There were two moments during its win-or-die contest against Chivas USA that the Colorado Rapids' playoff aspirations appeared to slip away.
First, the Rapids were reduced to 10 players after defender Brandon Prideaux was ejected for pulling Chivas forward Maykel Galindo down on a breakaway at the onset of the second half.
Then, the Rapids went ahead with an Ugo Ihemelu goal only to see Chivas equalize in the 78th minute and seemingly dash any hopes of a postseason appearance for the Rapids.
Needing a win to keep the playoffs within reach, late substitute Omar Cummings scored a last-minute goal and the Rapids pulled out an improbable 2-1 win against a Chivas side that had not lost in their last 11 games and had not lost at all at home all season.
"It was definitely an emotional game for us," said Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo. "We knew the urgency of the points and that there's no more time for us if we don't get the three points."
With the win, the Rapids stand on 35 points in ninth place in the overall playoff standings. In order to earn a playoff spot, though, the Rapids will need a win in the regular season finale next week against Real Salt Lake, and hope that the Chicago Fire and Kansas City Wizards lose their final matches.
"Nothing is decided, yet," said Clavijo about his team's playoff position. "We need to go home and play against Salt Lake ... and I know they're going to try to screw things up for us."
After a hard-fought first half where the Rapids squandered several goal-scoring opportunities, the Rapids were dealt a blow when Prideaux was ejected in the 47th minute.
Playing with a man disadvantage, however, is not new for the Rapids.
"We're used to playing shorthanded because it's happened so many times throughout the year," said Clavijo, whose team has had players sent off in six different matches this season, including two in last week's 1-0 win against Toronto FC. "With 10 men, you can't lose patience ... but you have to have the right players to accomplish that. It's extra motivation for players because they know they need to take the extra step."
The Rapids took that extra step midway through the second half when they went up 1-0 after Ihemelu slammed home a loose ball in the area after a Jose Cancela free kick.
"Cancela played that ball and I was looking to adjust and get a little piece of it but it went off my back," Ihemelu said. "Luckily Conor Casey was there and the ball ended back up at my feet."
The lead was short lived, however, as Orlando Perez pulled Chivas even in the 78th minute.
That set the stage for Cummings' dramatic finish.
With only a minute left in regulation, the Rapids pushed the ball deep in the Chivas half of the field. Casey dribbled towards the Chivas goal line and slipped a pass through the penalty area to an on-rushing Cummings who knocked the game-winning goal past Brad Guzan.
"Casey got it and I started running instantly," said Cummings. "I was hoping that he saw me and he played it over. It was an easy goal."
The late win showed a strong resiliency in the Rapids in a must-win match.
"All the guys on the team are fighters," said Ihemelu. "We easily could've been down after losing a player and then letting them tie it up but we just kept fighting and believing and not thinking of what would happen if we didn't get the win. It's a great feeling to know you still have a chance" for the playoffs.
The road to the playoffs, though, will go through rival Real Salt Lake.
"The most important thing next week is to have fun and not worry about losing," added Ihemelu. "Usually, when you have fun is when you play at your best."
Danny Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
