The Colorado Rapids' highly-touted defense held firm for much of the 90 minutes, but it was not enough to stop the LA Galaxy from finding the back of the net and taking a lead in their Western Conference Semifinals series.
The Galaxy used a headed goal from Giovani dos Santos in the 55th minute to beat the Rapids, 1-0, at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. Dos Santos scored the winner that put LA ahead in the series after some great individual work from center back Jelle Van Damme, who nutmegged his defender before hitting a pass that dos Santos nodded in thanks to a deflection from Axel Sjoberg.
LA Galaxy Postgame Notes
LA Galaxy 1, Colorado Rapids 0
Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs: Western Conference Semifinals – Leg 1
StubHub Center – Los Angeles, California
Scoring Summary:
LA – Giovani dos Santos (Assisted by Jelle Van Damme) 55’
Misconduct Summary:
COL – Dominique Badji (caution) 12’
LA – Jelle Van Damme (caution) 45’
COL – Jared Watts (caution) 50’
COL – Jermaine Jones (caution) 60’
LA – Ashley Cole (caution) 67’
Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Brian Rowe; Robbie Rogers, Daniel Steres, Jelle Van Damme ©, Ashley Cole; Baggio Husidic (Jeff Larentowicz 82’), Sebastian Lletget; Landon Donovan, Giovani dos Santos (Robbie Keane 82’), Emmanuel Boateng (Mike Magee 70’); Alan Gordon
Substitutions not used: Clement Diop, A.J. DeLaGarza, Dave Romney, Steven Gerrard.
Head Coach: Bruce Arena
SHOTS: 11; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; CORNERS: 5; OFFSIDES: 2; SAVES: 1
Colorado Rapids: Tim Howard; Jared Watts, Axel Sjoberg, Marc Burch, Eric Miller; Shkelzen Gashi, Dillon Powers (Jermaine Jones HT), Michael Azira, Sam Cronin ©, Dominque Badji; Kevin Doyle (Marlon Hairston 70’)
Substitutions not used: Bobby Burling, Caleb Calvert, Mekeil Williams, Sebastian Le Toux, Zac MacMath
Head Coach: Pablo Mastroeni
SHOTS: 8; SHOTS ON GOAL: 1; CORNERS: 5; OFFSIDES: 0; SAVES: 3
Referee: Drew Fischer
Referee’s Assistants: Jeff Hosking and Brian Poeschel
4th Official: Chris Penso
Attendance: 24,487
