Ghanaian striker Emmanuel Boateng scored a brace for LA Galaxy to book their place in the MLS play-off semi-finals with a 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake City.

Boateng fired two superb individual goals in the space of eight first-half minutes just five minutes after conceding a penalty which allowed their opponents to level at 1-1.

Alan Gordon had put Galaxy, missing former England and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard with a hamstring injury, in front early on and they had chances to make their progress to a two-legged meeting with Colorado Rapids.

Boateng said he was feeling “pissed off” after he gave away a controversial penalty that led to Real Salt Lake’s equaliser in the LA Galaxy’s opening match of the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs.

“I took what the defence gave me and just played the game normally. I think the penalty kick made me pissed off, so I had to go get it back for my teammates,” Boateng, who now has four career goals against RSL, said. “I have had some good games, but I think this one is really up there. An important win for the team.”

Boateng joined LA Galaxy from Helsingborgs IF this year.