Sunday, May 31, 1998
Mile High Stadium, Denver, CO
3:00pm Kickoff - bright, sunny day 75 degrees F
Colorado Rapids vs Kansas City Wizards
Excerpted from Live Game Update
Colorado Rapids' World Cup Star, Marcelo Balboa is back to play against Kansas City. This is a must win game for the Rapids, who are in last place in the Western Conference. However, Kansas City is missing Preki, who played yesterday in the US - Scotland tie in Washington D.C.
The Rapids starting lineup is the same as in their last game, with the exception of Balboa, who is back at US Coach Sampson's direction to stay game fit for his trip to France in a few days.
The Colorado Rapids, playing with determination, started the scoring in the 5th minute, when Ross Paule scored on an assist from Chris Martinez. A minute later, in the 6th minute, Ross Paule again scored on assists from Jason Boyce and Peter Vermes.
This is a great start for the Colorado Rapids, leading 2 - 0 after only 6 minutes. Ross Paule's 2 goals are the fastest 2 goals scored in MLS history.
Rapids GK, Marcus Hahnemann, has made several great saves, preventing KC from scoring. Coach Myernick, in the 40th minute subbed in Chris Henderson for Jason Boyce, who was struggling.
What Chris needs is a goal for him to regain his confidence, after being a finalist for the World Cup Team, but not making US Coach Sampson's final selection. Chris Henderson, a great player, was the Colorado Rapids' MVP for the 1997 season.
At the end of the 1st half, the score remains 2 -1 in favor of Colorado.
Ross Paule, in the 57th minute, saved a direct shot on Colorado's goal, by heading the ball, backwards, over the crossbar. In the 60th minute, the score remains Colorado 2 Kansas City 0
In the 63rd minute, Waldir in for Wolde Harris and in the 67th minute had a shot on goal that hit the side of the net. In the 68th minute, Waldir had another great shot on goal that was saved by KC's GK, Amman. Again in the 71st minute, Waldir had another shot on goal. He changed the slower pace of Wolde Harris. Again, in th 79th minute, Waldir had two shots on goal, saved by KC's GK.
In the 83rd minute, KC's Digital Takawara, unassisted, scrambled in front of Colorado's goal and scored. The score is now, Colorado 2 KC 1.
In the 84th minute, KC's long, hard shot, was saved by Colorado's GK, Hahnemann.
FINAL: Colorado Rapids 2 KC 1
Player of the game is Colorado's Ross Paule