COMMERCE CITY — The mathematics of the situation on Sunday are better for the Rapids than they were coming home in the Los Angeles series because Colorado scored a goal at Seattle in the first leg of the conference finals, and away goals loom large in playoff tiebreakers.
“We were very happy to get that away goal,” said Kevin Doyle, who scored the goal on Tuesday. “We feel like itap in our own hands (on Sunday). If we don’t (advance), we’ve no one to blame but ourselves.”
Against Los Angeles, the Rapids lost 1-0 in the first leg, and a 1-0 win in the second leg here only got them to 30 minutes of extra time because the teams were tied 1-1 in aggregate goals and there were no away goals. After overtime went scoreless, they advanced on a penalty kick shootout.
Because they lost 2-1 at Seattle on Tuesday, if they are ahead 1-0 at the expiration of regulation time on Sunday, the aggregate score will be tied, the away goals tiebreaker will apply, and the Rapids will host the MLS Cup final on Dec. 10. Colorado gave up only seven goals in 18 home games this season, including the playoff match with LA.
“We couldn’t have set it up any better for ourselves, apart from winning the game (at Seattle),” said Doyle, a natural striker whom coach has deployed more as an attacking midfielder in recent weeks. “To be in this position in the Western Conference finals, second leg at home, knowing to win one-nil puts us into the final of MLS — any team in the league would take the position we’re going into now.”
