Steven Gerrard has failed in his quest to end his time in Los Angeles on a high.
The former England midfielder came off the bench in LA Galaxy’s MLS Playoff clash with Colorado Rapids, but couldn’t prevent them falling at the Conference semi-final stage in a penalty shootout.
And now, with question marks remaining on whether he will be given a playing contract at former club Liverpool, the 36-year-old’s future is up in the air.
Gerrard returned to action in the second half of the second-leg tie, with Shkelzen Gashi’s long-range thunderbolt giving Colorado the lead on the night and levelling things up on aggregate after Giovani Dos Santos’ goal decided last week’s game in California.
OmGashi he's done it again.
1-0 @ColoradoRapids. #COLvLA https://t.co/0O2grx8XNA
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 6, 2016
The Premier League icon kept things tight in midfield throughout extra-time and scored his team’s opening penalty in the shoot-out.
But Dos Santos missed the target, and Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard saved from Ashley Cole and Jeff Larentowicz to send the 2010 MLS Cup winners through to the final four.
Howard the hero. #COLvLA #MLSCupPlayoffs https://t.co/zE3srN1qqd
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 6, 2016
Gerrard played more than 700 games for Liverpool after making his debut as a teenager, and was an integral part of their Champions League and UEFA Cup winning squads.
He seems destined to return to Anfield before the end of 2016, but it remains to be seen whether he will do so as a player or a coach.
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