Rapids washed out of top four by Galaxy

Colorado Rapids 1-3 LA Galaxy

COMMERCE CITY, CO–The Rapids went ahead just before halftime and might be ending the night in second place in the Western Conference. Instead, LA scored three times in the second half and the Rapids were dropped to sixth after results elsewhere. Galaxy went out 3-1 winners at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park and maintained a six-point lead in the Western Conference with two games to play. Mathematically, only LAFC can catch them, but would need to get seven of nine points in their final three matches while Galaxy lose their remaining two.

Connor Ronan put the Rapids ahead just before halftime with a shot from the corner of the box that found the back of the net that left no chance for John McCarthy. However, the second half would be all Galaxy. Five minutes  in, Marky Deglado sent a thru-ball in to Gabriel Pec on a counter and his shot would sneak past Zack Steffen for the equalizer.

Riqui Puig gives Galaxy the lead. (Photo: Linda Brothers)

In the 59th minute, Pec turned provider as he fed Riqui Puig who would sidestep one defender and score from the center edge of the area to put Galaxy ahead. Puig would add insurance a minute into stoppage time on yet another counter to give Galaxy the three points and move closer to the top seen in the West.

The Rapids are now three points behind fourth-place Real Salt Lake in the table. They will look to rebound Saturday at home to Seattle (7:30pm MT, Apple TV). LA Galaxy will look to clinch the Western Conference with a win at home over Austin FC on Saturday (7:30pm PT, Apple TV).

For more of Linda Brothers’s photos from the evening at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, please click on the link to her gallery.