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reprint of COLORADO RAPIDS NEWS RELEASE -- byline Brad Kenney
NEWS RELEASE
Denver (Saturday, April 28, 2001) - It took the Rapids four games to put together a decent first half, but when they did, the result wasn't three points they were looking for. In the first three games of the season, it was new team chemistry, injuries, the lack of a clearly defined "go-to" guy, Chris Dawes and Robin Fraser out of the lineup and host of missed opportunities have prevented Colorado from notching their first win.
Saturday's loss was more about missed opportunities and defensive breakdowns that allowed the quick-striking Galaxy to pick up back-to-back wins against the Rapids.
The first half was marked by several lightning-quick strikes. In the sixth and the tenth minutes, Paul Bravo had two excellent chances to score off of passes from Marcelo Balboa and Junior Agogo. Both of which were saved by Galaxy goalie Matt Reis.
In the 16th minute, a streaking Cobi Jones raced down the right side of the field with what looked like a clear shot on the goal, but a faster Steven Herdsman manages to get a leg up and deflected the shot. The next time, the Rapids weren't so fortunate.
In the 22nd minute, Mauricio Cienfuegos launched a pass to Peter Vagenas from the midfield who found a streaking Jones 40 yards out. Jones overtook his marker and headed for the left side before cutting back to the right, which caused Colorado goalie Adin Brown to slip. As Brown struggled to regain his footing, Jones fired the shot past Brown, and the Galaxy went up 1-0.
The Rapids tied the game in the 44th minute when Marcelo Balboa found Jason Moore about 70 yards out in the middle of the field. Moore cut across the middle and finds a sneaky Agogo beating the offside trap. Agogo dribbles in on the right side and chips the ball over the outstretched arms of Galaxy goalie Matt Reis who came off his line.
That score didn't last long.
Two minutes later, Vagenas launched a pass out of the midfield for a streaking Jones who chests the ball down at the top of the box and dribbles to the left. His shot ripped a shot that hit the roof of the net just before the clock ran out, which put the Galaxy back up 2-1. The goals were Jones' 49th and 50th of his career. It was the first time since June of 2000 that Jones had a multiple-goal game.
The Rapids came out in the second half looking to redeem themselves and continued to pressure the ball. In the 54th minute, Ross Paule from the middle, top of the box, passed for Moore on the left side. Moore chipped a dangerous ball into the middle of the box that was cleared away by a Galaxy defender away from an onrushing Balboa.
Ten minutes later, John Spencer, who came on for Imad Baba in the 54th minute, looked to spark a weary Rapids' side. Spencer, on the left side, trapped and controlled, back heeling to Moore who crossed for Balboa far post. Balboa's header skimmed just wide left of the goal.
In the 67th minute, the Galaxy tried to counter-attack. Cobi Jones on the right side of the box back heeled for Ezra Hendrickson. Hendrickson fired a shot from an acute angle. Hendrickson's shot is saved by Brown but the rebound fell back to Hendrickson who passed to Simon Elliott at the top of the box. Elliott's shot was high over the crossbar.
Two minutes later, the Galaxy capitalized on a seemingly disorganized Colorado side. Jones, again causing trouble, on the left side, top of the box chipped for Colorado native Brian Mullan. Mullan fired a shot that was saved by Brown, but Brown went down and was somewhat impeded by a sprawled out Mullan. The rebound fell to Cienfuegos who crossed back across the goal mouth to an onrushing Sasha Victorine who scored - despite several scrambling Rapids defenders.
In the 82nd minute, the Galaxy looked to seal the game. Danny Pena, from 40 yards, out in the middle of the field played for Mullan on the left side. Mullan showed with a deft flick on for Victorine who beat an offside trap to earn the dangerous position . Victorine dribbled to the endline before making a dangerous cross into the middle of the box for a foreboding Hendrickson, whose shot was high.
Despite looking deflated, the Rapids pulled a goal back in the 86th minute when Paule from the midfield circle played to Balboa on the left side of the field, 40 yards out. Balboa passed to Spencer who turned into space and ripped a shot from 25 yards out past a diving Matt Reis.
