Ghana forward Joseph Paintsil made a pivotal contribution as the Los Angeles Galaxy triumphed over the Colorado Rapids 4-1, securing a spot in the MLS Cup playoffs semifinals on Friday night.
Gabriel Pec got the scoring underway just eight minutes into the match, skillfully redirecting a clearance attempt from Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffen into the net, giving the Galaxy an early advantage.
The Rapids quickly levelled the score in the 19th minute with an unassisted goal from Oliver Larraz, marking his first postseason strike.
But the Galaxy regained their momentum just before halftime. In the third minute of stoppage time, Paintsil connected with a precise pass from Maya Yoshida, netting his first playoff goal and sending LA into the break with a 2-1 lead.
Midfielder Riqui Puig put the finishing touches on the victory with two goals in stoppage time, finding the back of the net in both the first and third minutes of added time.
Throughout the 2024 MLS season, Paintsil has excelled, amassing 11 goals and seven assists in 31 appearances.
Elite Ball Placement 😮💨
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) November 2, 2024
Joske with an absolute banger to end the first half! pic.twitter.com/v3k0Gfax5D
