COLORADO RAPIDS FALL TO SAN JOSE CLASH, 1-0, AT SPARTAN STADIUM

SAN JOSE, Calif. (August 25, 1996) -- The Colorado Rapids saw its playoff hopes diminish tonight as the first-year Major League Soccer team fell to San Jose, 1-0, in front of 12,369 fans at Spartan Stadium. The loss pushed the Rapids seven points behind the fourth-place Clash. The top four teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs.

Mexican interantional Missael Espinoza scored the game's lone goal just 35 seconds into the first half. Espinoza slotted a John Doyle header just over the hands of Rapids goalkeeper Chris Woods -- his sixth goal on the season. The early goal tied Colorado's Jean Harbor for the league's fastest goal. Harbor nailed an early goal against Dallas June 15.

New comer to the Rapids, Ed Pinon, on loan from the USISL's Raleigh Flyers, came in for the Rapids in the 43rd minute, as midfielder Felipe Rodriguez headed for the b4nch with an injury to his left hip flexor. Midfielder Brian Bates broke his right thumb in 54, sending midfielder Josh McKay to the MLS pitch for the first time this season. Finally, Richard Sharpe was sent to the field, despite a stress fracture to his right tibia, for Scott Cannon in the 81st minute.

Things could have been worse for the Rapids, as the Clash found either the post or the crossbar four times throughout the game. Woods had three saves for the game. Rapids' forward Shaun Bartlett was given a yellow card for a hard foul in minute 36. It was Bartlett's fifth card of the season, sendin him to the bench with a one game suspension for Thursday's game against the D.C. United.

The Rapids return home on Thursday to take on John Harkes and the Washington D.C. United at Mile High Stadium -- kickoff is at 6:30p.m. MDT. For ticket information call the Rapids ticket hotline at 299-1599.

               1    2    F
COLORADO       0    0    0
SAN JOSE       1    0    1

SJ Espinoza (Wynalda, Doyle) 1

COL: Chris Woods, Denis Hamlett, Scott Cannon (Richard Sharpe, 81), Brian Bates (Josh McKay, 54), Sean Henderson, Scott Benedetti, Steve Trittschuh, Chris Henderson, Felipe Rodriguez (Ed Pinon - USISL loan - 43), Jean Harbor, Shaun Bartlett

SJ: Tom Liner, John Doyle, Time Martin, Troy Dayak, Ben Iroha (Eddie Lewis, 66), Michael Emenalo (Ramiro corrales, 69), Jeff Baicher, Jorge Rodas, Paul Bravo, Missael Espinoza, Eric Wynalda

                    COLORADO  SAN JOSE
Shots               13        12
Shots on Goal       4         8
Saves               3         1
Fouls               15        20
Offside             2         2
Corner Kicks        3         9
Offensive Poss.     45:00     45:00