Galaxy opens playoffs with victory over Rapids

Dejan Joveljic and Riqui Puig each had two goals and an assist and the Los Angeles Galaxy opened their postseason with a dominant 5-0 win over the Colorado Rapids in the first game of a best-of-three Western Conference series Saturday night at Carson , California.

John Nelson scored for the Galaxy, who defeated the Rapids 20-1 in an all-out attack.

Colorado's only shot came in the 80th minute when Connor Ronan's right-footed shot went over the net.

Zack Steffen made six saves for Colorado.

Game 2 takes place on Friday at the Rapids' home stadium in Commerce City, Colorado.

Los Angeles led 1-0 at halftime before opening the game with two goals in two minutes early in the second half.

Nelson made it 2-0 in the 52nd minute when he received a pass from Miki Yamane and sent a right-footed shot into the top right corner of the net.

Puig then added his first goal. He pushed the ball up to Joveljic, who quickly returned it and Puig rolled a right-footed shot past Steffen.

The Galaxy kept the pressure on as Colorado began to push forward and try to get its offense going.

That gave Los Angeles more space and Gabriel Pec fired a left-footed shot just past the far post in the 70th minute and Puig hit the crossbar two minutes later.

In the 75th minute, Joveljic shot a left-footed shot into the left corner to make it 4-0.

Puig scored his second goal in the 87th minute with a right-footed shot.

The Galaxy had a 4-0 shot lead in the first half and Joveljic kept the score scoreless in the 32nd minute when Los Angeles scored the game's first corner kick.

Puig sent his foot into the crowded area in front of the net, where Joveljic hit the ball with his head and sent it into the right corner of the net.

Los Angeles goalkeeper John McCarthy never had to make a save.

–Field level media