Rapids set home record vs. DC
Zizi Roberts gave the Rapids a first-half lead, United's Josh Gros scored his first MLS goal to pull the visitors level after the break. But a goal from Jean-Philippe Peguero answered that strike just four minutes later to give the Rapids the victory.
United coach Peter Nowak looked to change his team's fortunes after a 4-2 midweek loss to Los Angeles with a new formation that featured four in the back and Freddy Adu in an attacking role behind lone striker Jaime Moreno in a five-man midfield. Adu nearly broke open the scoring after just seven minutes when he outraced defender Nat Borchers to go in alone on Colorado 'keeper Joe Cannon, but his attempt was parried away.
GAME COVERAGE | |
 1 |
- 2
 |
| |
But as it came down in the middle of the area, Peguero hit it with a full overhead kick, Roberts quickly reacting to redirect the ball over United debutante 'keeper Troy Perkins from the heart of the goal area and into the roof of the net.
Yet United started the second half off with a goal in the 47th minute to even terms. Adu played the ball down the right flank for Earnie Stewart, who sent the ball sharply across the penalty area towards the far post. Rookie midfielder Gros, making a deep run from the back, rushed onto the ball and snapped a crisp, rising ball over Cannon for his first career MLS goal.
But it took just four minutes for Colorado to retake the lead. Chris Henderson swung a big cross from the right corner to Chung at the far post, and his snap header back across the face of goal found Peguero diving in, where he redirected it past Perkins from close range for his third goal of the season.
The assist marked the 101st point for Henderson in a Rapids uniform, making him the club's all-time points scoring leader, surpassing former Rapids regular Paul Bravo (100 career points).
United came close to drawing level again in the 81st minute when second-half substitute Ronald Cerritos got to the end of a Stewart cross and nodded a diving header out of the reach of Cannon, only for it to come back off the post.
Colorado (2-1-4, 10 points) extended its home unbeaten streak to an MLS-record 16 league matches, since back to a 2-0 loss to the MetroStars on May 17, 2003. The Rapids travel to the new Soldier Field on Saturday to face the Chicago Fire at 8:30 p.m. ET. D.C. United (2-4-3, 9 points) will head to Gillette Stadium to face the New England Revolution live on Fox Sports World and Fox Sports en Espanol (7:30 p.m. ET).
MLSnet.com Man of the Match: Jean-Philippe Peguero (Colorado Rapids)
D.C. United (2-4-3) vs. Colorado Rapids (2-1-4)
May 22, 2004 -- Invesco Field at Mile High
Scoring Summary:
COL -- Zizi Roberts 1 (Jean Philippe Peguero 2) 13
DC -- Joshua Gros 1 (Earnie Stewart 3, Freddy Adu 1) 48
COL -- Jean Philippe Peguero 3 (Mark Chung 2, Chris Henderson 2) 51
D.C. United -- Troy Perkins, Mike Petke, Brandon Prideaux, David Stokes, Bryan Namoff, Brian Carroll, Joshua Gros, Dema Kovalenko (Ronald Cerritos 79), Earnie Stewart, Jaime Moreno, Freddy Adu (Alecko Eskandarian 80).
Substitutes Not Used: Eliseo Quintanilla, Nick Rimando, Doug Warren.
TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (3 tied with 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (6 tied with 1); FOULS: 12 (Mike Petke 3); OFFSIDES: 5 (Jaime Moreno 4); CORNER KICKS: 8 (Earnie Stewart 5); SAVES: 4 (Troy Perkins 4)
Colorado Rapids -- Joe Cannon, Ritchie Kotschau, Nat Borchers, Pablo Mastroeni, Antonio de la Torre, Mark Chung, Kyle Beckerman, Daryl Powell, Chris Henderson, Zizi Roberts (Seth Trembly 89), Jean Philippe Peguero (Matt Crawford 77).
Substitutes Not Used: Adrian Cann, David Castellanos, Jordan Cila, Zach Kingsley, John Spencer, Gary Sullivan, Scott Vallow.
TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Zizi Roberts 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Mark Chung 2); FOULS: 10 (3 tied with 2); OFFSIDES: 9 (Zizi Roberts 6); CORNER KICKS: 5 (Antonio de la Torre 2); SAVES: 5 (Joe Cannon 5)
Misconduct Summary:
DC -- Mike Petke (caution; Dissent) 16
COL -- Pablo Mastroeni (caution; Reckless Foul) 30
DC -- Jaime Moreno (caution; Reckless Foul) 39
DC -- Alecko Eskandarian (caution; Reckless Foul) 83
Referee: Ramon Hernandez
Referee's Assistants: -Steven Davidson; Fabio Tovar
4th Official: Ricardo Salazar
Attendance: 31,443
Time of Game: 1:52
Weather: Cloudy-and-67-degrees
All Statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.
