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Sunday, October 12, 1997

Dallas Burn remain confident, while Colorado Rapids surge

By Steve Davis / The Dallas Morning News

DALLAS -- The favorites have not prospered so far in the MLS playoffs. Thus, the Burn is taking no comfort in its mastery over Colorado, Dallas' next post-season opponent.

The Burn begins its best-of-three Western Conference finals series against the Rapids at noon Sunday at the Cotton Bowl. The old Fair Park stadium hasn't been a pleasant place for the Rapids, who are 0-4 there in two years and have been outscored, 11-3.

The Burn recorded two 4-1 wins over Colorado in Dallas this year. Including games in Denver, the Burn is 3-1 against Colorado this season, with a 12-5 goal advantage.

"But we've got to realize they just killed Kansas City, and that was a team that we were not able to beat this year," Burn Coach Dave Dir said.

A series win would put the Burn into MLS Cup '97 on Oct. 26 at RFK Stadium. The Western Conference winner meets either D.C. or Columbus, who begin their best-of-three series Sunday.

Colorado, coached by former Dallas Tornado defender Glenn Myernick, upset Western Conference champion Kansas City in the first round. Dallas and Columbus also posted first-round upsets.

Midfielder Paul Pravo paced the Rapids' upset with three goals and two assists in Colorado's 3-0 and 3-2 wins.

"Playoff intensity is something that you don't coach," Myernick said. "It just comes. When you score three goals in three gams in a row, you put yourself in position to win. At the end of the day, you don't get points for looking good."

Myernick isn't concerned with the Burn's dominance this year, citing what he called extenuating circumstances.

When the teams met April 20, both had played less than 48 hours earlier. Both were sluggish, but the Burn had a clear advantage as the home team. Plus, the Rapids were missing their best defenders, Marcelo Balboa and Peter Vermes, who were with the U.S. national team.

The Rapids visited for a 2 p.m. contest Aug. 31 and did not fare well in the stifling heat. Dallas scorched Colorado for a season-high 14 shots on goal as Dante Washington and Jason Kreis scored two goals each.

"It's an interesting scenario," Myernick said of the teams' series. "But we have all the reason in world to show that our 1-3 record against Dallas is not the true indication of our team."

Dallas can afford a little confidence, coming off a 3-0 win Wednesday over Los Angeles. It was the second consecutive shutout for a team that had lost three of its last four in the regular season.

Washington scored twice Wednesday, then left with a rotator cuff sprain. He is expected to play Sunday, which bodes well for Dallas. Washington had five goals in four games against the Rapids this year.

Dir said Washington, who had more goals than any other American-born forward this year, gives Colorado trouble with his speed. He said Vermes and Balboa are skilled, smart players, but can't catch Washington when he finds open spaces.

Former Swiss international Alain Sutter had his second consecutive impressive showing Wednesday, dismantling the Galaxy defense with a series of passes through the defense.

"I always enjoy the big games," said Sutter, a regular in European cup competitions and a starter for Switzerland's 1994 World Cup squad.

Dir said he doesn't expect to employ the same defensive system against Colorado. The Burn used three defenders all year, then used five against the Galaxy.

"We've always gone with high pressure and possession against Colorado, and it's worked, so I don't think we'll change," Dir said.

(c) 1997, The Dallas Morning News.

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