MLS Colorado Rapids

Rapids and Wizards Battle to a 1-1 Draw

Published on May 21, 2007 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


Commerce City, Colo. (Saturday, May 19, 2007)- The Colorado Rapids tied the Kansas City Wizards 1-1 in a game that saw Jovan Kirovski score his second goal of the season in front of 14,577 fans at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

The first chance of the game went to the Rapids. In the fifth minute, a Terry Cooke cross found Roberto Brown's head in the middle of the area. The Panamanian was unable to put the ball on goal and the shot sailed wide to the left of a diving Kevin Hartman.

In the eighth minute, Rapids midfielder Kyle Beckerman created a fantastic chance when he was fouled at the top of the eighteen-yard box. The resulting free kick was taken by Jovan Kirovski, who saw his effort bounce off the corner of the woodwork and out of bounds.

Chris Wingert created the Rapids' third chance of the game in the 12th minute. He played a ball down the left side to a waiting Brown, who crossed a low pass across the top of the box to Beckerman, who's rolling shot was easily picked up by Hartman

Kansas City produced their first chance in the 13th minute when the ball was picked up on the left by Michael Harrington and crossed into the box. Amid several players from both teams, Rapids 'keeper Bouna Coundoul was able to punch the ball out of bounds for a throw in.

Kansas City threatened again in the 16th minute. Midfielder Davy Arnaud played a cross in to Eddie Johnson, whose diving header produced a spectacular save from Coundoul.

In the 19th minute, the Rapids gave up a free kick 10 yards outside the box. Taken indirectly by Jose Burciaga Jr., the shot went sailing over the crossbar and into the crowd.

In the 36th minute Yura Movsisyan wove his way through two Rapids defenders for a close range shot that was parried wide by Coundoul.

Johnson exhibited his incredible speed in the 42nd minute. He was able to streak past Pablo Mastroeni on the left side of the box and send in a cross that was covered by a diving Coundoul

After a terry Cooke corner in the 45th minute, the ball was first punched by Hartman and bounced off several Rapids before falling to Herculez Gomez at the top of the box. The midfielder sent a right-footed shot towards goal that was knocked down by a Kansas City hand, inside the penalty box. The resulting penalty was converted by Jovan Kirovski, who sent a powerful shot into the heart of the goal past a diving Hartman.

At the half the scoreboard read 1-0 in favor of the Rapids. Kansas City also made the games first substitution at the half bringing Aaron Hohlbein in for Jimmy Conrad.

Kansas City made another substitution in the 53rd minute. Argentinean Carlos Marinelli replaced Yura Movsisyan

Kansas City equalized in the 58th minute. Kerry Zavagnin played a ball down the right to Johnson, who crossed the ball to an unmarked Arnaud for a goal.

Immediately following the goal, in the 59th minute, the Rapids made their first substitution of the match. Ugo Ihemelu came on for the goal scorer, Jovan Kirovski.

In the 66th minute Kansas City produced another chance when Johnson sent a precise long ball down the left to Arnaud, but the Texas A&M product saw his cross picked off by Coundoul.

The Rapids made a change up front in the 69th minute. Jacob Peterson replaced Hercules Gomez after the Los Vegas native injured himself on an attempted volley.

Peterson had an immediate impact in the 73rd minute. His back-heel pass put Nicolas Hernandez into space on the left side of the box. Hernandez beat two defenders but had his final effort headed away by Hohlbein for a corner.

In the 77th minute Hernandez set up Beckerman at the top of the box. The midfielder beat a defender before sending a dipping shot into the hands of a diving Hartman.

In the 80th minute Hohlbein tackled Peterson at the top of the box, but touched his hand to the ball while on the ground. Following the infraction, Cooke sent the free kick well over the goal.

The Rapids made their third and final change of the match in the 84th minute. Terry Cooke was replaced by Nico Colaluca.

Two minutes later Kansas City brought on Kurt Morsnik for Sasha Victorine.

The Rapids will play twice at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in the upcoming week. First they take on Real Salt Lake in the final round of U.S. Open Cup Qualifying at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23. Then on Saturday, May 26 Colorado returns to MLS play when they host the Los Angeles Galaxy at 6:30 p.m.

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 21, 2007


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