Riqui Puig tallies twice as Galaxy down Rapids

Riqui Puig scored twice and Gabriel Pec logged a goal and two assists to help the Los Angeles Galaxy earn a 3-1 win against the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday in Commerce City, Colo.

The win helped the Galaxy (18-7-7, 61 points) tighten their hold on first place in the Western Conference.

The sixth-place Rapids (15-12-5, 50 points) lost consecutive matches for the first time since May 29 and June 1.

Pec tied it 1-1 in the 50th minute. After beating defender Andreas Maxso in a footrace in the box, he directed the ball toward Joseph Paintsil on the far side, but the ball never reached Paintsil, instead rolling into the left corner of the net.

Eight minutes later, Puig put Los Angeles ahead 2-1. Pec fed Puig at the top of the box, and the Spaniard fired a shot into the right side past a diving Zack Steffen.

Colorado had its chances for the equalizer but couldn't capitalize.

In the 70th minute, Djordje Mihailovic's attempt on a free kick grazed the outside of the net. Four minutes later, the hosts were awarded another free kick and kept the pressure on in the attacking third in the minutes that followed but couldn't break through the Galaxy's tight defense.

Mihailovic had another chance in the 78th minute from the left side, but goalkeeper John McCarthy came off his line to the edge of the goal area to deny him. Then, in the 84th minute, Mihailovic's shot sailed over the crossbar.

Puig scored the clincher in the first minute of second-half stoppage time.

After a slow start to the match for both sides, the Rapids picked up the pace and had several chances to take the lead, with three free kicks and four corners.

Connor Ronan broke through for Colorado in the 45th minute. The midfielder won a race to the ball as it bounced toward midfield and fired a long feed back up the right flank, where Mihailovic collected it. After a quick touch pass and return with Reggie Cannon, Mihailovic dished a short feed over to Ronan, who fired from outside the box into the far side of the net.

--Field Level Media