MLS Colorado Rapids

Rapids Suffer 3-0 Loss To DC United

Published on August 23, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


WASHINGTON D.C. - The Colorado Rapids were handed their worse road loss of the season falling 3-0 to DC United Saturday night at RFK Stadium. The shutout was Colorado's third in their last four matches and their sixth loss in their last eight road games.

Interim head coach Gary Smith, coaching in his first match since assuming his new position, saw his team playing a man down over the final 25 minutes of the game and concede two goals during that span to close the season series with DC United at 1-1.

Throughout much of the first half both teams battled for momentum with neither side able to create many scoring opportunities. Just before the break however, Luciano Emilio played back a ball from the penalty spot to the top of the box where an on-coming Joe Vide struck it into the back of the net for a 1-0 United lead. The goal marked the third straight contest in which the Rapids have given up a goal in the 44th minute or later.

Colorado may have had their best scoring opportunity of the night seconds later in injury time when Nick LaBrocca's header off a Terry Cooke cross was tipped just over the crossbar by Louis Crayton.

Preston Burpo kept the Rapids close through much of the second half with some big saves. The Black and White's offensive pressure finally broke through though with two goals in a five minute span to put the game away.

Around the 80th minute, Rapids captain Pablo Mastroeni limped over to the bench with a hamstring injury. Unfortunately for the visiting team they were already out of substitutions for the match so with Mastroeni unable to return, Colorado found themselves playing a man down the rest of the way.

Santino Quaranta pushed DC United's advantage to 2-0 in the 82nd minute when he hit a rocket from just inside the right corner of the penalty area pass a diving Burpo into the upper left corner of the net.

Quavas Kirk, who entered the match moments beforehand, finished the scoring with a rebound goal following a beautiful one-handed save from Burpo in the 87th minute.

The Rapids head back out on the road for a second straight week traveling to Utah to take on Real Salt Lake on Friday, August 29 at 7pm MT.

Check out the Colorado Rapids Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from August 23, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central