SOCCER

Rapids top Crew on PKs, reach conference final

Colorado advanced to the MLS Eastern Conference final after Brian Carroll’s penalty kick at the end of the fifth round sailed over the goal Saturday, giving the Rapids a 3-2 aggregate goal advantage in Columbus, Ohio.

The Crew won the game 2-1, but the aggregate was tied 2-2 after Colorado won the first game 1-0 at home on Oct. 28. The Rapids host San Jose in the single-game conference final on Nov. 13.

Colorado’s Conor Casey scored in the 84th minute to make it 2-1 and even the series.

U.S. WOMEN: The United States is in danger of missing next year’s women’s World Cup following one of the biggest upsets in the sport’s history, a 2-1 defeat to Mexico in Cancun, Mexico, on Friday night in the semifinals of qualifying in the North and Central American and Cairbbean region.

The top-ranked United States outshot No. 22 Mexico 17-8 but is in danger of failing to reach the women’s World Cup for the first time.

The Americans, the 1991 and 1999 champions and the defending Olympic gold medalist, must beat Costa Rica on Monday in the third-place CONCACAF playoff, then win a home-and-home playoff with Italy, the No. 5 team in European qualifying, to reach the main draw. The playoff is Nov. 20 and 27.

HOCKEY

QMJHL: Dillon Fournier, Pierre-Olivier Morin and Etienne Brodeur collected one goal and one assist apiece to lead the Lewiston Maineiacs to a 4-1 victory over the Val-d’Or Foreurs in Lewiston.

Jess Tanguy also scored a goal and Michael Chaput added two assists for the Maineiacs.

BASEBALL

MAJOR LEAGUES: The Washington Nationals said they waived left-handers Scott Olsen and Jesse English. Olsen went 4-8 with a 5.56 ERA in 81 innings in 2010. He was 2-4 with a 6.03 ERA in 2009, before season-ending shoulder surgery in July that year.

GOLF

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Francesco Molinari made a 10-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 5-under 67 to hold off Lee Westwood for another day at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

Molinari holed out from the 13th fairway for eagle and matched the best score of the day. Westwood stayed right with him, chipping from just off the green on the par-5 18th to tap-in range for birdie and a 67.

Luke Donald had a 68 and was four shots behind.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Michael Allen shot a course-record 10-under 61 to take a one-stroke lead over John Cook in the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in San Francisco.

Allen had a 14-under 199 total. Cook shot a 67.

LPGA: Jiyai Shin shot a 6-under 66 to take a two-stroke lead over Stacy Lewis after the second round of the Mizuno Classic in Hima, Japan.

MISCELLANEOUS

OTHER NEWS: Novak Djokovic advanced to the Swiss Indoors final in Basel, Switzerland, by defeating Viktor Troicki 7-6 (4), 6-4. … David Ferrer beat Robin Soderling 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the Valencia Open final in Valencia, Spain. It is the fifth time this season that Ferrer has reached a final.