COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – The LA Galaxy advance to the next round of the Major League Soccer playoffs after a comfortable 4-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids.

The result secures LA’s back-to-back wins in the best-of-three series, continuing the remarkable turnaround for the club this season. The team that missed the playoffs last season got off to another strong start – unfortunately at the hands, or technically, of Zack Steffen.

The USA goalkeeper tried to fend off a long ball pass from the Galaxy, but shot it too low and directly into Gabriel Pec. With the goal wide open, the rising MLS star easily converted to give LA a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute. Unlike the opening game of the first round, which LA won 5-0, the Rapids would find a quick answer. Oliver Larraz shot a rocket from the top corner to equalize in the 19th minute. The excitement would be short-lived.

Colorado, with star midfielder Djordje Mihailovic returning from injury, was seconds away from going into halftime with the score 1-1, but Joseph Paintsil would shift the momentum to the visitors. The speedy winger got ahead of Reggie Cannon and used the goal post to his advantage to give the Galaxy a 2-1 lead at halftime. Then Riqui Puig took over. The former Barcelona player seemed to come back to life in the 90th minute, scoring two world-class scores in three minutes to put the contest on hold in LA’s favour.

The Rapids have also been one of the league’s top turnarounds this season, rising from last place in the Western Conference last year to seventh this season. Coach of the Year finalist Chris Armas and his team will look to build on the positive foundation of this campaign next season.

For the number 2 seeded Galaxy, the team is now waiting for the winner of the Real Salt Lake vs. Minnesota United series. It will also have home advantage in the coming series.