The Colorado Rapids advanced to Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference final after winning a penalty shootout Saturday to decide its home-and-away semifinal against the Columbus Crew.
The Crew won the match 2-1, but the aggregate score was level at 2-2 after Colorado won the first game 1-0 at home on Oct. 28. Brian Carroll's penalty attempt at the end of the fifth round of spot kicks sailed over the goal to give the Rapids a 5-4 win in the shootout.
The Rapids host San Jose in the single-match Eastern Conference final on Nov. 13.
Eddie Gaven opened the scoring for Columbus in the 22nd minute before Robbie Rogers made it 2-0 with a strike from 12 yards (meters) in the 70th. Colorado's Conor Casey scored in the 84th to level the series.
At Sandy, Utah, Dax McCarty scored in the 13th minute as FC Dallas held on for a 1-1 draw that eliminated defending MLS Cup champion Real Salt Lake from the playoffs.
Dallas outscored Real Salt Lake 3-2 in the home-and-away series.
David Ferreira sent a long pass ahead to Brek Shea, who chested the bouncing ball to McCarty, who beat keeper Nick Rimando.
Substitute Robbie Findley equalized in the 79th minute for Real Salt Lake, five minutes after he put a point-blank header off the crossbar.
Dallas will play Los Angeles or Seattle in the Western Conference finals.
