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Two in a row D.C. downs Rapids for second-straight MLS title
Posted: Saturday November 13, 1999 04:26 PM
WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNN/SI) -- Two years of Major League Soccer equals two rain-drenched championships for D.C. United. D.C. completed its quest for back-to-back titles with a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids in MLS Cup '97. D.C. got the chance to celebrate its win at home in front of 57,431 fans at RFK Stadium, the second-largest soccer crowd in the stadium's history, despite a steady downpour. United forward Jaime Moreno, who was named MLS Cup '97 Most Vaulable Player, got on the board in the 37th minute with the first goal of the match. "You have to be prepared to play in any conditions, and we were," Moreno said. David Vaudreuil began the scoring play with a midfield flick that sprung Tony Sanneh down the right side. Sanneh drove a cross through the box, which was left by Raul Diaz Arce for Moreno. MLS' No. 2 scorer in 1997 turned and fired, finding the back of the net with a right-footed liner. "Usually I can't remember my goals; I have to watch them first," Moreno said. "But Tony crossed the ball and Raul opened his legs. I just shot it and it went in. I was a little bit surprised that he didn't shoot the ball, because he was in a better position than me." The goal came just moments after Moreno got behind Colorado goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann, with only a hustling tackle by Chris Martinez on Richie Williams keeping the Rapids' net empty. United kept up the pressure in the second half, increasing its lead to 2-0 in the 68th minute on a header by Sanneh. Richie Williams found John Harkes on the left side of the box. D.C.'s captain cut back and placed a right-footed cross to Sanneh at the far post, and Sanneh hammered it home. D.C. finished with a 7-0 record in games where Sanneh scored a goal. Eleven minutes later, Colorado got on the board with a blast from Adrian Paz that found the side netting. David Patino set up the score by flicking Matt Kmosko's pass to Paz with his back to the goal. But the defending champions thwarted Colorado's frenzied attack in the final 10 minutes of the game to clinch the title. "After the game we watched them celebrate," Colorado defender Marcelo Balboa said. "We let that burn inside and give us something to fight for next year." D.C. Head Coach Bruce Arena said the combination of the title and the sellout crowd gives his team and the league momentum. "Let's celebrate a great day for professional soccer in this country," Arena said. "Who would have envisioned five years ago that this would have happened? I'm happy for our team, but I'm also happy for MLS." United advanced to the final after winning best-of-three series against New England and Columbus; Colorado had defeated Kansas City and Dallas.
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