MLS Colorado Rapids

Playoff Preview: Rapids Host LA in Game 1 This Friday Night

Published on October 22, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


The Colorado Rapids host the Los Angeles Galaxy in Game 1 of the 2-game Western Conference Semifinals series this Friday night, October 22nd, at 7:30pm at INVESCO Field at Mile High. (Game 2 will be played next Saturday, Oct. 30 at the Home Depot Center, 8:00pm MT). The Rapids are hosting several ticket promotions and events in conjunction with Friday night's match at Invesco Field; for more info. click here.

LA WILL EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF "THE FORTRESS"

The Galaxy face a tough road on Friday, as they will be coming to Denver to face off against the best home defense in the history of Major League Soccer: by holding the Columbus Crew to just a single goal on Saturday night, the Colorado Rapids set a new MLS record for the lowest Goals Against Average at home in a single season.

In 15 games at INVESCO Field at Mile High this season, the Rapids have given up just eight goals for a 0.53 GAA, tallying seven shutouts and never allowing a team to score more than a single goal in any game. In fact, only two teams, the Dallas Burn and Kansas City Wizards scored more than one goal in Denver all season long, each scoring single goals in their four combined visits to INVESCO Field.

The old home GAA record had been held by the 1999 Los Angeles Galaxy, who surrendered 10 goals in 16 home matches for a 0.63 GAA.

PEDRO LEADS THE WAY WITH 1-2 PUNCH VS. THE GALAXY

Rapids striker Jean Philippe Peguero has had great success against the Los Angeles Galaxy this season; in fact, he has scored all of the Rapids' goals vs. the Galaxy in 2004.

In the Rapids' Home Opener vs. the Galaxy on April 17, Pedro scored his first goal in a Rapids uniform as well as the Rapids' first goal at home in 2004 on a header off a corner kick from Antonio de la Torre. In his goal celebration, Peguero reveals his famous "Peguero Unstoppable" message to the crowd. (To watch this goal, click here).

In the Rapids' next match vs. the Galaxy, on May 15 at the Home Depot Center, Pedro victimized LA once more, as he knocked in his second goal of the season from the top of the 6-yard box off a fantastic assist from Chris Henderson, who got his 100th point as a Rapids player on the play. In his goal celebration, Pedro lifted his jersey once more as a tribute to fellow striker John Spencer. (To watch this goal, click here).

Pedro will no doubt be looking to continue his scoring prowess vs. the LA Galaxy this Friday night!

MAKE SURE TO WEAR YOUR COLORS TO THE GAME

The Colorado Rapids want to remind all fans to wear their Black and Blue Rapids jerseys or other black and/or blue items of clothing to the game. Help give the Rapids a home advantage and make Invesco Field as hostile an environment as possible for the Galaxy! Be the 12th man - wear your black and blue on Friday night.

RAPIDS LOOKING FOR PLAYOFF REVENGE (3rd TIME'S THE CHARM)

This will be the third time in their seven postseason appearances that the Rapids will face off against the Los Angeles Galaxy on the road to the MLS Cup.

In 1999, the two sides met in the MLS Quarterfinals and L.A. eliminated Colorado in two games with a 3-0 win at home and a 2-0 triumph in Game Two in Denver.

Three years later it was the Galaxy sweeping past the Rapids again in two games, but this time it was in the MLS Semifinals. After the Rapids had squeaked past Dallas in dramatic fashion in the Quarterfinals, they met up with the Galaxy who proceeded to take Game One at the Rose Bowl 4-0. Game Two was back in Denver, but the outcome would be the same as Carlos Ruiz scored to give the Galaxy a 1-0 win.

Following each of their triumphs over Colorado, the Galaxy would go on to play in MLS Cup, losing 2-0 to D.C. United in 1999 and defeating the New England Revolution 1-0 in 2002.

TEAMS FACE OFF FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE JULY

Despite having played four times already this season, the Rapids and Galaxy have not faced one another in over three months. The two sides played to a 0-0 draw in Denver on July 14 in their final meeting of the season.

Since that game, the Rapids have gone 5-5-3 and clinched third place in the West while the Galaxy have struggled, going just 2-4-6, losing their grip on the top spot in the Conference to Kansas City and firing Head Coach Sigi Schmid in the process, replacing him with Steve Sampson in mid-August.

The Rapids were 0-1-3 against the Galaxy this season, grabbing a pair of draws at home (1-1 on April 17 and 0-0 on July 14) while getting a draw (1-1 on May 15) and suffering a loss (2-0 on July 10) in their two visits to The Home Depot Center in 2004.

TICKETS SELLING QUICKLY FOR FRIDAY'S MATCH

Fans can reserve their spot at Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Los Angeles Galaxy, as tickets for the Friday, October 22nd match are on sale now and selling quickly.

Individual Tickets, Group Tickets and Family Night Packs for the Rapids' Playoff Game 1 are now on sale by calling the Rapids ticket offices at 303-825-GOAL or visiting the Pepsi Center box office (10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.), or any TicketMaster location, or by calling 303-830-TIXS.

Ticket Prices for the Rapids' Home Semifinal Playoff Match are $10, $15, $20, $25 and $35.

The Rapids also announced they will offer the Rapids Family Night Pack, presented by the Rocky Mountain News, for this match! The Family Night pack, which includes four Touchline seats, four hot dogs and four sodas for only $59, is the most affordable way to experience Rapids 2004 Playoff action.

The fan favorite Buck-A-Bud Pregame Happy Hour presented by Budweiser also returns to INVESCO Field for the Western Conference Semifinal match, offering Budweiser products for only $1 each, live music, and Denver's hottest happy hour scene from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the pregame Beer Garden.

Season Ticket Holders will use "PLAYOFF GAME 1" tickets for Friday's first round home game and "GAME B" tickets for the Western Conference Championship game, should it be played at INVESCO Field.

Check out the Colorado Rapids Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from October 22, 2004


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