Facing elimination, the Colorado Rapids will host an MLS playoff game for the first time since 2021 when they welcome the Los Angeles Galaxy to Dick's Sporting Good Park on Friday in Commerce City.
Game one of this best-of-three series was all Galaxy, as they came away with a 5-0 triumph over the Burgundy Boys at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Match preview
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It has been a while since the Rapids last featured in the post-season, and it showed in the opening match of this series as they suffered their worst MLS defeat since August 2022 (6-0 versus the Philadelphia Union).
That game one defeat extended their domestic losing run to five matches, with Colorado conceding three or more goals on four of those occasions.
Chris Armas has lost three of his four all-time meetings with the Galaxy as a head coach, with his lone triumph coming when he was in charge of the New York Red Bulls in 2019 (3-2).
During the regular season, the Burgundy Boys won 10 matches at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, losing their last two home outings of the domestic campaign.
After winning their first two MLS encounters of 2024 versus California-based clubs, they lost their last four games against that region.
Colorado have not won a playoff match since 2016, when they defeated the Galaxy 1-0 to even that two-leg tie at 1-1, with the Rapids advancing on penalties (3-1).
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The opening game of this series for the Galaxy went about as well as Greg Vanney could have hoped, with LA winning an eighth successive MLS match at home.
Now, they are one win away from a trip into the Western Conference semi-finals for the first time since 2022, when they defeated Nashville SC in round one, only to be eliminated by arch-rivals Los Angeles FC.
While they have looked unstoppable at home in the league this year, that has not been the case for them outside Dignity Health Sports Park, losing three of their last four domestic encounters as the visitors.
LA were the highest-scoring team in the Western Conference during the regular season (69 goals) and have found the back of the net in 11 successive MLS affairs.
They have not won a playoff match away from home since 2019, when that Galaxy team hung onto a 2-1 result at Allianz Field versus Minnesota United.
On Friday, the Galaxy can win consecutive playoff games for the first time since 2016, which was also the last time they faced the Rapids in the post-season.
Team News
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In the opening match of this series, the Rapids were without Djordje Mihailovic due to a sprained ankle, Michael Edwards was sidelined with a sore back and Cole Bassett continues to recover from a quad injury.
From Decision Day against Austin FC until game one of this series, there were two changes made to the Rapids starting 11 as Zack Steffen reclaimed his place in goal in place of Adam Beaudry, while former Galaxy winger Kevin Cabral came into the lineup for Mihailovic.
The Galaxy's only injury concern heading into this match is Martin Caceres, who is unlikely to feature on Friday because of an Achilles issue.
A brace from Dejan Joveljic and Riqui Puig was more than enough to see LA win the opening match, with John Nelson also finding the back of the net.
Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:
Steffen; Vines, Abubakar, Maxso, Rosenberry; Larraz, Ronan; Cabral, Harris, Lewis; Navarro
Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:
McCarthy; Yamane, Garces, Yoshida, Nelson; Brugman, Puig, Cerrillo; Pec, Joveljic, Paintsil
We say: Colorado Rapids 1-4 Los Angeles Galaxy (Los Angeles wins the series)
There are too many attacking weapons that the Galaxy can call upon, and plenty of glaring defensive issues surrounding the Rapids right now, so it is hard for us to envision the Burgundy shutting down LA on Friday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
