Rapids rattle Earthquakes to reach MLS final
Reuters - Sunday 14 November 2010, 07:19
NEW YORK - The Colorado Rapids advanced
to the MLS Cup final with a 1-0 win over the San Jose
Earthquakes in the Eastern Conference title decider on
Saturday.
The Rapids will be making its first appearance in the
Championship game since 1997 and will face the winner of
Sunday's Western Conference final between FC Dallas and hosts
LA Galaxy.
Defender Kosuke Kimura scored a rare but fortuitous goal
when his intended cross eluded Earthquakes goalie Jon Busch and
nestled in the net on 42 minutes.
"I just aimed for a good cross," Kimura told reporters. "I
saw Omar (Cummings) and Conor (Casey) inside and I just whipped
the ball in. I put it in a good area and no one touched it."
It was just Kimura's third goal in four seasons.
The Rapids were thwarted on a few glorious opportunities by
Busch, while at the other end, the Earthquakes shot wide on
most of their opportunities as they registered just one attempt
on target.
"Sometimes you need a bounce to go your way," said San
Jose's Chris Wondolowski, who was off target with a second
half-header. "I got it on top of the six-yard line in the
middle of the goal. That was horrible. I'll be having
nightmares over that."
The MLS Cup will be held in Toronto on November 21.