MLS Colorado Rapids

Rapids late comback falls short in 2-1 loss to Earthquakes

Published on July 20, 2005 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


Rapids Late Comeback Falls Short in 2-1 Loss to Earthquakes

Forward Wolde Harris' First Goal of the Season is Not Enough to Pull Colorado Back from 2-0 Deficit

DENVER, CO (July 20, 2005) - The Colorado Rapids late comeback attempt fell short tonight in a 2-1 loss to Western Conference rival San Jose Earthquakes at INVESCO Field at Mile High.

A Terry Cooke cross in the early minutes of the match that found midfielder Eric Denton inside of the Earthquakes penalty area produced the first scoring opportunity for the Rapids. Denton's header found Earthquakes goalie Pat Onstad well positioned to make the save.

San Jose opened the scoring in the 20 minute when Brian Mullan intercepted a Colorado pass before beating three Rapids defenders at the top of the penalty area. His quick foot skills where enough to create a space to place a powerful shot past a diving Joe Cannon and into the side netting.

A Colorado free kick in the 23rd minute almost opened the Rapids scoring account when Denton found Jeff Cunningham in the penalty box but the forward's header went into the waiting hands of Onstad.

Denton again found his way into the box in the 27 minute but it looked as if he was pushed in the back right as he was heading the ball causing the shot to go awry.

The Rapids made their first substitution in the first half as Jean-Philippe Peguero came in for Mike Petke in the 28 minute. Petke pulled his right hip muscle prompting the substitution and will be re-evaluated leading up to Saturday's game against Chicago.

A Peguero header from a Ricky Lewis ball just minutes after coming into the game was corralled by Onstad.

Luchi Gonzalez provided a service from the left sideline for Cooke with seconds to go before halftime that was headed on goal but stopped by Onstad.

Colorado made their second swap of the night in the 57 minute when Wolde Harris came in for Cuningham.

Cannon stoned former Rapids midfielder Mark Chung when the Earthquake player came down the left wing and unleashed a hard shot that was easily stopped.

Haitian forward Fabrice Noel made his MLS debut in the 61 minute when he replaced Gonzalez in the Rapids lineup.

Cannon came up big for the home team in the 63rd minute when he stopped a 25-yard shot from Chung that was sailing to the back of the net.

Dwayne De Rosario broke down the right sideline in the 73 minute then cut to the center of the field where he found a wide open Chung whose shot was placed just out of the reach of Cannon's diving body for the Earthquakes' second goal of the night.

Peguero earned a penalty kick for the Rapids in the 81 minute, when he was pulled down by defender Eddie Robinson. Harris calmly stepped up and put the ball into the right side of the net as a helpless Onstad dove to the opposite side.

The Rapids almost equalized the scoring in the 83rd minute when Beckerman headed a cross from Denton that was blocked by the Earthquakes defense. The loose ball felt at the feet of Peguero, whose quick shot was also blocked before the ball was put out for a goal kick.

In the 87 minute a Cooke through ball found an onrushing Peguero who shot the ball just wide of Onstad's goal.

Beckerman's second shot at an equalizing header was barely stopped by a diving Onstad in the dying minutes of regulation.

A tense four minutes of extra time saw the Rapids mount to a formidable attack but Onstad and the Earthquake held tight and secured the victory.

Colorado will be back in action this Saturday when they play the Chicago Fire at 7 p.m. at INVESCO Field at Mile High. The Rapids will be hosting 'Marcelo Balboa Hall of Fame' night in which the first 5,000 fans into the stadium will receive a Marcelo Balboa bobblehead.

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