Puig brace sends Galaxy through, Charlotte level series on penalties

LA Galaxy were the first team to book their place in the MLS Cup semi-finals after sweeping aside the Colorado Rapids 4-1 to seal their best-of-three playoff series.

Gabriel Pec handed the Galaxy the lead in unusual fashion when Zack Steffen’s clearance deflected off the Brazilian and into the net with just eight minutes on the clock.

But parity was restored in stunning fashion when Oliver Larraz took aim from distance and fired home the leveller with a curled effort beyond the grasp of John McCarthy.

Greg Vanney’s side would, however, restore their advantage in the third minute of first-half stoppage time with another fine strike, this time Joseph Paintsil curled a strike in off the post.

The Galaxy’s passage was sealed late on with a brace from Riqui Puig, his second double against the Rapids in their two games in the postseason.

Puig poked the ball through Steffen’s legs, before racing through from the halfway line and rounding the Rapids goalkeeper to seal a memorable win at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

The visitors’ display shows they mean business in the playoffs. They had 13 shots to Colorado’s eight, ending the contest with a 1.76 expected goals (xG), limiting their opponents to just a 0.52 xG in the process.

Riqui came to play ball pic.twitter.com/eBJGTVAv9A

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) November 2, 2024

In the other playoff game, Kristijan Kahlina’s heroics helped Charlotte FC to a 3-1 victory in a penalty shootout against Orlando City.

Kahlina saved two spot-kicks to deny Nicolas Lodeiro and Duncan McGuire in the shootout, levelling up their best-of-three series heading into the final game.

In a game that lacked clear-cut chances, Charlotte’s Adilson Malanda came closest to opening the scoring, seeing his effort strike the woodwork in the 19th minute.

The Crown were ultimately worthy winners, though, given they had 12 shots to Orlando’s three, with the visitors mustering just 0.29 expected goals (xG) before penalties were required.

And Charlotte held their nerve in the shootout, converting all three of their penalties and helped by Kahlina, who kept a division-high 13 clean sheets in the Eastern Conference during the regular season.

“It was a wonderful game for me,” Kahlina said. “I didn’t have so much to do in 90 minutes, but I showed myself in penalties and helped my team.”