MLS Colorado Rapids

Rapids vs. LA Galaxy Preview

Published on June 23, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - The Colorado Rapids (2-9-7, 13 pts) welcome the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy (3-9-5, 14 pts) to DICK'S Sporting Goods Park this Saturday, June 24, for Matchday 21 (7:30 p.m. MT; Apple TV - Free, Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM).

Colorado prepares to face the Galaxy after the side saw its Wednesday night clash against Vancouver Whitecaps FC postponed to a later due to inclement weather. The delay occurred shortly after the conclusion of national anthems and lasted nearly four hours before MLS ultimately called off the match.

With Wednesday's postponement, the Rapids' encounter against the Galaxy will mark their first match in 14 days and their longest stretch without a game so far this season. The extended break follows a ten-game stretch for Colorado in the last five weeks. Most recently, the team faced Orlando City SC on June 10, a 2-0 loss after the Rapids were reduced to nine men following red cards to defender Lalas Abubakar and midfielder Braian Galván. Both players will be unavailable for Saturday's match after their single-game suspension did not occur Wednesday due to the weather postponement. Midfielder Bryan Acosta (Honduras) and rookie defender Moïse Bombito (Canada) will also be unavailable, as both players have been named to their respective national teams' rosters ahead of the Concacaf Gold Cup this month.

Earlier this season, Colorado faced the Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park, a 3-1 Rapids win that extended the team's then-unbeaten streak in league play to seven games. The match saw the first goal of the season for defender Lalas Abubakar, the first league goal of the season for forward Jonathan Lewis and a goal from forward Kévin Cabral in his return against his former team. Rapids midfielder Connor Ronan tallied three assists in that game, becoming the first Rapids player since Jack Price in 2019 to achieve such a feat in a single game. It marked his second multi-assist game of the season after recording a two-assist game against Real Salt Lake. Ronan has been a bright spot for Colorado since joining the club from England's Wolverhampton Wanderers FC this past offseason on a four-year deal. The Irish international has recorded one goal and six assists through his first 18 games in Burgundy, including one goal and five assists in his last nine league appearances. He has also started every league match of this season for the Rapids, filling a key role in the absence of club captain Jack Price who is out with an Achilles injury.

The Galaxy arrives in Colorado currently on a three-game unbeaten streak (1-0-2) following a 2-2 draw at home to Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday night. LA were close to taking all three points until Alan Pulido scored a stoppage-time equalizing penalty kick for SKC. Despite the Galaxy's recent form, their defense has struggled to maintain a clean sheet, conceding at least a goal in the last eight league matches. The team has conceded 29 goals this season, tied for third-most in MLS. Offfensively, the Galaxy have scored 16 goals this season despite being top five in the league for shots, progressive passes and pass percentage. No one on the team has more than two goals, although there are 12 different goal scorers on the team. Midfielder Riqui Puig leads the team with three assists. The Galaxy will be without Mexican striker Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez on Saturday after he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during his side's U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal match on June 7.

Both the Rapids and the Galaxy are MLS charter clubs, two of the 10 inaugural sides that helped kick off the league in 1996. The two clubs have a long-standing history, facing each other more than any other two teams in the league (82 times). Although the Galaxy have the edge on the series matchup (32-38-12), the Rapids have had recent success in the series, recording only one loss in the last 10 meetings between the two teams, posting seven wins, one loss and two draws. At home, Colorado holds a 21-13-6 advantage all-time.

Following the conclusion of Saturday's match, the Rapids Unified team will play its second home game of the 2023 season against LA Galaxy's Unified team. The Rapids Unified team opened the season with a 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake's Unified team, courtesy of a last-minute goal that sealed the 2023 Unified Rocky Mountain Cup. After a road loss against Orlando City's Unified team, the Rapids Unified squad has a 1-1 record for the season and is looking to bounce back at home.

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Major League Soccer Stories from June 23, 2023


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