Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Major League Soccer game between Los Angeles Galaxy and Colorado Rapids, including predictions, team news, projected lineups, and more.
The Western Conference side’s first game of the MLS Cup Playoffs included Los Angeles Galaxy to host colorado rapids Game 1 of the best-of-three series took place Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park.
On decision day, the Galaxy lost to the Houston Dynamo 2-1 and finished in second place in the West Division, while the Burgundy Boys lost to Austin FC 3-2 and finished in seventh place.
match preview
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Although I faced a lot of pressure to succeed at the beginning of the campaign, Greg Vanney was achieved, and the Galaxy returned to the postseason for the first time since 2022.
In 2024, Vanney led the team to a 64-point season, the most at that stage since 2011 (67 points), when they won their third MLS Cup.
Their high-octane offense overwhelmed opposing defenses throughout the season, scoring the most goals in the Western Conference (69).
This helped make up for a mediocre backline that conceded 50 points in 34 regular season games and allowed at least one strike in each of the last seven league games.
Since the beginning of the 2009 season, LA has hosted 18 playoff games in Carson, including the 2011, 2012 and 2014 MLS Cup finals, winning 16 of them.
The LA Galaxy won 13 games this season at Dignity Health Sports Park, the most by any team at home this year.
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It was the very first season for Chris Armas As head coach of the Rapids, he led the team to 50 points, an improvement of 23 points from the previous season.
On Saturday, they will appear in the playoffs for the first time since 2021, when they finished the regular season in first place in the Western Conference.
Armas’ 15 MLS wins and 50 points this year are better than the Rapids manager achieved in his first season.
Despite everything this team has accomplished this year, including making the playoffs and qualifying for next year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup (CCC), they have fallen significantly in the regular season and have lost four straight in MLS.
The Burgundy Boys have lost three consecutive MLS away matches and have not won a playoff game as a visitor since October 2006, when they beat Dallas 3-2 and advanced on penalties (5-4). Not included.
Colorado has won just one point in its last three meetings with the Galaxy, with its last win coming in 2023 at Dignity Health Sports Park (3-1).
Los Angeles Galaxy Major League Soccer form:
Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer Form:
team news
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Last Saturday, the Galaxy played without Martin CaceresWhile dealing with an Achilles tendon injury, mark delgado Eligible to return from suspension.
Vanney made three changes to the starting lineup against Houston. Julian Ord Featured at left-back instead of John Nelsonmeanwhile Marco Reus and edwin cerillo Came for Delgado Gaston Brugman.
The next player scored the penalty in the 96th minute. gabriel peck That was the only point the Galaxy were able to achieve last weekend. Diego Fagundes, Joseph Paintsil and Riqui Pucci Each scored a goal in a 3-2 home win over the Rapids this season.
In the final matchup of the regular season, the Burgundy Boys faced Darren Yapi or first-choice goalkeeper zach steffen Available for knock, cole bassett Former Galaxy winger sidelined with quadriceps strain Kevin Cabral Still questionable due to elbow injury.
On decision day, we saw three new players in the starting eleven. adam bewdley Replacing Stefan between the sticks. Reggie Cannon and Omil Fernandez I will also come to exchange Sam Vines and calvin harris.
Fernandez converted a penalty in the 75th minute to put his team ahead against Austin, and his other goal followed. Rafael Navarrothe team’s 15th MLS campaign.
Los Angeles Galaxy starting candidates:
McCarthy; Yamane, Garces, Yoshida, Ord. Reus, Cerillo, Puig; Peck Jovezic, Paintl
Colorado Rapids starters:
Stephen; Rosenberry, Abubakar, Maxo, Vines. Laraz, Ronan. Fernandes, Mihailovic, Ruiz. navarro
Says: Los Angeles Galaxy 3 – 2 Colorado Rapids
Both teams are loaded with talented offensive players to be wary of, so each is expected to have some quality scoring opportunities, and in such a game, they have Considering the array of talent, the Galaxy should win. Discard.
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