The Colorado Rapids list a healthy squad for the match. They also pulled off a trade this week as they acquired midfielder Kellyn Acosta from FC Dallas for forward Dominique Badji.The LA Galaxy reports Rolf Feltscher as being injured with Bradford Jamieson IV as questionable. Romain Alessandrini is back from suspension though.
Colorado Rapids
Suspended: None
Doubtful: None
Injured/unavailable: None
LA Galaxy
Suspended: None
Doubtful: Bradford Jamieson IV (undisclosed)
Injured/unavailable: Rolf Feltscher (shoulder surgery)
MATCH PREVIEW
MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN
The Colorado Rapids have gone five league games without a win now at two draws and three losses after falling 2-1 away to DC United last weekend. It was a heart breaker for the Rapids as newcomer Kellyn Acosta tied the game in the 82nd minute in his club debut after the team fell behind in the 33rd through a goal from Wayne Rooney. Unfortunately, Niki Jackson deposited the ball in his own net in the 90th minute to leave Audi Field empty-handed. The Rapids remain at 17 points and stay 11th place in the West. They are 14 points out of the playoffs at the moment and have just one game in hand on sixth place Real Salt Lake. Colorado has just 12 home points in 11 games from three wins, three draws and five losses, with just one win in their past eight home games along with two draws and five defeats.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s second-half hat-trick was the difference Sunday night when the LA Galaxy downed Orlando City 4-3 in a thriller. Orlando took the lead three separate times, but the Galaxy fought back each occasion. They trailed 2-1 at half time, but Ibrahimovic tied the game two minutes after the break. Orlando jumped in front 3-2 seven minutes later, but it wasn’t enough as Ibrahimovic banged in goals in the 67th and 71st minutes for the win. Giovani dos Santos had the first goal for LA. The Galaxy is unbeaten in the past nine league matches with five wins and four draws. They have 35 points and jumped from fifth to third place in the West, seven points behind FC Dallas and one behind Los Angeles FC. The Galaxy is ranked third on the road with four wins, four draws and three losses.
The Galaxy has been scoring like there’s no tomorrow lately with 24 goals in their last eight league games while Colorado struggles at home. I’m expecting the Galaxy to leave town with three points.
SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – HIGH
68% of the LA Galaxy’s and 71% of the Colorado Rapids’ games have featured three or more total goals. With the way the Galaxy has been scoring lately (three goals on average) and seven total goals in the teams’ last two meetings, I think that trend will continue.
HEAD TO HEAD
The LA Galaxy won last year’s meetings 3-0 at home and 3-1 in Colorado. The Colorado Rapids have only two wins in the last 11 encounters along with six defeats and three draws.