Boateng brace pushes LA Galaxy past Real Salt Lake, into West semifinals

The StubHub Center remains one of Major League Soccer's most impregnable fortresses. Especially in the postseason.

The LA Galaxy, who came into Wednesday's knockout-round match having lost just three of their 33 all-time home playoff games, made straightforward work of yet another visitor, advancing to the Western Conference semifinals by virtue of a 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake.

Emmanuel Boateng stole the show on this night, the blistering Ghanaian winger covering what seemed to be every blade of grass en route to scoring a pair of goals, including a stunning solo tally in the 26th minute that proved to be the decider.

Related - Watch: Boateng dances through RSL backline to score brilliant solo goal

(Courtesy: LA Galaxy)

The win, which also featured a goal from bruising striker Alan Gordon, sees Bruce Arena and his men set a semifinal date with the Colorado Rapids.

With Robbie Keane slowly regaining fitness after an injury-riddled regular season, Gyasi Zardes returning to training for the first time since breaking his foot, and the likes of Landon Donovan, Gordon, and Giovani Dos Santos all firing up front, the Galaxy could prove a frightening prospect for the Rapids' league-best defense in the next round.

For Real Salt Lake, meanwhile, the struggles away from Rio Tinto Stadium continued, as the club's woeful road form during the regular season carried right on over into the playoffs.