MLS Colorado Rapids

Rapids Suffer Season-Ending Loss in LA

Published on November 2, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


CARSON, CA. (10-30-04)- The Colorado Rapids dropped a 2-0 decision tonight against the Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center and were eliminated from the 2004 MLS Playoffs 2-1 on aggregate goals.

Trailing 1-0 after Game 1 in Denver, L.A. came out early, dominating the run of play from the start and creating most of the scoring opportunities. The Galaxy capitalized on a pair of those chances, getting opportunistic goals from Carlos Ruiz in the 30th minute and Tyrone Marshall in first-half added time, to move into the Western Conference Final Friday against the Kansas City Wizards at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Galaxy nearly got on the board with the game's opening salvo. In the eighth minute, Marcelo Saragosa unleashed a shot from just outside the penalty area that beat Rapids 'keeper Joe Cannon, only for the ball to crash back off the face of the crossbar, and the Rapids defense quickly cleared the ball from danger.

Another set piece nearly hit home for the Galaxy in the 22nd minute, with Jovan Kirovski swinging in a free kick that found Ruiz for a clear header in the area, but this too caught the crossbar before sailing out of play.

Colorado's best chance of the first half came in the 24th minute, when Kyle Beckerman received a great pass at the top of the Galaxy penalty area off a one-two with Jordan Cila. Beckerman bent the ball towards the back post, but saw his effort get snagged by Kevin Hartman, who made the save.

Just a few minutes later, Jovan Kirovski again was creating a dangerous chance for the Galaxy. This time his shot from 20 yards out forced Cannon to make his best save of the half. The U.S. international dribbled to his right before hitting a low shot towards the back post, but Cannon made the save at full stretch.

The Galaxy then finally broke through in the 30th minute, after Kirovski sent a corner kick to the middle of the penalty area. Chris Albright ran onto the ball and sent a flick header to the back post where Ruiz was lurking, and with a deft touch the Guatemala international tapped the ball into the back of the net to give L.A. the lead and level the series on aggregate.

Things got a little chippy in the 41st minute as Ruiz took down Kyle Beckerman on a late challenge. Beckerman got up off of the ground quickly in Ruiz's face, and Ruiz pulled off one of his trademark flops right in front of referee Michael Kennedy, who showed both players yellow cards following a scuffle that involved numerous players on both teams.

The Galaxy then doubled their lead in stoppage time. Once again, Kirovski would find himself standing over a free kick, this time from the right flank. His cross again found the head of Albright, who headed the ball down inside the six-yard box, right to the feet of Rapids defender Ricky Lewis. However, the Colorado fullback failed to clear the ball quickly, and Marshall lunged in to stab the ball home and send the home side into the halftime break leading the series 2-1 on aggregate goals.

Now trailing on aggregate score, the Rapids came out in the second half desperate for goals. Tim Hankinson inserted Seth Trembly, Rey Martinez and Gary Sullivan into the lineup during the second half in attempt to bolster the Rapids attack.

The Galaxy however were looking for an insurance goal. They almost found it in the 61st minute, when a long looping cross fell into the path of Sasha Victorine, but his shot fired from just inside the penalty area was again pushed aside by a diving Cannon.

Los Angeles was just inches away again in the 68th minute as Ruiz nearly claimed his second on the night. With the ball at his feet and a defender on his back, he quickly turned and fired a low shot from inside the penalty area that forced Cannon to make another highlight-reel diving save, as the MLS MVP candidate desperately tried to keep Colorado's season alive.

Things got frantic as five minutes of stoppage time were added to the second half, with the Rapids pushing everyone forward to try and get even on aggregate before full time. Nat Borchers and Matt Crawford just missed with chances, then Mark Chung forced Hartman into his best stop of the night, extending to push a brilliant dipping shot just over the crossbar.

However, the Rapids' late surge was not enough, and now Los Angeles will travel to Kansas City to square off with the Wizards for the Western Conference Championship, set for Fri. Nov. 5 at Arrowhead Stadium (6:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports World/Espanol; HDNet).

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Major League Soccer Stories from November 2, 2004


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