Galaxy complete their sweep of the Rapids with a decisive 4-1 win.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Rookies Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil netted goals in the first half, while Riqui Puig added two more during stoppage time in the second half, leading the Los Angeles Galaxy to a decisive 4-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids in the first round of the MLS Cup on Friday night. Pec, who scored 16 goals during the regular season, opened the scoring just eight minutes into the match by redirecting a clearance attempt from Colorado goalkeeper Zack Steffen into the net for his first goal of the postseason.

The Rapids responded with an unassisted goal from Oliver Larraz, marking his first postseason goal, which leveled the match in the 19th minute of this best-of-three series.

The second-seeded Galaxy regained the lead before halftime when Paintsil, receiving a pass from Maya Yoshida in the third minute of stoppage time, scored his inaugural postseason goal. This assist from Yoshida was notable as it marked his first in two playoff appearances.

Puig, who had previously scored twice in the Galaxy's 5-0 win in the opening match, capped off the victory with goals in the first and third minutes of stoppage time. Notably, he had not recorded a goal or an assist in his two playoff starts for LA in 2022. Diego Fagúndez recorded his second career assist during his ninth postseason appearance on Puig's first goal, while Pec contributed to his second consecutive postseason match with an assist on Puig's second goal. In his second playoff start for the Galaxy, John McCarthy made three saves after achieving a clean sheet in his first appearance. His only other postseason start was in 2020 with Inter Miami.

Steffen recorded four saves in his 10th career postseason start, which was his second with the seventh-seeded Rapids.

Throughout the season, the Galaxy outscored Colorado 15-4 in their four encounters. Historically, LA has a postseason record of 9-2-0 against the Rapids, including 4-2-0 in away games. The Galaxy will advance to face the winner of the series between No. 3 seed Real Salt Lake and No. 6 seed Minnesota United in the next round.