The Rapids continued to pressure for another goal, but it was not to be as the Galaxy closed down with a stingy defensive mindset.
Bottom line, the Rapids have to put together a cohesive 90 minutes of offense and defense in order to notch the team's first win. Perhaps the addition of Robin Fraser (abdominal strain) and Christopher Dawes (knee contusion) will solidify the Rapid's defense in a way that frees players like Balboa and Ross Paule to become more offensively minded.
UP NEXT: The Rapids travel to Dallas to face the Burn on Saturday, May 5. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. (MT), at the Cotton Bowl and is being televised on FOX Sports Net.
LINESCORE: 0 0 F Los Angeles 2 1 3 Colorado 1 1 1 SCORING: LA: Jones (Vagenas, Cienfuegos) 22 Jones (Vagenas) 47+ Victorine (Cienfuegos, Mullan) 69 COL: Agogo (Moore, Balboa) 44 Spencer (Balboa, Paule) 86
6th minute: Bravo on the right side crosses for Balboa on the left, near post. Balboa fires a header on goal that is saved by Reis.
10: Agogo at the top of the box, passes off to Bravo on the right side whose shot is saved by Reis.
16: Jones on the right side penetrates deep into the box, Herdsman marks him closely. Jones turns and fires a shot, but Herdsman gets a leg on it and deflects it wide left.
22: Cienfuegos from midfield plays to Vagenas who finds a streaking Jones 40 yards out, Jones outraces his marker and heads for the left side before cutting back to the right making Brown slip. Brown struggles to regain his footing. Jones fires the shot past Brown. RAPIDS 0 - GALAXY 1.
33: Moore on the left side streaks down to 10 yards from the end line and crosses for Bravo in the middle of the box. Bravo's header hits the cross bar and bounces out before Caligiuri heads out of danger.
35: Bravo from the middle of the field finds Balboa on the right side, Balboa from 20 yards out fires a shot that hits the far post and rolls out of bounds.
36: Califf yellow card for a foul tackle.
39: Elliott yellow card for a foul tackle.
44: Balboa from 70 yards out in the middle of the field plays to Moore on the left side, Moore cuts across the middle and finds a sneaky Agogo beating the offside trap, Agogo dribbles in on the right side and chips over Reis who came off his line. RAPIDS 1 - GALAXY 1.
44: Cienfuegos yellow card for dissent.
45+: Vagenas from the midfield stripe passes ahead for Jones. Jones chests down at the top of the box and dribbles to the left ripping a shot that hits the roof of the net. RAPIDS 1 - GALAXY 2.
47: Moore on the left side crosses for Balboa far post, Balboa's diving header hits the crossbar and is cleared by a Galaxy defender.
52: Vanney receives a yellow card for a foul tackle.
54: Paule from the middle, top of the box, passes for Moore on the left side. Moore chips a dangerous ball into the middle of the box that is cleared by a Galaxy defender.
54: Spencer substitutes for Baba.
59: Pena substitutes for Vagenas.
63: Brown collides with a goal-minded Pena and Key.
65: Spencer on the left side traps and controls, back heeling to Moore who crosses for Balboa far post. Balboa's header skims wide left of the goal.
67: Jones on the right side back heels for Hendrickson in the box. Hendrickson's shot is saved by Brown but the rebound falls back to Hendrickson who finds Elliott at the top of the box. Elliott's shot is high over the crossbar.
69: Jones on the left side top of the box chips for Mullan on the right side. Mullan's shot is saved by Brown, but Brown goes down, the rebound falls to Cienfuegos who crosses back across the goal mouth to Victorine who scores despite several, scrambling Rapids defenders. RAPIDS 1 - GALAXY 3.
73: Gibson substitutes for Bravo.
73: Frye substitutes for Victorine.
79: Herdsman yellow card for holding.
82: Pena from 40 yards out in the middle of the field plays for Mullan on the left side who flicks on for Victorine who beats an offside trap and dribbles to the endline before making a dangerous cross into the middle of the box for a foreboding Hendrickson.
