Pablo Mastroeni's first-half goal gave the Colorado Rapids a 1-0 home win over Columbus Crew in Thursday's opening leg of their MLS Eastern Conference semifinal.
Mastroeni, the veteran former U.S. international midfielder, and the only player remaining from the club's last playoff appearance in 2006, netted a cross from Omar Cummings.
The second leg is in Columbus on Saturday.
The Crew was on the attack early, with Emmanuel Ekpo shooting narrowly wide in the sixth minute.
Colorado took over and ruined a chance when Cummings overhit a pass to Conor Casey on a two-on-one break in the 10th minute. Cummings missed a second chance in the 21st minute, sliding a shot well wide of the left post.
Colorado broke through in the 24th. Cummings' pass was deflected in front of the goal and right to Mastroeni, who easily beat Columbus goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum.
Gruenebaum was making his MLS debut, replacing William Hesmer, who broke his shoulder in the last regular-season game on Sunday.
The Rapids had chances to increase their lead. Cummings missed with a header in the 31st minute and Wells Thompson hit the side netting after breaking free in the 39th minute.
The hosts had a 10-1 shot advantage in the first half and that domination continued after the interval.
Cummings misfired on a header early in the second half. Guillermo Barros Schelotto was left free long enough to take a shot from 25 yards out in the 56th minute, but it landed in the stands beyond the goal.
The Crew threatened an equalizer late, with Colorado goalkeeper Matt Pickens forced into some big saves. He swatted away a shot in traffic in the 77th minute and blocked Andy Iro's header in the 84th minute.
