MLS Colorado Rapids

Nine-Man Rapids Take Three Points in 1-0 Win Over Galaxy

June 15, 2005 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


DENVER, CO (06-15-05)-A nine-man Colorado Rapids team held on to a 1-0 victory Wednesday night to take three points from the Los Angeles Galaxy in front of 10, 472 fans at INVESCO Field at Mile High.

Jeff Cunningham ended the Rapids 320 minute scoreless streak in the ninth minute when he stepped up to the penalty spot and drilled the ball past Kevin Hartman. The Jamacian-born Cunningham drew the foul as he was pushed in the box by LA's Cobi Jones.

Just three minutes later Jean-Philippe Peguero was fouled by Pablo Chinchilla who received a yellow card for the harsh tackle.

Leo Cullen made the referee pull out the yellow card for the second time in two minutes with his foul.

In the 17 minute the Rapids were reduced to 10 men after Pablo Mastroeni was shown a straight red card by referee Ricardo Valenzuela for leaving his feet up as he slid in on Paulo Nagamura after losing possession.

After Nat Borchers saved a sure goal off the feet of Jovan Kirovski by sliding the ball up the field, Luchi Gonzalez hit it over the net from inside the penalty box.

Peguero came close to adding a second goal for the already shorthanded home team in the 28 minute when he headed a Gonzalez free kick just past Hartman's far post.

Valenzuela again went to his pocket to show the Galaxy's Tyrone Marshall a yellow card in the 32 minute.

Joe Cannon, who made seven save on the night, had to come up big for the Rapids just after the half hour mark as Kirovski took a shot from 30 yards away. Cannon dove to his right and gave up no rebound in a rocket of a shot. In the next two minutes Cannon also stopped a cross and a Jones shot from outside the box.

Colorado took the first corner kick of the game in the 43 minute and Peguero shook his defender and got his head to the ball and guided it inches from the Galaxy goal.

The Rapids were forced to give up a corner kick in first half stoppage time after a long throw but Los Angeles' Landon Donovan's cross sailed through the box untouched and the Rapids took a 1-0 lead to the locker room.

The Rapids came out for the second 45 with the same ten men but the Galaxy brought Michael Umana in for Ugo Ihemelu at the halfway point.

Eric Denton squashed Galaxy's next scoring chance in the 55 minute and cleared the ball out of danger after Naldo da Conceicao made a low cross.

Guy Melamed was the second black and blue player to be shown a straight red card after he came in for a header but slipped and ran into Nagamura, who also drew the foul on Mastroeni.

In the 63 minute Colorado made its first substitution bringing on Kyle Beckerman for the goal-scorer Cunningham and a minute later the Galaxy swapped Pablo Chinchilla for Herculez Gomez

After absorbing three minutes of pressure starting in the 67 minute the Rapids made their second exchange as Alain Nkong came on for Luchi Gonzalez.

After a Galaxy corner kick Cannon stoned Umana on an absolute rocket and moments later Gomez sent a header over the crossbar.

The Galaxy completed their final substitution in the 73 minute when Mubarike Chisoni replaced da Conceicao.

Dan Gargan made his MLS debut in the 76 minute when he went in for Peguero.

The Rapids were saved by the woodwork in the 78 minute when Jones unleashed an amazing shot that had Cannon beat.

Cannon and his defense made six saves in less than a minute to keep the Galaxy off the board in a flurry of action in the 85 minute.

The Colorado net minded was given a yellow card for delaying the game in second half stoppage time and make two big catches before the final whistle.

The Rapids will travel to California where they will visit Western Conference rival Chivas USA on Saturday, June 18th at 8:00 p.m. (MT) live on Altitude Sports & Entertainment.

Starting Lineups- COL- Joe Cannon, Ricky Lewis, Nat Borchers, Mike Petke, Eric Denton, Leo Cullen, Pablo Mastroeni, Guy Melamed, Luchi Gonzalez (Alain Nkong 70), Jeff Cunningham (Kyle Beckerman 63), Pedro Peguero (Dan Gargan 76)

BENCH- Bryon Foss, Wolde Harris, Kyle Beckerman, Ritchie Kotschau, Dan Gargan, Amir Lowery, Sasha Gotsmanov, Joshua Elbaum, Alain Nkong

LAG- Kevin Hartman, Ugo Ihemelu (Michael Umana 46), Tyrone Marshall, Todd Dunivant, Naldo da Conceicao (Mubarike Chisoni 73), Paulo Nagamura, Peter Vagenas, Cobi Jones, Pablo Chinchilla(Herculez Gomez 64), Landon Donovan, Jovan Kirovski

BENCH- Steve Cronin, Mike Enfield, Michael Umana, Herculez Gomez, Mubarike Chisoni

Scoring- COL- Cunningham (penalty kick, 9) LAG-

Check out the Colorado Rapids Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from June 15, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central