Rapids wash away Hoops' playoff hopes

Carlos Ruiz struck twice, in the 67th and 105th minutes, answering Jeff Cunningham's early goal for the Rapids and both coming after Alain Nkong was sent off. But just a minute after FC Dallas took the lead in the first extra-time session, Ritchie Kotschau scored the equalizer for Colorado that eventually sent the game into the penalty shootout.

Minutes before the post-match decider, Ruiz had a chance to seal the game for the Hoops. After FCD had won a penalty, he casually stepped up to take the spot kick and smacked it off the left post in the 112th minute. The Rapids then hit all five of their penalty kicks, while FC Dallas hit their first four before Roberto Mina saw his saved by Colorado 'keeper Joe Cannon to give the Rapids the victory.

After the tense scoreless draw in Denver a week ago, both teams started out trying to establish dominance, and Colorado had the early edge, getting to loose balls in midfield and matching the physical play from the Hoops.

The Rapids struck first, in the 19th minute, as Alain Nkong found Terry Cooke down the right sideline. Cooke sent in a swerving cross that found Cunningham wide open at the far post and he easily headed home past Scott Garlick from point-blank range.

After taking the lead on the night and overall in the series, the Rapids pulled nine players behind the ball, leaving just Cunningham up top in attack. The tough tackles and chippy play increased as Dallas pressed forward for an equalizer.

Just after the break, in the 54th minute, Colorado was left a man down when Nkong received a red card after he caught Simo Valakari with an elbow to the head.

The Hoops changed their formation, Colin Clarke moving to three in the back, to push more numbers forward. Halftime substitute Mina also began to cause trouble for the Rapids defense, as he pushed more forward and drew attention away from Ruiz.

The Ecuadorian's work paid off in the 65th minute as he slipped a through ball that found Ruiz in the middle of the box. Ruiz took a deceptive first touch that pulled Pablo Mastroeni out of position, allowing the Guatemalan international to spin and beat the outstretched Cannon.

Yet even a man down, the Rapids came forward after the tying goal, causing some difficult moments for the three-man Dallas backline.

But the final great chance of normal time came in the 86th minute when Ruiz danced into the area, skipping past a defender before being left with only Cannon to beat. But as he tried to round the Rapids 'keeper, Cannon reached out and snared the ball off his foot to send the match into 30 minutes of extra time.

Ramon Nunez twice tested Cannon -- who was noticeably limping throughout as he played with a sports hernia -- in the 101st and 102nd minutes. First Cannon dove to his left to snare a curling Nunez drive, then he made a remarkable save, again diving to his left to parry a dipping blast from outside the area.

Then just before the end of the first extra period, Chris Gbandi sent in a cross to the heart of the area that found Ruiz, and he headed home despite being marked by two Rapids defenders.

But a mental lapse allowed the Rapids to level the score barely a minute later. Colorado won a free kick to the right of the Dallas area, and Terry Cooke sent the ball to the back post where Kotschau slipped between three FCD defenders to stab the ball home, beating Garlick to the lower left corner.

With eight minutes left until the penalty shootout, Gbandi ran into the box, only to be brought down by Kyle Beckerman, and referee Terry Vaughn didn't hesitate in whistling for a penalty. Ruiz stepped up to take the penalty, only to see the ball hit the face of Cannon's left-hand post.

Cannon saved the Rapids in the dying seconds, again stoning Gbandi when he had time to set up a clear shot from the spot, then somehow diving to push aside Ruiz's rebound effort from close range.

That sent the game into the penalty shootout, where the first four players for each team hit from the post. But Cannon saved Mina's shot with a dive to his right, then Jean Philippe Peguero converted a fifth in a row for the Rapids, and they advanced to the conference championship, where they will play host to the Los Angeles Galaxy.

MLSnet.com Man of the Match: Joe Cannon (Colorado Rapids)

Scott Joiner is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.