This date in MLS history, July 4

July 4, 11:30 AMMLS ExaminerCharlie Corr

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This article is part of an off-and-on "This date in MLS history" series in July featuring thrilling Major League Soccer games with multiple stoppage-time goals.

In 2003, Mark Chung scored two goals as he led the Colorado Rapids to a 3-2 comeback victory against the Kansas City Wizards in front of a huge crowd of 60,142 fans at Invesco Field at Mile High.

Chung also had an ambitious message that day for his teammates: "At halftime I asked them, 'Do you want a couple of goals?'"

He definitely delivered. Chung gave the Rapids a 2-1 lead in the 77th minute. But the Wizards responded when Stephen Armstrong scored in stoppage time to tie the score at 2-all.

Chung was not finished, however, adding a stoppage-time tally of his own for the 3-2 victory.

"He backed up his words tonight, and that's what we need," Rapids head coach Tim Hankinson said. "We need guys to be brave and bold and put it on the line, and back it up with performance."

The victory was an important one for Colorado, which had struggled at the start of the season. It lifted the Rapids out of last place in the Western Conference with a 3-8-3 record, jumping ahead of the Dallas Burn. It was the start of a tremendous run, posting a 9-1-3 record during a 13-game stretch from July 4 to Oct. 1, and carrying them from last to second in the West.

Chung would tie a career high with 11 goals for a second straight season.

This July 4 matchup was a precursor to the playoffs, where the Wizards got their revenge, defeating the Rapids, 3-1, on aggregate in the first round of the postseason.

July's multi-stoppage-time moments:

• July 2, 2003: Quakes' Donovan salvages point vs. MetroStars

• July 4, 2003: Rapids' Chung follows through with halftime promise

• July 7, 2001: Wizards rebound from embarrassing 7-0 loss to Fire

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• Looking for other significant topics within my This date in MLS history series? CLICK HERE for the complete archives at Examiner.com.

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Send a message: E-mail your comments or thoughts to charliecorr@gmail.com.

Charlie Corr is a freelance sports writer based in Chicago. In addition to his Major League Soccer duties, he is the Chicago Sports Examiner and the creator of a Chicago-based soccer Web site, SlideTackles.net.

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