MLS wrap: Galaxy's playoff hopes take a hit as skid continues

Sacha Pisani

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MLS wrap: Galaxy's playoff hopes take a hit as skid continues image

The LA Galaxy suffered a late 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids as the Galaxy, chasing an MLS playoff spot, saw its winless streak continue.

Nicolas Mezquida converted an 85th-minute penalty to send Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Galaxy to their fourth consecutive league match without victory.

It was a wild finish Wednesday in Colorado, where all three goals were scored in the final 11 minutes at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

The Rapids broke the deadlock via Cole Bassett, whose glancing header put the home side ahead in the 79th minute.

Colorado's lead was short-lived, however, after Giancarlo Gonzalez's header tied it three minutes later.

But the Rapids had the last say as Mezquida scored from the penalty spot after a foul on Andre Shinyashiki with five minutes remaining.

There was late drama when the Galaxy's Cristian Pavon was shown a straight red card deep into second-half stoppage time after trying to win the ball near the corner flag but VAR and the referee reversed the decision to yellow.

The result left the Galaxy eighth in the Western Conference, a point back of the seventh and final playoff spot occupied by Dallas, while the Rapids are 10th and six points further back.

Real Salt Lake moved up to second in the West and level on points with the third-place Seattle Sounders thanks to a 1-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes.

Eastern Conference leaders New York City – three points clear atop the table – played out a 1-1 draw at home to Toronto as NYCFC extended its unbeaten streak to six games.

Meanwhile, the Houston Dynamo snapped a seven-game winless streak in the league by defeating Minnesota United, 2-0.

Sacha Pisani