Carson, CA – At the start of the season, not many of us would have predicted by the time the LA Galaxy played the Colorado Rapids in mid-June, that it would be Colorado on top of the Western Conference and Los Angeles slipping and hovering in the sixth and final playoff spot in the standings—yet this is MLS and anything can happen over the length of the season. The Rapids come into the matchup with a club-record of being unbeaten in ten, while the Galaxy are coming off a bad loss on the road to Toronto over the weekend, and are now on a five-game winless streak.
Of course L.A. will still be without two of their biggest stars as Robbie Keane is with the Irish National team at the European Championship, and Gyasi Zardes will be busy putting in a dominating performance against a tiny South American team you’ve probably never heard of tonight in the Copa America. But the Rapids will also be without their catalyst, Jermaine Jones, who is away on national team duty—but is suspended for tonight’s U.S. game—and surprise package Shkelzen Gashi is still missing, as he is with Albania at the Euros.
The last time these two sides met was in March when the Galaxy’s living nightmare that is Marco Pappa, stole the game in stoppage time. But Bruce Arena will be pleased to hopefully have Steven Gerrard (Hamstring) and Giovani dos Santos (Quad Strain) back at his disposal (Both players listed as questionable). However, Robbie Rogers announced he underwent surgery on his ankle today so AJ De La Garza will probably slide in at right back.
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The LA Galaxy sit ten points behind Colorado and have a game in hand, so a win could be crucial in turning their somewhat slow start to the season around, and it also would open up the race for top of the West. And while the Rapids have been magnificent at home, not yet losing a game, their road form is a little shaky with only two wins in seven. This should be a good one.
Kick-off is Wednesday at 7:30 PM at StubHub Center and live on Time Warner Cable SportsNet and Time Warner Cable Deportes.
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