This wasn’t the prettiest game, but whatever it lacked in beauty was compensated with drama.
Major League Soccer Playoffs, Leg 2: Rapids To Face Quakes In Conference Finals
The Colorado Rapids entered with a one-goal aggregate lead, were promptly outplayed, eventually went down a goal, tied it up in the 84th minute and then won in a penalty shootout.
Conor Casey played the hero for the Rapids, scoring the equalizing goal off a pass from Omar Cummings and converting his penalty kick in the shootout.
The game was just the latest example of how precarious one-goal leads are in the MLS playoffs. Of the 24 times that the first leg has ended with no more than a goal separating the two teams, the road team has now managed to advance in 11 of them. That includes the road team winning three of the four series that were decided via penalty shootout.
The Rapids entered this one holding a 1-0 lead and feeling confident after dominating the Crew in the first leg. That changed almost immediately in this one. The Crew came out like a team possessed and nearly tied the aggregate three separate times in the first 20 minutes before Eddie Gaven finally brought it level in the 22nd minute.
Robbie Rogers eventually gave the Crew their first lead of the series in the 70th minute. Rogers was sent free on a through ball from Emmanuel Ekpo, fought off a defender and then beat Rapids keeper Matt Pickens inside the far post. Guillermo Barros Schelotto had a great chance to extend that lead, but he missed well high on a wide open shot from about 20 yards out in the 77th minute.
That miss proved significant. Cummings beat his mark to find Casey streaking toward the near post. As they had done six times during the regular season, the pair connected on a goal.
The Rapids will now host the Quakes in the Eastern Conference finals on Nov. 13.
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