MLS Colorado Rapids

Rapids Clinch #3 Seed With 1-1 Draw Against Columbus in Final Regular Season Match

Published on October 19, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


DENVER, CO (10-16-04)- The Colorado Rapids closed out the regular season with a spirited effort in a 1-1 draw in front of 12,412 fans at INVESCO Field at Mile High tonight.

Chris Henderson scored the Rapids' lone goal from the penalty spot early in the second half to assure the Rapids of a third place finish in the Western Conference. As a result of the finish, the Rapids will now match up with the second place Los Angeles Galaxy in the Western Conference Semifinals, which start with Game 1 on Friday night here in Denver.

With the 1-1 draw, the Rapids also set a new MLS record for the lowest home Goals-Against-Average over an entire season at 0.53, breaking the 1999 Los Angeles Galaxy's former mark of 0.63. In 15 home matches this season, goalkeeper Joe Cannon and the Rapids allowed just eight goals, and never more than one in a game.

The Rapids controlled possession early in the first half, but were unable to create any clear-cut chances against Columbus keeper Jon Busch. However, at the other end of the field, the Crew nearly opened the scoring in the 28th minute through Edson Buddle. Buddle, Columbus' leading scorer with 11 goals this year, got free inside the Colorado box following a long through ball from Kyle Martino. Buddle created a good shooting angle for himself, but Cannon slid out to block the shot, keeping the game scoreless.

But there would be nothing that Cannon or anybody could do to stop the Crew from climbing in front in the 41st minute when Duncan Oughton netted a cross from rookie Danny Szetela. Szetela was able to get past his defender on the right wing and fired a right-footed cross into the center of the box. Kyle Martino attempted a diving header, but missed the ball, only to see it skip past him and right to Oughton, who redirected the cross into the open net past Cannon, making the score 1-0 going into the half.

Colorado equalized early in the second half when Chris Henderson grabbed his third goal of the season and his first from the penalty spot. Alberto Delgado, who had been hustling all night, raced into the box past a pair of Crew defenders, only to be pulled down by Tony Sanneh, giving the Rapids a penalty kick. Henderson stepped up to take the kick and dispatched a powerful shot past Busch just inside his left post to tie the score at 1-1 in the 47th minute.

That would be the end of the goals on the night, but not the end of the chances for each side. Just two minutes after Henderson scored the equalizer, Delgado nearly put the Rapids in front. Busch was unable to handle a right-footed blast from Jordan Cila, and the rebound squirted to Delgado inside the box. He attempted to hit a volley past the prostrate Busch, but his shot was deflected away by a lunging Crew defender.

At the other end of the pitch in the 75th minute, Columbus had their final chance to conjure up an equalizer and nearly did. Szetela fired a shot on goal that Cannon saved, but was unable to hold onto. The recently-signed Dante Washington was the first to get to the ball inside the six yard box, but he was unable to beat Cannon, who recovered quickly to get back to his feet and make the save, keeping the game tied at 1-1.

With the draw, Columbus assured itself of the best record in MLS for the 2004 season, earning the first Supporters Shield in franchise history and a first round playoff date with the New England Revolution.

The Rapids return to action on Friday, October 22 at 7:30 p.m. (MT) when they take on the Los Angeles Galaxy in the opening leg of the Western Conference Semifinals, with the return leg being played at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, October 30. Tickets for the Rapids' first home playoff game are on sale now. Call 303-825-GOAL for more information.

If the Rapids win the series vs. LA, they would face the winner of the San Jose/Kansas City series in a one-game Conference Final. Should that game be a matchup between the Rapids and the San Jose Earthquakes, the match would be played on Friday November 5th at INVESCO Field. If the Rapids were to face Kansas City, the match would be played on Saturday, November 6th at Arrowhead Stadium.

Colorado Rapids Man of the Match: Matt Crawford

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Major League Soccer Stories from October 19, 2004


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