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Big Ben

Olsen provides winner for D.C

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Posted: Sunday August 29, 1999 12:36 AM

Ben Olsen's goal remained the difference even after late efforts by Colorado, including a header that was waved off. Mark Lyons/Allsport

DENVER (CNN/SI) -- D.C. United became the first MLS team to clinch a spot in the postseason, beating the Colorado Rapids 1-0 at Mile High Stadium on Saturday night.

Midfielder Ben Olsen provided the lone goal in the game between the two conference leaders. The strike was his fifth goal of the season, and his third game-winning tally.

Olsen netted when forward Jaime Moreno played a ball back from the penalty box to Geoff Aunger, whose looping ball found Olsen beating Ross Paule and the Rapids' offside trap. Olsen slammed the ball past Colorado goalkeeper Ian Feuer in the 16th minute.

United (19-7, 47 points) can finish no lower than second place in the Eastern Conference, ahead of Tampa Bay, Miami and New England, the three teams battling for the two remaining playoff spots.

Late-game heroics were almost in store once again for Colorado forward Jorge Dely Valdes. His headed goal in the 86th minute was waved off following a foul in the box by Marcelo Balboa, who saw numerous opportunities to knot the game for the Rapids. He came close to equalizing with a 23-yard blast that went just wide in the 88th minute. Balboa, whose free kick with 10 minutes remaining was juggled by D.C. United goalkeeper Mark Simpson, also missed a volley with 22 seconds on the clock, sending his offering high over the empty net.

Colorado (16-8, 42 points) fell to 4-4 in its last eight games after opening the season 12-4 and building its Western Conference lead, which has now dwindled to two points after Chicago's regulation win at home and Dallas' 1-0 win against Los Angeles. The Rapids have lost three of its last four games and due to tonight's results, three points separate the top four Western Conference squads.

Despite being outshot 19-9 overall and 7-3 in shots on goal, D.C. United improved to 11-3 on the road this season.

 

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