Colorado latest news

[Ricochet]

::talksocc

[Deuce]

Colorado is established and they get the same thing as the Chivas I smell reverse discrimination :happy1: :up:

[Frank Cunha]

just got a nice article about Colorado


Tending to the youth

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,...429082,00.html

[Frank Cunha]

Colorado relying on "positive energy"

By Brian Forbes
Special to The Denver Post





It's a simple plan. A Rapids victory against the defending champion San Jose Earthquakes at 7 p.m. Saturday at Invesco Field at Mile High will clinch a playoff berth.

Despite Saturday's 1-0 loss in Kansas City, Colorado (10-9-9, 39 points) is tied for second in the Western Conference with Los Angeles and leads San Jose (9-10-8) by four points.

If the Rapids tie the Earthquakes, they still can wrap up their third consecutive playoff appearance if New England defeats the visiting Chicago Burn on Saturday.

"There's no avoiding it - it's big," Rapids coach Tim Hankinson said of Saturday's showdown. "We continue to remind the players what attracted them to this game was the love of the sport, but it's also the competition. The bigger games are made for those in it for fun and competition."


San Jose should offer plenty of both. Colorado is 1-1-1 this season against the Earthquakes. In their only appearance at Invesco Field this season, the Earthquakes lost to the Rapids 1-0 on a goal from Chris Henderson.

If the Rapids lose, they will have to wait until next Saturday to see what their playoff situation is. Colorado wraps up its regular season Oct. 16 against Columbus.

Defensive midfielder Pablo Mastroeni, who took over the captain's armband after it was relinquished last week by John Spencer, said the team is emotionally ready for San Jose.

"The team last year would have come into a game like this with a lot of nerves," Mastroeni said. "Instead now it's a lot of positive energy."


Spencer remains mum
Spencer said Tuesday he won't be speaking with the media for the remainder of the season. After announcing his decision to give up his role of team captain, Spencer issued the following statement on the team's website:

"It was a decision that had been building up for a couple of weeks. My 2004 season has been disappointing for me, and I thought that this would be a good time to give the team a positive kick in the backside."


Injury report
The Rapids listed Joey DiGiamarino (concussion), Darryl Powell (knee sprain), Zizi Roberts (knee), Jeff Stewart (knee) and Gary Sullivan (lower leg) out for Saturday's match. Forward Jean Philippe Peguero (abdominal strain) is questionable.

Defender Antonio de la Torre will miss his first start of the season against the Earthquakes while he serves a one-game suspension for yellow-card accumulation.

For San Jose, Chris Ronér (ankle surgery) is out; Chris Brown (hamstring) is questionable; Richard Mulrooney (neck) and Brian Ching (quadriceps) are probable.


Dream debut
Chicago forward Andy Herron scored two goals in his first-team debut Saturday to lead the Fire to a 2-0 victory over New England. Herron, who was making only his second appearance for the Fire since arriving from Club Sport Herediano in Costa Rica, was named MLS player of the week.


Footnotes
Western Conference leader Kansas City can clinch home- field advantage through the playoffs with a victory Saturday over Los Angeles at the Home Depot Center. ... Saturday's match at Giants Stadium between the MetroStars and D.C. United will be the third and final leg of the Atlantic Cup, a trophy contested between the clubs since 2002. The teams split victories in two meetings this season. The MetroStars have clinched a playoff spot while United is third in the Eastern Conference, six points clear of the last-place Revolution. ... Former MetroStars forward Clint Mathis reportedly will not be fined for the gesture he directed toward his coach after scoring for Germany's Hann- over 96 last weekend.

[Frank Cunha]

40m in the first half

San Jose -0-Colorado-1

[Frank Cunha]

penalty against Colorado

[Frank Cunha]

Joe Cannon save the penalty

still
Colorado-1-San Jose-0

[revolutionfan]

Originally posted by Frank Cunha
Joe Cannon save the penalty

He is the league MVP, IMO.

[Frank Cunha]

still 1-0 Colorado

[revolutionfan]

Dero scored, now it's 1-1

[Frank Cunha]

is Joe Cannon that good?

[Frank Cunha]

2. MLS CONFIDENTIAL: Ref Watch

By Ridge Mahoney, Senior Editor

A few incidents over the past few weekends of MLS play bear scrutiny.

Kudos to Joe Cannon for snuffing Ronnie Ekelund's penalty kick in the
Rapids-Quakes 1-1 tie last Saturday, but how could referee Ricardo Salazar
and his assistants not notice Cannon was several yards off the goal line
when the ball was kicked?

Cannon also escaped punishment despite denying Donovan a clear goalscoring
opportunity when he tripped the Quakes forward.

Although referees are supposed to punish such offenses with a red card, in
practice a yellow card is often substituted, since the team suffering the
foul is awarded a penalty kick. In the case of Cannon, however, he didn't
get a card, and saved the penalty as well.

During the tumultuous D.C. United-Columbus match Sept. 25 defender Ryan
Nelsen was sent off for a second yellow card. Nelsen got his first yellow
for vehemently protesting a foul called on a teammate; perhaps he mistakenly
believed his captain's armband permits him such license. The captain may
request an explanation from the referee but the official is under no
obligation to give one. And Nelsen's protest was so vituperative it
certainly could be deemed dissent.

Nelsen's second caution was given for a late tackle near the sideline on
Edson Buddle. The challenge was reckless, if not vicious, and although
Buddle evaded the worst of it, Nelsen barreled into the tackle quite late.
He cursed at referee Jair Marrufo upon being sent off and was subsequently
fined an additional $250 on top of the automatic $250 fine for a red card.

Many times this season referees haven't given out second cautions when they
were warranted. One of the more notable examples was Simo Valakari of
Dallas, who was cautioned for wiping out Landon Donovan with a wild tackle
in the first minute of their game July 7, and later in the first half
blatantly halted Donovan's dribble by pulling him back by the jersey.

Valakari not only stayed on the field, he floated a shot into the top corner
with two minutes remaining to win the game, 2-1. Hector Tobon was the
referee for that match.

Marrufo called a penalty kick Sept. 18 in the Revs' 6-1 rout of the Rapids
when Pablo Mastroeni put his hand up for protection and blocked the ball. As
harsh as it may appear, Marrufo's call was correct.

A player may not intentionally move his arms or hands to block the ball for
any reason, whether it be for protection or otherwise. An exception is the
case of a player standing in a wall, who positions his arms and hands for
protection prior to the kick being taken.

[revolutionfan]

Originally posted by Frank Cunha
is Joe Cannon that good?

IMO, Yes.

[Deuce]

Cannon is good...MVP that's pushing it I dont know if hes that good....

[Frank Cunha]

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR
1. ROBIN FRASER: Crew often starts three rookies, yet plays with poise
thanks to his leadership