Denver, CO, June 20, 2004 (CSA) — The Rapids' Chris Henderson tied Marcelo Balboa's record for the most number of games played in a Colorado Rapids uniform with 151 appearances. At the same time, he prevented the Rapids from getting closer to beating the record for consecutive minutes by a club without a goal.

With a fascinating display of patience and fortitude, Henderson's left foot directed a one-touch laser past the outstretched hand of Dallas Burn goalkeeper Jeff Cassar to save the Rapids and tie the game for good at 1-1 in the 51st minute.

Rapids right winger Antonio De la Torre sent a searching ball to the far left side of the field where Rey Ángel Martinez —Cuba's first player ever to sign with MLS in his first league start— chested it down at the touchline and redirected the ball through the six-yard box. Cassar attempted to punch the cross clear, but only redirected a long blooper about 10 yards out where Henderson made no mistakes in finishing.

Communication was key in giving the experienced midfielder his opportunity.

"I heard [Rapids forward John] Spencer tell me 'time,'" said Henderson, "and knew I could focus on a good shot, aimed it far post and it went in."

Both of Henderson's goals in 2004 have resulted in the Rapids taking away extra points from a game. Against the San Jose Earthquakes earlier in the season he delivered the game-winner, and his second goal of the season Saturday against Dallas gave the Rapids a point.

Unfortunately, the Rapids were playing for three points and a win at home.

An indecisive and mediocre first half combined with typical midseason national team call-ups, suspensions and injuries on both sides to ensure the game lacked the flow and pace two teams would normally hope to present the crowd at this point of the season.

Along with personnel absences, both teams have allowed more goals than they have scored. So there would not even be the hoped-for scramble as bottom teams of the Western Conference vie for fourth position and the final playoff spot.

The Rapids were missing Mark Chung (injury, not expected to travel to Columbus next week), Pablo Mastroeni (with the U.S. Men's National Team), Jean-Philippe Peguero (Haitian National Team duty), and Zizi Roberts (knee swelling).

Dallas also arrived without a slew of starters, facing injuries to goalkeeper Scott Garlick and forwards Bobby Rhine and Toni Nhleko, a national team call-up for defender Cory Gibbs, and a two-game suspension being served by midfield starter Simo Valakari.

The 9,277 fans on hand were treated to a junior volleyball effort that highlighted Henderson on the right for the Rapids and the energetic Ronnie O'Brien on Burn's right wing. Longballs ruled the first half and both teams created their best chances bypassing the midfield.

Dallas was listed as a 4-4-2 formation, with two forwards up top. Missing two strikers, they immediately fell into a defensive 4-5-1 approach with Eddie Johnson as the lone forward up top.

With a smile, Dallas Head Coach Colin Clarke said after the game, "I like to say we played a 4-3-3."

Johnson was more direct: "We were always going with a 4-5-1."

And Johnson felt the pressure of this approach.

"It was frustrating," he said. "I'm not used to playing up top alone. I'd get the ball and there were not a lot of options for me. Hopefully, next week we will go back to our normal formation."

Halftime saw both teams in the locker room nursing a 0-0 tie.

But the opening minutes of the second half offered hope for an exciting 45 minutes of play.

In the 48th minute, Rapids midfielder Darryl Powell went down after a hard-but-fair challenge and stayed down, obviously signaling for medical treatment. The referee allowed the game to play on.

An uncertain Colorado defense attempted to regroup as a slow and confused attack developed in the Burn's offensive third. The Rapids repeatedly failed to clear the ball, finally turning it over. The Burn took control and maintained possession in a meandering 25-second buildup.

"It started when we gave the ball away," said Rapids goalkeeper Joe Cannon. "Everything was in such slow motion."

After a deft move to turn with the ball away from his defender, Burn forward Jason Kreis found himself alone in the box with the ball at his feet.

Cannon said Kreis was able to control Burn midfielder Oscar Pareja's pass into the box, look up and get his bearings, see the keeper coming at him, and have enough time to choose his path.

Kreis's choice was a cheeky dead-ball chip shot over an onrushing Cannon and into the back of the net to open the scoring, 1-0, in favor of Dallas. With the tally in the 49th minute, Kreis tied the MLS all-time scoring record with 88 goals, held by Roy Lassiter.

"I don't understand how he had so much time," said Cannon. "I came out to cut off the angle." Even as the ball sailed over his head, the keeper felt that a Rapids defender must have slid into position behind him to protect the post. This didn't happen and the ball crossed the goal line.

"Kudos to [Kreis], it was a nice goal," Cannon concluded.

Two minutes later, De la Torre and Martinez were attributed with assists as Henderson slammed home the midair volley to tie the game 1-1.

The 60th minute saw the reintroduction of Cannon's best friend, as the near post defeated a smashing header by Johnson off a Dallas corner.

