MLS Colorado Rapids

Rapids top Houston Dynamo 1-0 at INVESCO Field

Published on July 26, 2006 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


DENVER, CO (Wednesday, July 26, 2006) - The Colorado Rapids added three important points tonight and climbed to sole possession of third place in the Western Conference after defeating the Houston Dynamo 1-0 at INVESCO Field at Mile High.

Nicolas Hernandez' fifth goal of the season pushed the Rapids (28 pts, 18 games played) past Chivas USA (25 pts, 19 games played) in the Western Conference standings.

Colorado had the first scoring opportunity of the night in the third minute. A dangerous corner kick by MLS assist leader Terry Cooke was cleared out by the visiting defense. The loose ball was collected by Dan Gargan whose shot was once again deflected.

The second opportunity for the Rapids came off a header that went wide in the 18th minute. Cooke's cross found an open Thiago Martins but the Brazilian's header missed the target by inches.

Hernandez finally broke the deadlock in the 35th minute. The Argentine forward collected a pass from Martins at the top of the penalty area after a give-and-go. Hernandez' powerful low shot beat goalkeeper Pat Onstad to his near post for the 1-0 lead.

As the home team continued with their pressure during the first half, they had an apparent goal taken off the board in first half stoppage time. Martins was called for a push in the box right as defender Kelly Gray's clearance went into his own net.

Dwayne De Rosario nearly leveled the score in the 55th minute. A poor trap in the Rapids penalty area fell to the Canadian striker, but his shot went wide of Joe Cannon's net.

Hernandez continued the Rapids attack in the 68th minute. After receiving a pass from Clint Mathis he dribbled past three defenders but his shot was blocked by a fourth orange shirt which came sliding in.

Cannon, with help from his crossbar, kept the game level in the 71st minute. Brad Davis came down the left side and unleashed a bullet that the Colorado 'keeper was able to deflect thanks to his catlike reflexes and a swift touch that sent the ball off the woodwork.

It was Cannon again in the 87th minute when he blocked an onslaught of Dynamo opportunities while the Rapids played down a man as Gargan lay injured on the ground nearby.

The Rapids, with the help of Cannon's saves, managed to withstand Houston's intense pressure and hold the game at 1-0 through four minutes of stoppage time to win the game.

The Rapids will have two days to train before they head to Texas where they will take on FC Dallas in a 6 p.m. (MT) kickoff at Pizza Hut Park.

Colorado Rapids Man of the Match: Scoring Summary: COL - Hernandez (Martins) 35

LINEUPS: Colorado Rapids - Joe Cannon, Dan Gargan, Pablo Mastroeni (Chris Wingert 77, Hunter Freeman 90), Aitor Karanka, Terry Cooke, Daniel Wasson, Kyle Beckerman, Clint Mathis, Eric Denton, Nicolas Hernandez, Thiago Martins (Jacob Peterson 85)

Substitutes Not Used: Matt Jordan, Dedi Ben-Dayan, Colin Clark, Fabrice Noel

Houston Dynamo: Pat Onstad, Kelly Gray (Stuart Holden 81), Ryan Cochrane, Eddie Robinson, Craig Waibel (Kevin Goldthwaite 81), Brian Mullan, Ricardo Clark, Dwayne De Rosario, Brad Davis, Alejandro Moreno, Brian Ching

Substitutes Not Used: Zach Wells, Chris Aloisi, Patrick Ianni, Chris Wondolowski, Ronald Cerritos

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 26, 2006


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