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MLS Colorado Rapids

Rapids Defeat Columbus Crew in Home Opener

April 8, 2006 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


DENVER, CO - Terry Cooke assisted on all three Colorado Rapids goals in their 3-1 victory over the Columbus Crew in front of 12,124 fans in the team's home opener tonight at INVESCO Field at Mile High.

The Columbus Crew drew first blood in the 10th minute off of a set piece cross by Danny Szetela. The free kick came in from the left side of the defense and a crashing Chad Marshall rushed ahead to meet the ball with his left foot and scored from eight yards out.

Joe Cannon came up big for the Rapids in the 24th minute when Jacob Thomas dribbled into the left side of the box and crossed a ball that Kei Kamara dropped back to Szetela. Cannon kicked out his legs just in time to parry away the low shot.

The Rapids equalized in the 35th minute from the head of Jovan Kirovski. A give-and-go on the Rapids right wing between Cooke and Jean Philippe Peguero sprung the Englishman down the sideline. Kirovski helped flood the box with black and blue jerseys as the man marking him trailed by a step. When Cooke's ball hit the diving head of Kirovski it marked the first time the two former Manchester United youth products have connected for a Rapids goal.

Kyle Beckerman put the Rapids ahead with his second goal of the year off of Cooke's second assist of the night in the 50th minute. In the last of a series of corners, Nicolas Hernandez played a long cross to the back post where Cooke one-timed a ball back to Beckerman who uncorked his second long range goal.

Two saves in the 60th and 62nd minutes kept the Rapids in the lead. The first save, by Cannon was off a header by Rusty Pierce and the second was from a long shot by former Rapid Ritchie Kotschau, which had deflected off the cross bar.

Cooke picked up his third assist in the 67th minute when his right-sided cross found a wide open Noel in the six-yard box. In his first professional start, the young Haitian calmly headed the ball home for the second goal of his career.

Just a minute later, Noel came off the pitch and Jacob Peterson made his professional debut.

The Rapids will be back in action this coming Saturday, April 15th when they take on Western Conference rivals FC Dallas at 7 p.m. at INVESCO Field. Colorado knocked Dallas out of the playoffs in a shootout last season.

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