Colorado has the 1-0 advantage as they finish out the series in Columbus

The Colorado Rapids are no longer playing for just a playoff victory and a shot at the semi-finals, but a chance to get another shot at glory at their house against the San Jose Earthquakes. The Quakes win against the New York Red Bulls guarantees that whoever wins the Colorado-Columbus series will automatically play a home game in the semis.

Colorado won the first leg at Dick's Sporting Goods Park thanks to some wonderful work by their defense and a goal from Pablo Mastroeni set up by Omar Cummings and Brian Mullan. They probably could have been up by even more goals minus a couple of bad misses throughout the game.

Columbus failed to keep a 2-0 lead at home in the second leg of their playoff series against Real Salt Lake last season, winding up with an aggregate loss as RSL came back to tie it up late. Ideally, the Rapids won't need to come back to gain the win in Columbus but the thought of last years collapse may be ever so slightly seared in the back of the Columbus players' minds.

You can watch the game on channel 2 here in Denver at 2 PM, Mountain Time. Go Rapids!!

UZ'S PREDICTION: 1-1 Draw