April 8, 2000
Mile High Stadium, Denver, CO
7:05pm Kickoff - clear and warm
Colorado Rapids vs Tampa Bay Mutiny
Welcome to Colorado's great Rapids fans!
Key matchup tonight is between Tampa's #10, Carlos Valderama, and Colorado's #17, Marcelo Balboa.
Two minutes into the game, Colorado's Henry Zambrano has already had 2 shots on goal. On the Mutiny side, #9 Mamadou Diallo is also proving how dangerous he is. Both teams seem to be measuring each other. Rapids Midfielder, #10, Anders Limpar is spreading the ball very nicely, creating many opportunites.
Valderrama is being closely marked by Colorado's Balboa and Bent, #5.
In the 14th minute, Colorado's Joe Digiamarino's hard, ground level shot on goal was saved by Tampa's fully stretched goalkeeper, Scott Garlick. Minutes later, Colorado's Zambrano's shot wen wide left. The game remains scoreless after 23 minutes of play.
The Colorado Rapids have been suffering from numerous injuries before tonight's game.
In the 33rd minute, the score remains 0-0.
It is a beautiful night in Denver, with a clear sky and a gentle breeze. Colorado Rapids need to score a goal in order to get the crowd into the game.
In the 41st minute, Tampa Bay Mutiny made substitution... #16 Kalin Bankov in for #8, Dominic Kinnear.
At the end of the first half, the score is still 0-0.
In the second half, the game continues in the same pace. So far, both teams have played with a lot of individual skills, but very few coordinated 'team' attacks. For the Colorado Rapids, it can easily be explained because of the numerous injuries suffereed throughout the preseason, and the first 3 road games.
The first half stats show both teams being very evenly matched:
Total Shots Colorado 8 Tampa 10 Shots on goal Colorado 3 Tampa 3 Saves Colorado 3 Tampa 3 Fouls Colorado 8 Tampa 7 Offside Colorado 2 Tampa 2 Corner Kicks Colorado 3 Tampa 2 Cautions Colorado 1 Tampa 1 Score Colorado 0 Tampa 0
Colorado Rapids' Zambrano was subbed out for #26 Paul Dougherty.
In the 74th minute, Colorado Rapids scored a great goal by Joey Digiamarino from Moore and Limpar.
Colorado leads 1 - 0.
The pace has not increased, with Tampa Bay trying to equalize.
FINAL SCORE: ">