Football: Rapids Oust Gerrard's Galaxy, Toronto Humble NYCFC In MLS Cup Playoffs

LOS ANGELES, Nov 7, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 07th Nov, 2016 ) - Colorado goalkeeper Tim Howard made two saves in a penalty shootout Sunday to advance the Rapids over the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Major League Soccer playoffs.

The Rapids won 3-1 on penalties after a 1-0 victory in the second leg of a two-match MLS Cup Western Conference semi-final series left the teams deadlocked 1-1 on aggregate. Los Angeles won the opening leg 1-0 at home but lost the second leg 1-0 Sunday on a goal by Colorado's Swiss midfielder Shkelzen Gashi in the 36th minute.

The triumph puts Colorado into the Western Conference two-leg final against either FC Dallas or the Seattle Sounders, who were set to meet later Sunday. Seattle have a 3-0 edge after the first leg.

Sunday's match may have been the final Galaxy appearance for England's Steven Gerrard, who opened the scoring in the penalty showdown only to have Kevin Doyle equalize for Colorado.

Giovani dos Santos sent his kick over the crossbar to sting the Galaxy and Frenchman Sebastien Le Toux put Colorado ahead to stay with his attempt into the open left half of the net.

England's Ashley Cole saw his first-ever competitive penalty kick knocked aside by Howard, who dived to his right to deny the Galaxy star. Colorado's Marco Pappa put the hosts on the brink with a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner.

Howard ended matters with another diving save to the right to deny the Galaxy's Jeff Larentowicz. "We got into the last 15, 20 minutes, we looked tired. In the overtime, we were dead," Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said of the Rapids' advantage in their high altitude ground.