Rapids knocked out of MLS Cup playoffs by L.A. Galaxy

Gross misfortune, a goal off the post and two late, late goals ended the Colorado Rapids’ season on Friday night.

Much was improved from an abysmal 5-0 loss six days earlier in California, and these 90 minutes were the best the Rapids have played in all four matchups against the L.A. Galaxy this season.

But a banged-up Rapids team — even if they had Djordje Mihailovic back from an ankle injury — ultimately could not find a late equalizer and lost, 4-1, thanks to two stoppage-time goals from Riqui Puig.

“In January, you set off on a journey and you have goals. The ultimate prize, call it MLS Cup, you always set and you’re on the hunt for that thing and you get shown that most often — and for some, you never get it — the season ends at some point,” Rapids coach Chris Armas said. “Most often, this is kind of how it goes and it makes you hungry to come back for more. It’s what keeps me going.

“I reminded the players that as tough as it feels right now, that’s a feeling you never want to have, so you just fight to be the last one standing and that’s the reality of sport.”

L.A. took the lead early with one of the craziest unlucky moments you’ll see on a soccer pitch. Rapids keeper Zack Steffen had an easy clearance on the left side of the 18-yard box, about six yards from the touch line, with a closing Gabriel Pec to worry about. He beamed the ball into a jumping Pec, and it ricocheted at an improbable angle to open the scoring in the eighth minute.

Silence from all 16,010 Rapids fans in attendance. Momentary dejection for all 11 Rapids players on the field. But they did not stay in that frame of mind.

As it had in seven minutes before the goal, Colorado pressed the issue and was the stronger team.

Against bad teams this season, the Rapids have been great when going down, leading the league with 19 points from losing positions. Against good teams, having to chase the game has been one of Colorado’s most glaring weaknesses. But in the 19th minute, they found what they were pursuing.

Oliver Larraz, who had scored just two goals in all competitions in his first full year with the first team, sent a laser to the top right from 24 yards away without a defender in his vicinity.

Larraz seems to have an extra gear when it comes to big games and scoring big goals within them. On July 4, he flicked on a wonderful header to tie a game against Sporting Kansas City. In the Leagues Cup third-place game, he scored a world-class volley against Philadelphia to tie that game up and force penalties.

He said he doesn’t know exactly where it comes from, but “figured he’d try it” again against the Galaxy.

“The ball just came out to me and I thought to myself, ‘Why not have a crack?’” Larraz said. “I back myself with these long-range shots and I don’t get the opportunity very often with me being a bit deeper (in the formation). Luckily, it went in.”

In first-half stoppage time, the Galaxy’s Joseph Paintsil cut inside on the left wing to beat Keegan Rosenberry, then put a shot off the far post and in to steal the lead back heading into the locker room.

Puig found the space between Steffen’s legs in the 90+1st minute to make it 3-1, then beat him a minute later on a breakaway for his team’s fourth.

To start the game, the Rapids came out in a 3-4-3 formation with Keegan Rosenberry and Sam Vines playing as wingbacks to clog up lanes in defense and have a bit more structure and possession with the ball.

And for the most part, it seemed to have flustered the Galaxy on both sides of the ball. The Rapids looked more dangerous in transition moments, though good opportunities came few and far between, and L.A. couldn’t break through and create nearly as many quality chances as in game one.

Larraz, whose role remained largely the same despite the formation change, said he supported the change and that “fortune favors the bold,” but it just wasn’t meant to be.

“I thought it was my responsibility to try to find a solution and to be aggressive and very proactive in an intelligent way,” Armas said. “We fell a little short, but I think it’s an interesting formation for us, moving forward, to consider.”