MLS Colorado Rapids

Rapids pre-game notes

Published on August 15, 2005 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


RAPIDS VS. NEW ENGLAND: The Rapids vs. New England all-time series stands at 12-9-4. The last two years have continued the balanced trend as the series stands at 2-2-3 in the last seven games.

MILE HIGH CITY BAD FOR REVS: Over the last nine years Colorado has compiled an 8-3-1 record against the Revolution in Denver. New England has not won a game in the Mile High City since June 15 of 2002.

PRESSURE RELIEF?: Goalkeepers Joe Cannon and Matt Reis are both fans of Bruce Arena's latest World Cup Qualifying callups. The top two MLS goalscorers will be out for Wednesday's game due to national team duty. Colorado's Jeff Cunningham leads the league with 11 goals and New England's Taylor Twellman is right behind him with 10 tallies.

EVENING OUT: Despite New England's lightning-fast start to the season, over the Rapids' and Revs' last 10 games, their records have been even. The Rapids are 5-4-2 since June 11 and the Revolution are 5-4-2 since June 22.

RAPIDS OFFENSE AGAINST THE REVS: Two of the Rapids' strikers appear among the best five active all-time leading goalscorers against the Revolution. Jeff Cunningam has netted a total of seven goals against the Revs and Wolde Harris has a total of six goals against New England.

KEEPING A BALANCE: Colorado has managed to stay a very balanced team throughout their history against New England. The Black and Blue have notched 21 goals in the first half and 22 in the second in the overall series. The Rapids have had good games against the Revolution but look to regain the form that has allowed them to outscore the Revolution 43 to 37 in series goals.

FAMILIARITIES CONNECT TEAMS: The philosophies of the two coaching staffs should be very decipherable for one another. Colorado head coach Fernando Clavijo and assistant coach John Murphy are former New England coaches. Current Revolution head coach Steve Nicol was an assistant to Clavijo in 2002. The coaching carousel should make for a very interesting chess match on the field. Leo Cullen and Wolde Harris also have links to New England, having played there from 2001-03 and 2000-03 respectively.

WHERE IS PABLO?: Head Coach Fernando Clavijo had Pablo Mastroeni penciled down as one of his 16 players traveling to San Jose to take on the Earthquakes last Saturday, but a twisted turn of events changed that. First the Rapids' scheduled plane was grounded at Denver International Airport and the entire team got bumped from the 2:00 p.m. departure to a 9:20 p.m. (MT) one. While waiting at the airport for the team bus to come back for the squad, Mastroeni had something to eat. As it turns out, the US National Team midfielder, who had made an impressive recovery from a sprained right ankle, was food poisoned by a chicken sandwich and unable to make the trip at all. He is expected to be available for Wednesday's match vs. New England.

AT THE TOP OF THE LEAGUE: Even though he did not score against the Earthquakes on Saturday night at Spartan Stadium, Jeff Cunningham remains atop the league's goalscoring department. Cunningham, who has notched an amazing 73 goals during his MLS career, is currently at the top of this year's goalscoring list, one strike ahead of his closest competitors, New England's Taylor Twellman and FC Dallas's Carlos Ruiz.

TIGHT RACE: After last Saturday's 1-1 tie against the Earthquakes at Spartan Stadium, the Rapids have closed the gap between them and the Los Angeles Galaxy in the race for the third place in the Western Conference. The Black and Blue, who sit in the fourth position, are currently five (7) points behind the Galaxy, who sit in third place and have one more game played than the Rapids. Expansion clubs Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA are fifth and sixth respectively. Salt Lake are six points behind the Rapids and Chivas are 13 points behind.

A TALE OF TWO HALVES: The Black and Blue continue with their good play during the second half of the regular season. The team has posted a 3-1-2 record in their first six games of the second half of the season, outscoring their opponents 11 goals to 6. The Rapids posted a 1-4-1 record during the first six games of the regular season and were outscored by their opponents 7 goals to 5.

CALL HIM "DEDI": The Colorado Rapids announced on Wednesday, August 3rd, the signing of midfielder/defender David "Dedi" Ben Dayan to a multi-year deal. Ben Dayan's addition to the team, which will take place after the August 15th International Transfer Window, is pending proper work authorization from the U.S. government. Ben Dayan, who becomes the second Israeli to play in Major League Soccer (alongside current Rapids defender Guy Melamed), started his professional career with the prestigious Israeli club Maccabi Tel-Aviv, where he played for eight years, winning two league championships and three open cups, performing both as a defender and in the midfield position.

THE "JEFF CUNNINGHAM SPECIAL": In honor of Jeff Cunningham scoring two goals in the 2005 Sierra Mist MLS All Star Game, the Rapids are offering all fans the chance to get 2 Rapids home games for the price of 1! Purchase a ticket to the Rapids' home match on Wednesday, August 17th vs. the New England Revolution and receive a free ticket to the Rapids match on Wednesday, September 21st vs. Real Salt Lake! The free ticket will be of equal or lesser value based on availability. To take advantage of this great opportunity, or to receive more information, call the Rapids at 303-825-GOAL today and ask for the "Jeff Cunningham Special"

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

SERNA IN CAMP: Former Miami Fusion striker Diego Serna is in camp with the Colorado Rapids again this week. The 13th best goalscorer in Major League Soccer history notched 57 goals during his stint in the league. He then left for the United Arab Emirates, where he played for one season before returning to Colombia to play for current Libertadores Cup Champions Once Caldas. He was currently playing for Deportes Quindío, where he last performed in their 1-1 tie against Atletico Nacional on Wednesday, August 3rd.

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Major League Soccer Stories from August 15, 2005


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