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reprint of COLORADO RAPIDS NEWS RELEASE -- byline Ben Grossman
NEWS RELEASE
MLS WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: W L SOW PTS Los Angeles 14 2 1 40 6/25 RAPIDS 3 D.C.United 1 Chicago 10 5 1 31 Rapids Goals: Paule (6) Dallas 9 7 4 19 Paz (2) COLORADO 7 9 2 17 Bravo (7) San Jose 5 11 0 15 Kansas City 6 9 2 14 6/28 RAPIDS 1 Leon 0 Rapids Goal: Balboa
Saturday, 7/4 MetroStars Mile High 7:00 p.m. MST Radio: KKFN, KMXA
Marcelo Balboa returned to the Rapids in style, scoring the lone goal in the Rapids crucial 1-0 win over Leon of Mexico in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup qualifying round fixture Sunday. Balboa came on as a substitute in the 72nd minute and slotted home an Adrian Paz cross with just seven minutes left in the game to secure the all-important win for the Rapids. The return leg is set for July 15 at Leon's Estadio Noucamp. Balboa is expected to start Saturday against the MetroStars.
The Rapids set a new team record with their fourth straight home victory by defeating D.C. United, 3-1, last Thursday at Mile High. The previous record was three consecutive home wins, a feat accomplished twice (6/30/96-7/7/96 and 4/23/97-5/17/97). The Rapids upped their home record to 6-2, but remain 1-7 away from Mile High.
Following last Thursday's 3-1 win over D.C. United in the rematch of MLS Cup '97, which United won 2-1, the Rapids have won four of their last five league games heading into Saturday's tilt at Mile High against the MetroStars.
Saturday's game will be followed by what many consider the biggest and best fireworks display in Colorado. The Rapids are hoping to set the club single-game attendance record, currently 36,252, set July 4 of last year.
Fittingly on Independence Day, patriotic fans will enjoy the Rapids-MetroStars match-up which will feature seven Americans with a combined 13 World Cups between them. Balboa leads the Rapids with three ('90, '94, '98), followed by Chris Henderson ('90), Steve Trittschuh ('90) and Peter Vermes ('90). Tab Ramos leads the MetroStars with three ('90, '94, '98), followed by two each for Tony Meola ('90, '94) and Alexi Lalas ('94, '98).
Midfielder Ross Paule continued his scoring tear, putting home his fifth goal in four games on Thursday night against United. Paule, who now has six goals on the season, scored only twice in all of 1997. His six goals now put him second on the team in goals, trailing Paul Bravo's seven. With goals in four consecutive games, this Saturday Paule can tie the Rapids record for most consecutive games with a goal by one player, which is five (Jean Harbor: 5/25/96-6/15/96).
Since returning to the starting lineup on May 28, Rapids goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann is now 4-1 in five starts with only 4 goals against (0.80 GAA), one of which was a penalty shot, and two shutouts. Hahnemann also recorded a shutout in the 1-0 win over Leon in the CONCACAF Champions Cup match Sunday at Mile High.
PAUL BRAVO Strained Left Groin Probable
* The Rapids' playmaker and leading goal scorer missed the CONCACAF Champions Cup match against Leon with the groin injury, picked up in practice. The injury is not considered serious, and the Rapids expect to have Bravo back in the starting lineup Saturday.
M 6/29 Off T 6/30 Off W 7/1 Practice Westminster 10:00 a.m. R 7/2 Practice Westminster 10:00 a.m. F 7/3 Practice Mile High 10:00 a.m. S 7/4 RAPIDS VS. METROSTARS MILE HIGH STADIUM 7:00 p.m. S 7/5 Off