MLS Colorado Rapids

Rapids, Real Battle to 2-2 Tie

Published on May 27, 2006 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


SALT LAKE CITY(Saturday, May 27, 2006)- The Colorado Rapids could not hold on to two one-goal leads as they played Real Salt Lake to a 2-2 tie Saturday afternoon here at Rice Eccles Stadium.

The first scoring opportunity of the day came in the 10th minute, when midfielder Terry Cooke sent an outswinging cross in to the heart of Salt Lake's penalty area. The dangerous ball was met by the onrushing Clint Mathis whose header went sailing over the cross bar.

The second chance of the day came in the 12th minute, when a free kick was awarded to the Rapids outside of the penalty area. Dedi Ben-Dayan took charge of the situation, but his 20-yard shot sailed over the cross bar as well.

A constant drizzle fell over the city of Salt Lake the entire day, making the artificial turf playing surface extremely fast and difficult to control.

A header inside of the Rapids penalty area in the 23rd minute by Willis Forko was the first scoring opportunity for the home team.

Another header inside of the penalty area, this time by Jason Kreis in the 30th minute came close to opening the scoring. His header went flying over the cross bar.

Jovan Kirovski finally scored the first goal in the 34th minute when he netted his fifth goal of the season. A 35-yard shot by Mathis in the 33rd minute was denied by goalkeeper Scott Garlick who sent the ball out for a corner kick. Mathis played a short ball from the corner to Eric Denton, who dummied the pass and unleashed a powerful shot on goal. Garlick deflected the shot but was unable to control the rebound. The loose ball was kicked and cleared two times, including once by the post, before Kirovski finally pushed it to the back of the net.

Real Salt Lake equalized in the 74th minute when Jeff Cunningham converted a controversial penalty kick. Salt Lake was awarded the penalty when referee Colin Tait judged Mike Petke to have handled the ball inside the area, but it appeared that Petke was well outside of the eighteen yard box when the ball bounced into his arm.

The Rapids regained the lead when Daniel Wasson scored the first goal of his professional career in the 85th minute. The Colorado Springs native had come into the game just five minutes earlier and was left wide open on a corner kick. Wasson easily headed the ball down and into the back of the net from the top of Garlick's goal box. The assist was from Cooke, it was his league leading fifth of the season.

The game was tied again in the 88th minute when Kreis got onto a flicked ball and slid to get the first touch on the ball to slip it under a charging Bouna Coundoul.

Colorado will be back on the pitch for their first home game in 25 days when they take on the Los Angeles Galaxy at 7:30 p.m. at INVESCO Field at Mile High. The Rapids beat the Galaxy 1-0 at the Home Depot Center on May 20.

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 27, 2006


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