LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids; Who has the edge

Two teams that went through dismal 2023 seasons and as a result underwent massive changes, are back in the MLS Cup playoffs. The Los Angeles Galaxy and the Colorado Rapids return to the postseason, and starting Saturday night at Dignity Health Sports Park, these two teams will contest each other for the opportunity to to further validate their respective redemption seasons with a deep playoff run through the Western Conference.

LA Galaxy

After a 2023 campaign that saw penalties for salary cap violations, a boycott by its three main supporters groups over the matter, and the eventual dismissal of longtime team president Chris Klein, that  the Galaxy bounced back in a major way in 2024. Buoyed by the acquisitions of forwards Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil, right back Miki Yamane and keeper John McCarthy, the Galaxy rebounded to finish second in the Western Conference. The Galaxy would have won the regular season Western Conference title in the final week had they not conceded a late goal to Houston’s Daniel Steres, ironically a former Galaxy player, that lost them that match. That result, combined with LAFC’s win over the San Jose Earthquakes enabled its crosstown rival to overtake them for the top spot in the West, so the Galaxy must quickly turn the page from that tough loss and focus on making a deep playoff run.

Colorado Rapids

The Rapids 2023 season wasn’t as turbulent as the Galaxy’s was, but it was still bad enough to warrant changes. The Rapids fired head coach Robin Fraser on September 5, 2023 in a midst of a campaign in which they eventually finished last in the West. Former MLS great Chris Armas was hired as the full-time head coach and he got the Rapids off to a 5-3-2 start, and that start turned to be somewhat important for Colorado, as they played up-and-down soccer the rest of the way, but still good enough to earn the seventh seed. Rafael Navarro led the team with 15 goals, while USMNT prospect Djorde Mihailovic was second with 11 and Cole Bassett was not far behind with nine. The Rapids also feature former Galaxy striker Kevin Cabral, who scored five goals this season.

Head to Head

The Galaxy won both meetings with the Rapids this season. The first encounter, at Dignity Health Sports Park back on July 17, saw the Galaxy win a first-half shootout, as Diego Fagundez got the Galaxy going with a 12th minute, strike, then after Cabral leveled matters in the 32nd minute, the Galaxy responded with goals from Paintsil and Riqui Puig, and while Bassett pulled a goal back for the Rapids, the Galaxy shut down Colorado in the second half to get the win.

Nearly three months later on October 2at Dick’s Sporting Good Park, the Galaxy rallied from a one-goal halftime deficit to pull out the win in a midweek contest. Connor Ronan staked the Rapids to the lead with a goal just before first half stoppage time, but Pec and Puig scored early in the second half (eight minutes apart from each other) to take the lead, and Puig sealed the three points with a stoppage time strike.

Outlook

On paper, the Galaxy are the deeper and better team. Aside from Pec, Painstil and the playmaking of Puig, the Galaxy also feature striker Dejan Joveljic and another playmaking midfielder Marco Reus, who was acquired mid-season. The Galaxy defense is led by captain Maya Yoshida and Yamane and McCarthy has stabilized the keeper position. Colorado will put up a fight, especially on its home field and the advantages that come with it, but the Galaxy should still have what it takes to win the series.

Prediction: Galaxy in a sweep.