October 26, 1997
RFK Stadium...Sellout Game
Washington, DC
The everconfident Defending Champions, DC United, faced the upstart, Colorado Rapids.
The so called DC United "Golden Triangle" made up of Etcheverry, Moreno, and Arce faced the "3 Musketeers" of the Colorado Rapids...: Balboa, Vermes, and Trittchuh.
From the start, the game consisted of wide open, end to end play. Etcheverry continuously demonstrated his magic by making his precision passes. He sent balls into the Rapids goal box, for Moreno, Sanneh, and Arce.
It was not until the 37th minute that Sanneh crossed the ball to Moreno who controls the ball before he hits it past Rapids Goalkeeper, Marcus Hanneman and into the net.
The Rapids stepped up their attacks, but DC United's Eddie Pope continued to be brilliant on defense, helping keep the score at 1-0 at the ende of the first half. In addition, John Harkes and Jeff Agoos were hard to beat.
In the second half, the pace intensified, with both sides missing good scoring opportunities. The best chance so far for the Rapids to score came when David Patino broke through the many layers of the DC United defense and shot on goal, only to hit the back of his teammate, Rammel.
It was in the 68th minute of the game that Harkes, on a ball from Williams, crosses a high ball to Sanneh, who jumped up, unmarked, and headed the ball inside the far post. The score is now 2-0 in favor of DC United.
On the next attack by the Colorado Rapids, Adrian Paz crossed a ball to Marcelo Balboa, who makes a skillful scissor kick on gaol. The ball was saved by DC United's Goalkeeper, Scott Garlick.
In the 75th minute, Rapids' Matt Komosko sends the ball into the box, to teammate Patino who quickly flicks it on to Paz. Paz runs hits a hard shot past Goalkeeper Garlick slamming into the into the far left side of the goal. This was the result of an unrelenting attack by the Rapids. The score is now 2-1 in favor of DC United, which ended up being the final score.
The home crowd, which was on its feet for most of the Second Period, proved to be a major asset for DC United.
The game was exciting, loud, and fast paced. All the spectators certainly got their money's worth. The stage has been set for an even more exciting 3rd MLS season.
What Coach Glenn Myernick has accomplished with his revitalized Colorado Rapids in all their playoff games, has been nothing short of a miracle. Congratulations!!
The Most Valuable Player of the Game honors were given to Jaime Moreno. John Harkes, DC United's Captain, accepted the MLS Cup trophy, for the 2nd year in a row.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO MLS' 1998 SEASON!