Surprise starter Alan Gordon joined 22-year-old Emmanuel Boateng in shredding the Real Salt Lake defense throughout the first half of LA Galaxy's 3-1 victory in Wednesday's Knockout Round of the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs at StubHub Center.
Real Salt Lake, mired in a vicious offensive slump – only two goals in their last six games prior – did push one past Brian Rowe, when Joao Plata sent a 21st-minute PK past the diving Galaxy 'keeper to level the game.
But any joy was short-circuited by two spectacular individual runs – just nine minutes apart – from Boateng, who first split three defenders while traveling left-to-right across the box and snuck an outside-of-the-foot shot past Rimando in the 26th minute, then blew by Demar Phillips along the right wing in the 34th before ripping one far post.
Gordon, making his postseason starting debut after a league-record 15 substitute appearances, exited the game in the 52nd minute after going down with a non-contact injury. He was replaced byRobbie Keane, working his way back from an injury that kept him out of LA's previous two games. With the Galaxy solidly in control, Boateng exited for Mike Magee in the 76th minute.
LA advance to challenge the Colorado Rapids in Sunday's Conference Semifinals, hosting the first leg of the home-and-home series.
LA Galaxy Postgame Notes
LA Galaxy 3, Real Salt Lake 1
Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016
Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs – Western Conference Knockout Round
StubHub Center – Los Angeles, California
Scoring Summary:
- LA – Alan Gordon (Assisted by Giovani dos Santos, Landon Donovan) 14’
- RSL – Joao Plata (penalty) 21’
- LA – Emmanuel Boateng (Assisted by Alan Gordon) 26’
- LA – Emmanuel Boateng (Assisted by Alan Gordon) 34’
Misconduct Summary:
- RSL – Demar Phillips (caution) 39’
- RSL – Chris Winger (caution) 41’
- LA – Baggio Husidic (caution) 62’
- RSL – Sunny (caution) 71’
Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Brian Rowe; Robbie Rogers, Daniel Steres, Jelle Van Damme ©, Ashley Cole; Baggio Husidic, Sebastian Lletget; Emmanuel Boateng (Mike Magee 76’), Giovani dos Santos, Landon Donovan (Jeff Larentowicz 87’) Alan Gordon (Robbie Keane 52’)
Substitutions not used: Dan Kennedy, A.J. DeLaGarza, Dave Romney, Rafael Garcia.
Head Coach: Bruce Arena
SHOTS: 8; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; CORNERS: 3; OFFSIDES: 5; SAVES: 3
Real Salt Lake: Nick Rimando, Demar Phillips, Chris Schuler (Jordan Allen 74’), Chris Wingert, Justen Glad, Sunny, Javier Morales (Luke Mulholland 68’), Kyle Beckerman ©, Juan Manuel Martinez (Yura Movsisyan 58’), Olmes Garcia, Joao Plata.
Substitutions not used: John Stertzer, Danilo Acosta, Jamison Olave, Lalo Fernandez.
Head Coach: Jeff Cassar
SHOTS: 14; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; CORNERS: 7; OFFSIDES: 4; SAVES: 0
Referee: Alan Kelly
Referee’s Assistants: Matthew Nelson and Brian Dunn
4th Official: Kevin Stott
Attendance: 18,124