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DENVER (Thursday, April 10, 1997) -- Colorado Rapids coach Glenn "Mooch" Myernick said on Thursday that his former coaching partner Bruce Arena and D.C. United has "set the standard" in Major League Soccer and that "a very good soccer game is about to be seen" at 7 p.m. Saturday at Mile High Stadium.
Defending MLS champion D.C. United brings its full team -- highlighted by superstar U.S. players John Harkes, Jeff Agoos, Eddie Pope and Tony Sanneh and dangerous Internationals Marco Etcheverry, Jaime Moreno and Raul Diaz Arce -- to Mile High for its only Denver appearance of the season on Saturday.
First-year Colorado coach Myernick, who served as an assistant under head coach Arena for last summer's men's U.S. Olympic team, said Saturday's match against undefeated D.C. (2-0) will prove to be an important test for his upstart Rapids, who are 1-1 coming off last week's 2-0 home-opener victory over the Columbus Crew.
"This will be an early-season indicator to see where we stack up in the league," Myernick said. "Right now, D-C. has set the standard in the league."
United will enter Mile High Stadium with some momentum, having set a league record for shots-on-goal with 20 and tied an MLS record for total shots with 28 in last week's 2-1 victory over the New York/New Jersey MetroStars at RFK Stadium.
Nonetheless, Arena expects a difficult game in Denver.
"The Rapids are a much-improved team from last year," he said. "They're a good team, a team with great morale right now, a team that will be tough to beat on Saturday in the frigid confines of Mile High Stadium."
Although the forecast is for cool weather once again, Myernick anticipates a very heated game on the pitch.
"They have no weaknesses," he said of D.C. "I think there's a very good soccer game about to be seen. I hope the weather cooperates."
Taking part in the Thursday's conference-call interview with Denver and D.C.-area reporters were Rapids defender Peter Vermes and D.C, defender Jeff Agoos, who are roommates when they compete with the U.S. National Team.
Asked about the rivalry between United and the MetroStars, the team he captained last season, Vermes said, "I try to make every team we play our rivals. And there's no better time to start a rivalry (for Colorado) than with D.C. this Saturday."
Agoos responded to a question about Denver's mile-high altitude: "Hopefully, it won't be a factor. We fly in late Friday (8:30 p.m.) and so we shouldn't get acclimated to it. We're going to try to get in and out, and hopefully altitude won't be a problem."
Both coaches said their teams have room to improve, and Myernick hopes the Rapids can keep possession and deny D.C. the chance of using its many weapons.
"We're going to keep the ball as long as we can, and when they have it, we're going to try to get back behind the ball as fast as we can," Myernick said.
TRAINING SCHEDULE: The Rapids are scheduled to train from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Mile High Stadiurn on Friday. If weather prohibits, the team will train from 10 a.m. to noon at the Westminster Training Facility, just north of 104th Avenue on Sheridan Boulevard. The soccer fields are just west of the training facility.
INJURY SITUATION: Rapids defender Brian Bates will not play Saturday as he injured his ankle during a scrimmage against the Rapids' local affiliate, the Colorado Foxes, on Wednesday. Forward Jean Harbor, recovering from knee surgery, has been training for the past two weeks, but may not dress for Saturday's game.
HARRIS OUT: Rapids forward Wolde Harris, who booted in a spectacular scissor-kick goal last Saturday vs. Columbus, will be missing from the Colorado lineup as he joins Jamaica for a World Cup qualifier this weekend in Mexico.
THIS WEEK'S GAME: The Rapids host defending MLS champions D.C. United at 7 p.m. Saturday at Mile High Stadium. FOR TICKETS CALL 299-1599 or any Ticketmaster at 850-TIXS.