MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER QUOTE SHEET
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2005 - COLORADO RAPIDS 1, D.C. UNITED 0
COLORADO RAPIDS HEAD COACH FERNANDO CLAVIJO
On the game:
"We really needed the three points. It was a hard game to prepare after 17 days without a competitive match, but everyone that was called upon responded very well. It was a strange night, everything was not flowing the way we wanted, we forced the game too much but we never stopped fighting and it paid off at the end. Very good result for us."
On the young players' performances:
"I'm extremely happy with the young guys. I said all along that we need a roster full of players that can step in at any time and under any circumstances and tonight we proved that we have such a roster. Danny Gargan was called upon today and he rose to the occasion doing a heck of a job. The only reason we took him out was because he was cramping. Fabrice Noel came in and also did very well. Even a guy like Terry Cooke who was playing outside of his position did an unbelievable job. The whole team in general did great."
On playing aggressively to take advantage of the altitude at INVESCO:
"We tried to go at them and make them run, but the problem in this game was that we also had been off for 17 days, so it was a bit hard on us too. Nothing that you do during the week can equal a game situation. The biggest concern for me right now with this team is that players like Jeff Cunnigham, who only played three minutes with the U.S. national team as well as Pablo Mastroeni, will go almost a month without a competitive match. The lack of games have affected us and you could see that tonight."
COLORADO RAPIDS MIDFIELDER TERRY COOKE
On his goal:
"It was nice to get on the score sheet. Obviously ,I always try to provide so that the team can score, but it is always nice to be on the end of one tonight."
On his freedom to go forward:
"In the first half they gave us more license to go forward and that obviously made our game much easier. I was able to get more touches on the ball. When you are on the wing sometimes you watch the game for longer periods then when you are on the middle of the pitch."
D.C. UNITED HEAD COACH PETER NOWAK
On the game:
"I don't want to find any excuses, but the performance in the first half was unacceptable and I let them know at halftime that we need to play better and I think the team picked up the tempo and the rhythm. In the first 10 minutes we had two chances to score but I'm not going to let my guys off the hook. The refereeing, right now, is getting out of hand. We have five games or four games and we have three red cards, it is unacceptable. The handball in the 89th minute was pretty obvious, everyone is fighting for their lives, fighting for the playoffs and we cannot lose games because someone had a different view of the game."
D.C. UNITED FORWARD FREDDY ADU
On the game:
"Unfortunately, a couple of calls didn't go our way and we lose again. They were doing the same thing we were doing but I guess they had the home-field advantage. I don't know what else to say. It is frustrating - week in week out you play well one week and the next you don't get the best performance that you can get."
