Schmidt Leads Rapids to Win
Published on March 5, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
MIAMI - Colorado Rapids forward Casey Schmidt added to his League-leading preseason goal-scoring total as the Rapids came from behind to defeat the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1 on Wednesday night at the Orange Bowl in Miami in the second game of an MLS Spring Training Copa Carnaval doubleheader. Schmidt tallied his 10th goal in a match in which five players were also ejected as the game escalated in physicality in the second half. The Rapids improve to 6-1-0 in the preseason while the Galaxy (6-2-1) drop only their second match of the preseason.
The Rapids exhibited a more fluid offensive flow in the first half with strong running off the ball which resulted in several attacks around the Galaxy penalty area. However, Los Angeles struck first on a play which originated from a set piece in the 29th minute. Galaxy forward Gavin Glinton shielded a ball that was deflected high in the air off a free kick. As he trapped the ball on the ground in the Rapids' six-yard box, it was his teammate Danny Califf who reacted first to Glinton's move, sliding to poke the ball home from close range.
Three minutes before the break, Galaxy central defender Alexi Lalas was ejected after receiving his second yellow card for a foul on Schmidt. Just three minutes later the Rapids equalized in first-half injury time as a weak pass by goalkeeper Kevin Hartman to Califf was intercepted by Rapids forward Chris Carrieri, who sent the ball first time inside the right post, beating Hartman who was off his line.
Colorado continued applying the pressure against the 10-man Galaxy in the second half and Kyle Beckerman saw his 47th minute penalty kick saved by Hartman, who brought down Schmidt in the box.
Beckerman made up for the penalty kick failure by knocking home a corner kick which was deflected in the box in the 62nd minute, giving the Rapids a 2-1 lead. But just three minutes later Beckerman became the first of four players to be ejected in the second half after receiving his second yellow card. Ezra Hendrickson (LA), Wes Hart (Colorado) and Isaias Bardales (LA) were also sent off by the end of the match.
Schmidt added to his League-leading goal tally in the 69th minute when he capitalized on a misdirected back pass by the Galaxy's Cobi Jones. The ball fell into the path of the speedy and active Schmidt who dribbled into the box, rounded Hartman and slotted home to put the game away at 3-1.
Both clubs return to action against foreign opponents. The Rapids take on Mexican club Santos Laguna in a March 12 international exhibition at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, NV. The Galaxy open competition in the CONCACAF Champions Cup with a Round of 16 first-leg game in Honduras against Central American club power Motagua.
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