Jul 7, 2024; Carson, California, USA; Los Angeles Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec (11) celebrates goal in the second half against the Minnesota United at Dignity Health Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports The LA Galaxy will try to put a subpar performance behind them when they face the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday night at Carson, Calif.
The Galaxy placed just one shot on target out of 11 attempts while losing 2-0 to host FC Dallas on Saturday for their second loss in three matches.
Though LA (12-5-7, 43 points) sits third in the Western Conference, coach Greg Vanney was alarmed with the meek offensive effort against Dallas.
“It’s like we were going to win the game putting together 10,000 passes and going nowhere,” Vanney said. “We were down 2-0 because we deserved to be down 2-0. … It just comes down to the overall aggressiveness of our group.”
The Galaxy will be without leading scorer Dejan Joveljic (12 goals, five assists) for the second straight match due to a hamstring injury. However, the attack is still well-stocked with Gabriel Pec (nine goals, eight assists), Joseph Paintsil (six goals, five assists) and Riqui Puig (six goals, 10 assists).
“For us, it’s just getting back to focusing on ourselves and what has made us successful,” Vanney said. “Making sure we’re defending close together, we’re taking away the space in between our lines.”
The Galaxy are tied for sixth in the league with 44 goals. Saturday marked the first time LA didn’t score since it played a scoreless draw with host Charlotte FC on May 18.
Colorado (11-8-5, 38 points) resides in fourth in the West and is 5-1-1 over its past seven matches.
The Rapids, who are tied for fourth in MLS with 45 goals, are coming off a 1-1 tie with the visiting New York Red Bulls.
Colorado coach Chris Armas was glad to get out of the match with a point.
“Sometimes (draws) feel like a win, sometimes they feel like a loss,” Armas said. “This one feels like a point won in the end against a good team and being down a goal. They’re a stingy defensive team and they put teams in difficult games.”
Now the Rapids look to take down a squad that is undefeated in its “home” stadium. The Galaxy are 7-1-3, with the loss coming on July 4 against Los Angeles FC in the El Trafico match at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Colorado is 4-6-2 on the road.
The Colorado attack is led by Rafael Navarro (11 goals, four assists), Djordje Mihailovic (10 goals, nine assists) and Cole Bassett (seven goals, four assists).
The Rapids have controlled the all-time series between the teams since the start of the 2018 season by holding a 7-1-3 edge against the Galaxy.
–Field Level Media
