BURN LOOK TO EXTEND WIN STREAK SATURDAY AT COLORADO
The Burn will look to extend their winning streak to three matches as they travel to face the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, June 19 at 8:00 p.m. (CT) at Invesco Field. The Burn (4-4-2) is currently in fourth place in the West with 14 points, three points ahead of Colorado (2-3-5, 11 points).
BURN/RAPIDS SERIES NOTES
The Burn leads the all-time series vs. Colorado, 14-13-2 ... the two teams played to an opening day 1-1 draw at the Cotton Bowl this year after splitting the four-game series in 2003 ... Dallas is winless in their last four meetings in Colorado, posting an 0-3-1 record over that span ... the Burn has posted a 5-3-2 record in the last ten meetings between the two clubs ... Jason Kreis leads all Burn scorers vs. the Rapids with seven goals and seven assists for 21 career points.
KREIS JUST ONE GOAL SHY OF TYING ALL-TIME LEAGUE MARK
With his goal in the 12th minute Saturday, his first since suffering a torn ACL last August, forward Jason Kreis is now just one goal shy of tying Roy Lassiter for the all-time league mark for career goals. Kreis currently has 87 career strikes, while Lassiter finished his MLS career with 88 goals.
O'BRIEN, JOHNSON AND NHLEKO SPARK WINNING STREAK
The offensive struggles that the Burn endured in the early part of the 2004 campaign, in which the team averaged just under one goal per game, have largely been forgotten during the current winning streak. The Burn has scored a total of five goals in their last two matches and much of that can be attributed to the play of Ronnie O'Brien, Eddie Johnson and Toni Nhleko. O'Brien is currently enjoying a three-match scoring streak with a goal on May 29 @ Los Angeles, both assists in a 2-0 win @ the MetroStars and yet another assist in last Saturday's victory over New England. Johnson has found the net in the last two matches, netting the game-winner in both the Metros match as well as last weekend vs. the Revs. Johnson now leads the league in game-winning goals with three. Additionally, Nhleko has come off the bench in the last two matches and scored a crucial, game-clinching goal in both matches.
GARLICK OUT 4-6 WEEKS WITH HIGH ANKLE SPRAIN
Burn goalkeeper Scott Garlick will be out of action for 4-6 weeks after suffering a high right ankle sprain last Thursday in training. Garlick, who started the first nine matches of the season, had posted shutouts in four of those nine matches. Veteran 'keeper Jeff Cassar stepped in for Garlick Saturday vs. New England and made several huge saves when the game was tied that enabled the Burn to get the victory.
"It was a magnificent performance by Jeff," said Head Coach Colin Clarke after the match. "He made some great saves and kept us in the game. The one second half down low to his right was just a great save. He battled and the whole team battled. We didn't play well but we got a result and that's always nice."
GIBBS TO STAY WITH NATIONAL TEAM FOR SUNDAY'S QUALIFIER
Defender Cory Gibbs will miss his second consecutive match due to National Team duty when the Burn travels to Colorado this Saturday. Gibbs was on the bench for the United States' 3-0 victory over Grenada on Sunday at Crew Stadium and has been named to the roster for this Sunday's return leg in Grenada. A question and answer session with Gibbs, in which he talks about the Burn's performance vs. New England as well as his goings-on with the National Team, will appear on www.dallasburn.com this Thursday.
INJURY REPORT
Out:
Bobby Rhine, Right knee MCL sprain
BURN GAME-WATCHING PARTY SATURDAY AT TRINITY HALL
The Burn will host a game-watching party on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. at Trinity Hall. Fans in attendance at the party will have the opportunity to win prizes such as soccer balls and Burn gear. Trinity Hall is located at 75 and Mockingbird in the Mockingbird Station complex. For more information on Trinity Hall, visit their website at www.trinityhall.tv.
