COMMERCE CITY – The moment was electric. Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard stood between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Western Conference finals. An army of burgundy-clad fans in full voice behind him, waving flags and pounding drums, waiting to erupt.
With both teams on fumes after 120 minutes of play, the Western Conference semifinals had come down to this: a best-of-five penalty kick shootout. And the Rapids had arguably the best American goalkeeper in history on their side.
Leading 2-1 after two rounds, Howard dove to his right to deny Galaxy defender Ashley Cole, and the sellout crowd at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park went wild.