The Colorado Rapids look to create some separation in a crowded Western Conference playoff race when they visit the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday in Carson, Calif.
The Rapids (11-12-3, 36 points) are seventh in the Western Conference table and enter the match three points and one spot ahead of the Galaxy (8-10-9, 33 points), who can pull even with Colorado with a win.
Both teams will have altered lineups because of national team call-ups. Los Angeles will be without Hirving Lozano (Mexico) and Harbor Miller (U.S. U-20), while Colorado will be missing Georgi Minoungou (Burkina Faso), Wayne Frederick (Trinidad and Tobago) and Sayed Abu Farkhi (Israel).
“I don’t think we should be playing during the international break,” Colorado coach Matt Wells said. “I think it’s madness that we are playing a game. But everyone here, right now, had a unique opportunity to grab a shirt while (players) are away.”
LA also could get some reinforcements. Joseph Paintsil (thigh), who has missed the past three matches, is in the “return to play” stage of his recovery, according to LA coach Greg Vanney, while Sergi Roberto (shoulder) could return after missing last Saturday’s match, a 3-2 win at Minnesota.
Marco Reus was listed as out with a lower-body injury on last week’s player status report but came off the bench against Minnesota and assisted on the equalizer in the 76th minute before scoring the go-ahead goal four minutes later. Reus leads Los Angeles with seven goals and nine assists.
Colorado opened the door for Los Angeles with its 3-3 home draw last Saturday against the Seattle Sounders. The Rapids squandered a two-goal advantage, yielding goals in the 79th minute and third minute of stoppage time to settle for one point.
“Now is crunch time,” Wells said. “We don’t have time to keep talking about things. We need to actually produce.”
Colorado won the first meeting between the clubs 4-1 on March 7, with Rafael Navarro scoring twice. Navarro has since been transferred to St. Louis City.
“Whenever you can take three points right now … it’s massive,” Vanney said.
–Field Level Media
