"THE GOAL" EARNS MARCELO BALBOA MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK ON DAY HE IS DIAGNOSED WITH CONCUSSION

RAPIDS CAPTAIN DOES NOT JOIN U.S. NATIONAL TEAM IN RUSSIA AS PLANNED;
WILL UNDERGO FURTHER EVALUATION MONDAY AFTERNOON

DENVER (Monday, April 24, 2000) - On the heels of his spectacular, bicycle kick goal in Colorado's 3-2 win in Columbus on Saturday, Rapids captain Marcelo Balboa was today named Major League Soccer's Player of the Week. The award also comes on a day when Balboa was diagnosed with a grade one concussion suffered early in the game Saturday.

The goal, which is still being shown on television stations around the country, was highlighted in the open of ESPN's "SportsCenter" and also featured as CNN/SI's "Replay of the Day."

Coming in the 55th minute, Anders Limpar took a ball from Junior Agogo on the right wing and drove a cross into the penalty box. Balboa, with his back to the goal, leapt in the air, scissored his left leg before unleashing a right-footed bicycle kick, which slammed into the upper, left corner of the net, even sending the Crew Stadium crowd into an appreciative gasp, and then cheer.

The goal was very reminiscent of Balboa's famous near-miss in the 1994 World Cup against Colombia, coming late in the historic, 2-1 win on June 22 in Pasadena. Another flying, bicycle kick, the ball sailed just wide left of the goal. Pundits agreed that had it gone in, it may have stood as the best goal ever scored in a World Cup.

"It felt the same as 1994, but that one hit the boards and this one I looked up and saw it hitting the net," said Balboa after the game on Saturday. "I got a little excited, you could say. I don't think I could ever come close to making that one again."

CONCUSSION KEEPS BALBOA FROM NATIONAL TEAM DUTY IN RUSSIA:

Despite finishing the game (and scoring the spectacular goal), Balboa had suffered a head injury early in the game on Saturday. Due to the injury, he did not make the trip with the U.S. National Team to Russia for Tuesday's match (9:00 a.m. MT, Pay-Per-View). Balboa was diagnosed with a grade one concussion and was to be evaluated further on Monday afternoon. The injury occurred in the 15th minute on an aerial collision with Crew forward and fellow U.S. National Team member Brian McBride. Crew defender Mario Gori played a high cross in from the left flank, which both players leapt for. Balboa cleared the ball just as the two players' heads collided, sending both to the ground. McBride sat up quickly, while Balboa remained down and was examined on the field.

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