86: Paule from midfield plays to Balboa on the left side, 40 yards out, Balboa finds Spencer who turns and rips a shot from 25 yards out to bring the Rapids back with in one. RAPIDS 2 - GALAXY 3.
87: Vermillion substitutes for Paule.
91: Ching substitutes for Mullan.
Lineups (Players are listed right-to-left in starting formation by position): COL (4-4-2) -- GK - Adin Brown; D - Seth Trembly, Steve Herdsman, Chris Martinez, Lance Key; M - Imad Baba (John Spencer 54), Marcelo Balboa, Ross Paule ( Scott Vermillion 87), Jason Moore; F - Junior Agogo, Paul Bravo (Neathan Gibson 73). LA (4-4-2) -- GK - Matt Reis; D - Greg Vanney, Paul Caliguri, Danny Califf, Ezra Hendrickson; M - Peter Vagenas (Danny Pena 65), Simon Elliott, Mauricio Cienfuegos, Cobi Jones; F - Sasha Victorine (Adam Frye 73), Brian Mullan (Brian Ching 91+). STATS LA COL Total Shots 14 21 Shots on Goal 5 8 Saves 6 2 Fouls 24 16 Offside 10 2 Corner Kicks 2 5 Cautions: LA: Danny Califf (foul tackle) 36 Simon Elliott (foul tackle) 39 Mauricio Cienfuegos (dissent) 44 Greg Vanney (foul tackle) 52 COL: Steve Herdman (holding) 79 Ejections: LA: None COL: None Referee: Rich Grady (Buffalo Grove, IL) Asst: Glen Prechac Asst: Emiliano Monje 4th Official: Jesse Johnson Attendance: 8, 309 GOALS: LA: Jones (Vagenas, Cienfuegos) 22 Jones (Vagenas) 47+ COL: Agogo (Moore, Balboa) 44 Spencer (Balboa, Paule) 86
I think that there are certain part of our game that are underachieving... I think that Spencer coming into the game, we know he's a forward player , so it's not something new for us to recognize that he's going to lift the whole game. And it's not just about him getting a goal, especially with you're down 3-1. You tend to drop a little bit. So from that standpoint, I know that there is promise ahead. When we get Robin and Dawes back from Jamaica. He (Dawes) had a knee contusion in the LA game, which is why he is not here. He's in therapy. Adding Spencer back into the lineup, as he improves his health. These are all things that are going to pick our game back up a great deal.
As the players approach this, they have to be angry over the result that we're not doing a better job for ourselves and our fans. That anger has to carry itself over and into this week and into Dallas. I don't care if it's home or away, at this point, we have to play better football.
It was a good goal for J. Moore. It was lucky for me. It's going to be a
hard, long week for us going into the Dallas game.
On scoring his first goal:
Come on man, it's only been two games.
We watch and we give a goal away. You can't do that at any level. From schoolboys up to the top divisions, you can't just give goals away. It's not just defense. We got to defend better as a team; it has to be Eleven players helping each other. There's something we try this week, and do something about it. We need to stick together as 19 players on a squad, and not let our heads get down because we are a good team.
It's just that every little mistake we make in a game is harmful.
On hitting the framework:
It's frustrating. But I think we are creating chances. And we are getting
the shots we wanted. But these ones, if they could get in the net. We could
have four wins.
There was a lot more offense today - a lot more offense. We created great chances. We had chances to put the game away. The plus side is that we're creating all these chances, and the negative is that I don't think that L.A. create those goals. I think we had letdowns, and that's why they scored. It's frustrating, but it's getting better. It's just frustrating being 0-3-1 right now. It sucks!
Day Date Time Location Sunday April 15 Off Monday April 16 10 a.m. Westminster Tuesday April 17 10 a.m. Westminster Wednesday April 18 10 a.m. Westminster Thursday April 19 10 a.m. Westminster Friday April 20 10 a.m. Team leaves for Dallas. Saturday April 21 6:30 p.m. Game vs. Dallas Sunday April 22 Off Team returns to Denver
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