Fire pounds struggling Rapids

CHICAGO -- (Saturday, May 23, 1998) -- Ante Razov, Jerzy Podbrozny and Roman Kosecki scored three goals in a six-minute span as the Chicago Fire routed the struggling Colorado Rapids, 5-0, Saturday night before 23,789 at Soldier Field.

Fire midfielder Peter Nowak had two assists, and he helped engineer the dismantling of a Rapids defense that has allowed an MLS-worst 31 goals in 11 games.

Defender Lubos Kubik also had two assists for the Fire, and Podbrozny and Razov both finished with a goal and an assist.

C.J. Brown and Josh Wolff added the first goals of their MLS careers to complete the scoring for Chicago (5-5).

Fire goalkeeper Zach Thornton recorded four saves to earn the shutout.

Colorado goalkeeper Paul Grafer's career record fell to 1-11, and he is 0-4 in 1998. The Rapids (3-8) lost their fifth straight.

Scoring Summary:
CHI--Brown (Nowak) 21
CHI--Razov (Kubik) 51
CHI--Podbrozny, J. (Razov, Nowak) 55
CHI--Kosecki (Podbrozny, J.) 57
CHI--Wolff (Kubik) 86

COLORADO RAPIDS--Paul Grafer, Sean Henderson, Peter Vermes, Steve Trittschuh, Joey DiGiamarino, Ross Paule, Adrian Paz (Marquis White 70), Marquinho, Chris Henderson (Jason Boyce 63), Paul Bravo (Wolde Harris 63), Waldir
TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Marquinho 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (four players with 1); FOULS: 20 (DiGiamarino 5, Marquinho 5); OFFSIDE: 0; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: Grafer, P 5; CAUTIONS: Paz 16, Henderson, S 19, Henderson, S 72, Trittschuh 85; EJECTIONS: Henderson, S 72; POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 48%

CHICAGO FIRE--Zach Thornton, Lubos Kubik, Francis Okaroh, C.J. Brown, Chris Armas, Jesse Marsch, Rich Kotschau, Jerzy Podbrozny (Zak Ibsen 79), Peter Nowak (Josh Wolff 84), Roman Kosecki, Ante Razov (Tony Kuhn 84)
TOTAL SHOTS: 19 (Kosecki 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 11 (Kosecki 4); FOULS: 15 (Kotschau 7); OFFSIDE: 1; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: Thornton 4; CAUTIONS: Okaroh 61, Podbrozny, J. 63; EJECTIONS: none; POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 52%

Referee: Marcel Yonan; Referee's Assistants: Francisco Sanchez, Albert Etcheverria
Attendance: 23,789; Weather: Breezy, Cloudy, 54 degrees, Cold