Colorado goes through on Penalty Kicks, 3-2 aggregate final

Wow. History truly does repeat itself.

In a scene reminiscent of last years first round match up between Columbus and Real Salt Lake, the Colorado Rapids came back from a 2-0 deficit against all odds, winning the series by a final aggregate score of 3-2.

Early on in the match the Crew held all the advantages with great passes and a barrage of shots on goal as the sun blared in the Colorado defenses eyes throughout the half. Eventually the inevitable happened and in the 22nd minute Eddie Gaven capitalized on a set piece - of course on a set piece, it's Columbus! - for the first goal of the game.

The second half was much more Rapids-centric, with several close calls and near misses off of the Rapids feet. Despite all of the chances the Rapids were creating, the Crew looked to put a dagger in their hearts with a Robbie Rogers strike off a defensive mistake by Anthony Wallace. Claudio Lopez and Macoumba Kandji were brought in for a spark to the Rapids offense, and finally in the 84th minute Conor Casey took a wonderful low cross from Omar Cummings and buried it.

The game went to PK's where Conor Casey, Mac Kandji, Jeff Larentowicz, Claudio Lopez and Julien Baudet all capitalized on their chances, the PK's going down to a skied miss from Carroll. The Rapids came back to win it, that's all that matters.

The Eastern Conference (Ha) semifinals will now go through Colorado. And what a way to make it through.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Conor Casey. Converted the only goal for the Rapids on a great piece of skill to get to the cross from Cummings despite close defensive coverage, also converted his PK as we expect from him.

GOAT OF THE MATCH: Referee Michael Kennedy. Every single touch by any player seemed to be called in the first half, while nothing was being called in the second half. Many calls were administered ten or fifteen seconds after the foul had occurred after play had already continued. Schelotto spent most of the match diving and every single time he did play was stopped, including during a Rapids counterattack in extra time where he literally just sat down in the penalty area. Two glaringly obvious handballs in the penalty area were missed. The linesman had to step in and make a couple of calls that were right in front of Kennedy's face. Some of the worst refereeing I have ever seen in any MLS game.