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reprint of COLORADO RAPIDS NEWS RELEASE -- byline Ben Grossman
NEWS RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- (Saturday, April 11, 1998) -- D.C. United defeated the Colorado Rapids, 4-3, in a shootout in a rematch of MLS Cup '97 on Saturday night at R.F. K. Stadium. Colorado trailed 3-1 with 18 minutes to play before Peter Vermes and Wolde Harris scored eleven minutes apart to send the game to the shootout. United converted two of their first three attempts in the shootout, and held Colorado scoreless on all four of theirs to preserve the win.
Bolivian internationals Marco Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno each had a goal and one assist for United, while Marcelo Balboa scored for Colorado on a beautiful 30-yard curling shot into the upper corner in the first half. United has now defeated Colorado in seven of eight meetings, including the 2-1 win in MLS Cup '97 last October.
The loss dropped Colorado (1-3, 1 point) into last place in the Western Conference, while the two-time defending champions took their record to 4-1 on the season. Colorado has now had three of their first four matches settled in the extra contest, losing two of the three. The Rapids played their second consecutive match without Chris Henderson, who was back in Denver Saturday.
It was fitting this game was settled in a shootout, as the first ninety minutes presented a shootout of its own, with the teams combining for six goals and 39 shots.
United had much of the possession early on in the first half, but Marcelo Balboa had the most eye-catching opportunity, a bicycle-kick attempt similar to his try against Colombia in World Cup '94, this one sailing well over the goal. United somehow failed to take the lead in the 29th minute when an Etcheverry cross beat the Rapids defense and found Roy Wegerle alone at the far post, only for Wegerle to shoot wide of an open net from just a few feet away.
United finally opened the scoring in the 38th minute when John Harkes played Moreno down the left side. Moreno's shot beat Hahnemann but hit the crossbar, only for the 5'5" Richie Williams to jump and head the rebound into the open net for a 1-0 lead.
Less than a minute later Balboa's strike brought the Rapids the equalizer, an international-caliber rocket that left United keeper Scott Garlick helpless. The goal quieted those in the R.F.K. crowd that were not gasping at the class of the finish.
But United jumped back out front in the final minute. Etcheverry was fouled at the top of the box, leaving United with a free-kick. Etcheverry himself stepped up and blasted a curling left footer that beat Hahnemann to the right side to put United back up, 2-1.
Eight minutes into the second half United extended the lead with an intricate piece of play that began with a Harkes backheel to Etcheverry. Etcheverry then played a right-footed through ball to Brian Kamler down the left flank, who crossed the ball into the box for Moreno to fire home for a 3-1 lead.
United continued to press and nearly earned a fourth goal in the 60th minute, when Tony Sanneh fired a low cross that beat Hahnemann, but a sliding Moreno just could not get ther in time to tap the ball in. Two minutes later Colorado seemed to lose a potential opportunity to get back in the game, when Adrian Paz led a 3-on-1 break, and then decided to shoot from 20 yards out, with both Paul Bravo and Waldir unmarked in the middle. Paz's shot sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.
Colorado then pulled a goal back in the 72nd minute, when Paz dribbled past two defenders and crossed perfectly for the head of Vermes, who knocked the ball into the far corner to bring Colorado within a goal.
The Rapids completed the incredible comeback with just 10 minutes left, when Bravo was hauled down in the box and referee Brian Hall awarded a penalty kick. Wolde Harris, playing for the first time this season, beat Scott Garlick low to Harris' left side to pull Colorado level at 3-3.
The 14,009 in attendance thought United had stolen the game-winner with just four minutes left, but an apparent Marco Etcheverry goal was called back, as the linesman had his flag up for offsides, and the game went to the shootout.
RAPIDS UNITED Paz wide left Wegerle goal Harris saved Kamler saved Bravo shot over net Etcheverry goal Waldir saved Agoos -- Paule -- Llamosa --
4th minute: John Harkes lays off for Roy Wegerle at the top of the area, Wegerle fires high over the net.
16: Adrian Paz crosses into the penalty box, Marcelo Balboa attempts a bicycle-kick that sails well over the goal.
29: Moreno plays Etcheverry through down left flank, Etcheverry's low cross beats Rapids defense and Hahnemann, but Wegerle misses a wide-open tap-in into an open net by directing the ball wide.
