know if you guys were in your seats by then. That was the play that killed the game. We come out of the locker room at the half saying 'We're going to end this streak right now in the next forty-five minutes,' and the next thing you know we're behind again. It really dazed us."

"Our ability to present the other teams with goals is absolutely astounding."

"There is not one player in this team whose job is safe right now."

"An area that we will start on this week in training is fitness. We got run off our own park tonight."

"I'm so amazed at the softness of our defense and the ease at which we are giving away goals. We are a very soft touch right now in terms of the way we give goals away."