Brad Evans fired in a powerful shot in the 28th minute and Eddie Johnson added another in stoppage time to give the Seattle Sounders a 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids and advance in the Major League Soccer playoffs Wednesday.
The No. 4 seeded Sounders limped into the postseason on a seven-game winless streak, but advanced to face the No. 1 Portland Timbers in the two-legged Western Conference semifinals. The first game will be Saturday in Seattle.
The Sounders played a man down from the 87th minute after goalkeeper Michael Gspurning was shown a red card for handling the ball outside the penalty area.
Evans got his scoring chance when Colorado's German Mera headed a cross out of the penalty area. Evans settled it at the top right of the box and ripped a hard shot to the back left corner.
Johnson sealed it midway through the third of five minutes of stoppage time when he evaded Mera and beat Colorado goalkeeper Clint Irwin to the back left corner.
