MLS Colorado Rapids

Rapids mid-week notes

Published on July 21, 2005 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


RAPIDS VS. CHICAGO: The Rapids vs. Chicago series is currently at 9-11-3 The Black and Blue have had Chicago's number in the Mile High city, keeping the Fire winless since October of 1999. In the first meeting this season between these two teams Chicago came out on top 2-1 with goals from Andy Herron and Thiago while the Rapids strike came from Alain Nkong.

IMPROVED SECOND HALF: The Black and Blue have started the second half of the 2005 MLS season with a stronger pace then they did the first half. The Rapids' first regular season win of 2005 came in the fourth game of the season and their first point only in the second match. If the season were split exactly in half, the Rapids have kicked off the second part of it with a 1-1-1 record, accumulating four of the nine total possible points. The Rapids first half of the season started with a 0-1-2 record in the first three games.

NÖEL MAKES HIS MLS DEBUT: 19-year old striker Fabrice Nöel, who was signed by the Rapids to a developmental contract on June 24, 2005, made his Major League Soccer debut on Wednesday, July 20th coming in as a sub in the 2-1 loss to San Jose. The former Haitian youth international was very confident after his professional debut. "I felt great. I have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time and today they gave it to me. I wanted to do everything that I could do to give us a chance to win. I feel really good with the ball on my feet and I am not scared of anybody. I feel that I can contribute the most to the team when the ball is on my feet as much as possible."

RAPIDS TO HONOR "THE IRON MAN": The Colorado Rapids will honor Rapids Alumni player Marcelo Balboa at this Saturday's game vs. the Chicago Fire. The Rapids are planning to host a special halftime ceremony to honor Balboa and to commemorate his admission to the National Soccer Hall of Fame, which was announced earlier this year. As part of the evening's festivities, the Rapids will also pass out free Marcelo Balboa commemorative bobblehead dolls to the first 5,000 fans into the stadium. For more details, fans can visit ColoradoRapids.com.

OUT BUT GETTING BETTER: The Colorado Rapids announced today that Matt Crawford and Josh Elbaum will miss the rest of the season after undergoing successful surgeries. Crawford underwent a successful right hip arthroscopy with Dr. Marc Phillipon of the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colorado. Elbaum, a Denver native who signed a developmental contract with the team after being spotted by the Rapids coaching staff during the team's 2005 Open Tryouts, underwent a successful hernia surgery performed at Rose Hospital in Denver, CO.

RAPIDS ENTER LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP: The Colorado Rapids announced on Thursday, July 14th their entry into the 2005 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a fourth round match that will take place on Wednesday, August 3rd, when they take on the Minnesota Thunder from the United Soccer League's First Division, at the James Griffin Stadium in St. Paul, Minnesota at 6:00 p.m. (MT). This time under the reins of Head Coach Fernando Clavijo, the Black and Blue will make their run to conquer the trophy of the oldest and most distinguished sporting tournament in the United States. Clavijo's experience in this tournament with New England led the Revolution to the Championship game in 2001, where they were defeated 2-1 by the Los Angeles Galaxy at Fullerton Stadium in California.

MAN'S BEST FRIEND: The Colorado Rapids have announced the club's "Dog Days of August" promotion, which will allow fans to bring their dogs to INVESCO Field at Mile High at the Wednesday, August 17, 2005 game against the Revolution that will kick off at 7:30 p.m. (MT). The promotion will allow all canines to sit in the stands with their owners as they enjoy the Rapids match. Special seating at the stadium for this event will include a play area for the dogs in attendance, as well as other activities for the pets. Owners and their dogs will also sit together for the match itself in the south stands of INVESCO Field. Tickets for the Rapids Dog Days of August event are on sale for $15, and that price includes the dual admission of one owner and one dog. Proceeds will benefit the Denver Dumb Friends League. Fans can find registration forms online at ColoradoRapids.com

PABLO GONE: Rapids Team Captain Pablo Mastroeni is currently with the US National Team that is participating in the 2005 Gold Cup. Mastroeni, who did not see action in the USA's first game against Cuba, played the entire 90 minutes in the team's 2-0 win over Canada. He did not play against Costa Rica on July 12 at Gillette Stadium, but played a full 90 minutes in the quarterfinal match against Jamaica that the US won 3-1.

ANOTHER ADDITION FROM THE OPEN TRYOUTS: The Colorado Rapids announced the addition of defender Stephen Keel to the team's developmental roster on Monday, July 11, 2005. Keel, who caught the attention of the Rapids coaching staff during the team's Open Tryouts at the beginning of the season, becomes the second Colorado native to make the team after being spotted during that event; the Littleton, Colorado resident joins Josh Elbaum from Denver in that category. The 6-0 defender played college soccer at Wake Forest University.

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 21, 2005


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