The Los Angeles Galaxy rode an emotional wave to a 2-2 home draw against Sporting KC on Wednesday, June 21, which showed the many highs and lows of the Galaxy’s season. There was a disappointment despite LA’s resiliency after the Galaxy recovered and then surrendered a lead to earn just a point. After leaving points on the table at home, they’ll travel to Colorado to face fellow MLS cellar dwellers in what is essentially a six-pointer. They’ll do so shorthanded as they lost veteran Defender Martin Cáceres to a season-ending left knee avulsion fracture. With Jalen Neal missing through USMNT duty, Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney will be forced into a lineup rethink when LA plays the Rapids.
LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
LA Galaxy’s Current Run of Form
The Galaxy remains unbeaten in the Post-Chris Klein era or three matches. That means LA is no longer in last place as they visit Colorado. Their 3-5-9 record is good enough for 14 points and 13th place.
One of the reasons for the recent unbeaten streak is the improving play of Douglas Costa. He has a goal and two assists in his last three performances. If Costa and Tyler Boyd can continue to stretch the field, midfield maestro Riqui Puig should be able to have more opportunities to replicate his outside-of-the-boot pass to Preston Judd for LA’s second goal against SKC.
The good showing by Judd and the way he took his goal against Sporting shows that LA might have found their answer at leading the line. He and Dejan Joveljic will test Vanney as they jockey for the start against the Rapids.
The downside is the Galaxy has already played more games than they have points. Their record on the road isn’t the best either. In nine matches played, the Galaxy carries a 1-3-5 road record for only six points. Colorado presents their best chance at picking up road points.
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Colorado Rapid’s Current Run of Form
If there’s any team more hapless than the Galaxy, it’s the Rapids. Their 2-7-9 record and 13 points are good enough for last place in the Western Conference and MLS. Only the Galaxy’s draw against SKC prevents them from being MLS cellar dwellers with the Rapids. But while the Galaxy is trending up, the Rapids are dipping. And it seems not even nature is on their side. Their midweek match against Vancouver was abandoned due to inclement weather, which means by game time Saturday, they won’t have played for two weeks.
For a side desperate for points, the pause could be deadly or be a reset. The Rapids haven’t scored in their last two matches. They are winless in their last eight and have only picked up one win since May, over the Galaxy LA.
In that match, Lalas Abubakar, Connor Ronan, and ex-Galaxy player Kévin Cabral gave LA fits. Cabral in particular will be motivated to do it again.
Recent Head-To-Head
Neither side can afford to lose as it will cement them to the bottom of the MLS table. And for as poor as LA has been on the road, they’ve been even worse in Colorado. The Rapids have lost only one of the last 10 meetings against the Galaxy, dating back to 2018.
The last match between these teams was a 3-1 Colorado win in May over the Galaxy in LA that saw Cabral score on his old team. Before that, the Galaxy got the better of Colorado in a rare 4-1 win at home.
Back in
tomorrow #LAGalaxy x @Platinum7X pic.twitter.com/PUtqqE9LZv
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) June 23, 2023
LA Galaxy vs. Rapids Prediction
The only team with worse luck than the Galaxy is the Rapids. That means the conditions are prime for them to travel to Colorado and pick up a vital three points for their season. A win will give LA a huge mental boost as they deal with being shorthanded and set them up for a Cali Clásico road trip next Saturday, July 1, a matchup against the San Jose Earthquakes. Vanney and the Galaxy will finally get a win over Robin Fraser and the Rapids.
Read More: 2023 LA Galaxy Season Preview: Riqui Shoots for MVP
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