The Rapids added strong pressure in the final 20 minutes of play, pushing forward and engaging on defense in the Burn's defensive half, even as Dallas seemed to tire and lose cohesiveness in possessing the ball.

"They got tired, completely knackered, and [players like O'Brien] were not able to make those long runs anymore," said Cannon.

But Cassar's great double save in the 70th minute was indicative of the Rapids' final surges.

Martinez delivered a gut-punching shot at Cassar from the top of the 18-yard box, and the Burn keeper deflected the ball back into play. De la Torre followed up on the rebound with a monster left-footed smash on target, but Cassar's right hand shot out with accuracy and blinding speed to deflect it wide.

The majority of the Rapids opportunities would go wide right or left, but they still managed a respectable six shots on goal, equaling their total shots on frame from the previous three games.

Part of this newfound aggressiveness came from the efforts of the new forward Martinez. Rapids Head Coach Tim Hankinson noted that "Rey is doing good things for us, he can break down the defense, and that is something we've been lacking."

Henderson added that "Rey's unpredictability" has already allowed him to begin "opening up opponents during one-on-one" encounters with the defense. Henderson believes more playing time will allow the Rapids attack to link up better with their new teammate's style of play.

Both sides struggled to maintain their composure as the game progressed. Frustration was evident as referee Kevin Stott handed out eight yellow cards (four for each club), delivering the Rapids their second ejection of 2004 in the 87th minute as Powell ran down Johnson from behind and received his second caution of the evening.

Spencer's disgust at his own play —which was riddled with poor last touches and a lack of finishing— finally boiled over in the 82nd minute when he received the seldom-used "Game Disrepute" yellow caution, and was frequently seen voicing his displeasure to fellow players on both teams, the referees, the ball, and himself.

As another soccer Saturday came to a close, one team went home pleased to have met expectations, and one did not.

Clarke felt that "it is hard to come into Denver and play at altitude in a one-off game. The Rapids have lost only once in 18 games at home, so we're happy to come away with a point."

Responding to whether the bench has stepped up for holes in the starting lineup, Clarke said, "Everyone's been magnificent and I can't ask for anything more."

Hankinson had a different perspective on his team's performance and future strategies.

"It's about...playing smart and doing better with our chances," he said.

"If we get five chances and can only score one and we need two or three goals to win, we are going to have to start creating 15 good chances."

The Rapids coach may also be feeling the heat of entering the home locker room once again without a win.

To this reporter's observation that the Burn's O'Brien was dangerous in the first half with free reign down the right side while being contained in the final 45 minutes, Hankinson interrupted with a definitive response.

"I don't believe that for a second," Hankinson said sharply. "I think that [Matt] Crawford did a great job containing [O'Brien]. And we didn't see much of him the second half."

To the follow-up suggestion that O'Brien may have had as many as seven crosses attempted in the first half, Hankinson replied, "We were watching different games. Next question."

Fans viewing the game drew their own conclusions. For the record, O'Brien had eight crosses, a weak dribbler shot on target, and earned both corner kicks for Dallas in the first half.

Post-game frustration aside, in the final analysis, Hankinson feels that "getting the goal and [coming back to tie] mean nothing compared to not getting the results."

With two consecutive road games looming, the Rapids have no illusions.

"The tie at home was not enough," said Henderson. "We're disappointed, and now we have to win on the road."

The Rapids coach also recognized the MLS reality that a constantly shifting starting lineup is no excuse for not winning games.

"It never seems like we have a slate that is full, where we can put our best foot forward," Hankinson said, "but a lot of teams are going through it and finding a way to win, and we're not."

Scoring Summary:

DAL -- Jason Kreis (Oscar Pareja ) 49
COL -- Chris Henderson (Rey Angel Martinez ) 51

Dallas Burn: Jeff Cassar, Steve Jolley, Philip Salyer, Chris Gbandi, Matt Behncke, Ronnie O'Brien, Oscar Pareja (Eric Quill 58), Carey Talley, Brad Davis (Jordan Stone 71), Eddie Johnson, Jason Kreis.

Substitutes Not Used: Peter Billmeyer, Clarence Goodson, Ty Maurin.

Colorado Rapids: Joe Cannon, Antonio de la Torre, Nat Borchers, Ritchie Kotschau, Matt Crawford, Chris Henderson, Kyle Beckerman (Jordan Cila 83), Daryl Powell, Seth Trembly (Joey DiGiamarino 59), Rey Angel Martinez (Adrian Cann 89), John Spencer.

Substitutes Not Used: Mark Chung, Michael Erush, Zizi Roberts, Gary Sullivan, Scott Vallow.

Referee: Kevin Stott
Referee's Assistants: Kermit Quisenberry; Fabio Tovar
4th Official: Hilario Grajeda
Attendance: 9,277
Time of Game: 1:48
Weather: Cloudy-and-60-degrees

Bilfish can be reached at bilfish@cybersoccernews.com.
© Fisher/Cyber Soccer Associates, LLC 2004