Riqui Puig scored two goals and Gabriel Pec had a goal and two assists to help the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 3-1 win over the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday in Commerce City, Colo.

The win helped the Galaxy (18-7-7, 61 points) solidify their lead over first place in the Western Conference.

The sixth-place Rapids (15-12-5, 50 points) lost consecutive games for the first time since May 29 and June 1.

Pec equalized in the 50th minute to make it 1-1. After beating defender Andreas Maxso in a race in the penalty area, he directed the ball to Joseph Paintsil on the other side, but the ball never reached Paintsil, instead rolling into the left corner of the net.

Eight minutes later, Puig gave Los Angeles a 2-1 lead. Pec fed Puig at the top of the penalty area and the Spaniard fired a shot into the right side past Zack Steffen.

Colorado had chances to equalize, but couldn’t take advantage.

In the 70th minute, Djordje Mihailovic’s free kick attempt hit the side netting. Four minutes later, the hosts were awarded another free kick and kept up the pressure in the attacking third in the following minutes, but were unable to break through the Galaxy’s tight defense.

Mihailovic had another chance from the left in the 78th minute, but goalkeeper John McCarthy came off the line and was able to parry him on the edge of the goal area. Then, in the 84th minute, Mihailovic’s shot sailed over the crossbar.

Puig scored the decisive goal in the first minute of added time in the second half.

After a slow start on both sides, the Rapids picked up the pace and had several chances to take the lead with three free kicks and four corners.

Connor Ronan made the breakthrough for Colorado in the 45th minute. The midfielder won a race for the ball when he jumped towards midfield and fired a long shot down the right flank, where Mihailovic caught it. After a quick touch pass and return with Reggie Cannon, Mihailovic distributed a short pass to Ronan, who shot from outside the penalty area to the other side of the net.

–Field level media