32: Etcheverry lofts a through ball over Steve Trittschuh which Moreno collects and holds off Trittschuh before beating Hahnemann with a low curling shot that curls just wide of the far post.
35: Balboa plays Waldir through, in alone on Garlick from a tight angle. Waldir's offering is punched away by Garlick, and the rebound is knocked away just before Paz can strike the ball.
38: Harkes plays down the line to Moreno, Moreno fires a shot past Hahnemann and off the crossbar, for a jumping 5'5" Richie Williams to head the ball into the open net.
39: Marcelo Balboa unleashes a curving, dipping blast from 30 yards out that finds the upper corner of the net for a 1-1 tie.
44: United is awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box following a foul on Marco Etcheverry that leads to a skirmish with Etcheverry and Balboa being booked. Etcheverry curls the ensuing free kick into the corner of the net left footed to put United up 2-1.
53: A Harkes backheel finds the right foot of Etcheverry, who plays through to Kamler. Kamler sends a low hard cross into the box that Moreno directs in for a 3-1 lead.
60: Sanneh hits a hard, low cross past a diving Hanemann, but a sliding Moreno can not reach the ball at the far post.
62: Adrian Paz fires over the net on a 3-on-1 with Paul Bravo and Waldir uncovered, racing down the middle of the field.
65: A Paul Bravo flick header leaves Paz open in front of the net, but his side-volley attempt is mis-hit, sending the ball slowly over the crossbar.
72: Seemingly trapped in the right corner by two United defenders, Paz dribbled past the duo, and crossed into the box for Vermes to snap a header into the far corner off the net.
80: Paul Bravo is brought down in the box for a penalty kick. Wolde Harris steps up and hits the ball low to his left and into the net to tie the score at 3-3.
86: United has an apparent Etcheverry goal called back for offsides.
UP NEXT: Colorado returns home to Mile High Stadium for a Sunday afternoon game against U.S. National Team forward Roy Lassiter and the Tampa Bay Mutiny on April 19th at 1:00 pm MST. The game will be televised live nationally on Univision, the second consecutive Rapids game to be aired nation-wide. The first 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a free movie ticket to any area AMC movie theater.
1 2 F SO Colorado 1 2 3 0 D.C. United 2 1 4 2
COL -- Balboa (unassisted) 39; Vermes (Paz, Balboa) 72; Harris (penalty kick) 83.
D.C. --Williams (Harkes, Moreno) 38; Etcheverry (unassisted) 45; Moreno (Etcheverry, Kamler) 53.
COL -- Marcus Hahnemann, Sean Henderson (Marquinho 68), Peter Vermes, Steve Trittschuh, Chris Martinez (Wolde Harris 81) , Joey DiGiamarino (Tahj Jakins 84), Marcelo Balboa, Ross Paule, Adrian Paz, Waldir, Paul Bravo.
D.C. -- Scott Garlick, Jeff Aunger, Carlos Llamosa, Brian Kamler, Jeff Agoos, Richie Williams, Tony Sanneh, John Harkes, Marco Etcheverry, Jaime Moreno (Ben Olsen 80), Roy Wegerle.
STATS D.C. COL Total shots 18 21 Shots on goal 8 10 Saves 6 5 Fouls 10 8 Offside 6 12 Corner kicks 10 4 Cautions: D.C.: Marco Etcheverry 45 (Ungentlemanly conduct); Garlick 83 (Hard foul in goal area) COL: Marcelo Balboa 45 (Ungentlemanly conduct) Ejections: D.C.: None COL: None Referee: Brian Hall Asst: Roger Sill Asst: Robert Fereday 4th Official: Steve Taylor Attendance: 14,009
"We are in a result-oriented business, and while we walk out of here feeling good about ourselves for the comeback, and we felt good about ourselves after playing well in the loss to Los Angeles, that will get you a cup of coffee."
"We scored some good goals tonight and created plenty of chances, but we obviously have to work on the defensive end as well, and find a balance where we score, but don't leave the game so wide open."
"We were too direct in the first half, and got whistled offside ten times. Once we were more patient in the second half we came more into the game and were able to produce the goals."