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Keys against LA Galaxy: Capitalize on Set Pieces & Find Gyasi

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July 15, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS)Colorado Rapids News Release

September 2nd, 2017. That’s the last time the Rapids lost to the LA Galaxy. Since then, their record is 5-0-2. It’s an impressive run against one of the league’s most accomplished clubs. Despite being one of this league’s larger clubs bordering on super club status within America and Canada, despite signings like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, it’s been the Rapids who have dominated the series recently.


With the recent success in mind, the Rapids may relish seeing the Galaxy on the schedule as they look to shake off what’s been an up and down last couple of months. They’re still the LA Galaxy with a talented roster, a talented coach and they do currently occupy a playoff spot. It’s not a given the Rapids will get the win they need, but they should enter the match with an extra shot of confidence knowing they do play well against this Galaxy team.

For LA, Saturday night will be their attempt to get back on course for their 2022 season. In their first 10 games, the Californians went 6-3-1. It looked like year two under Greg Vanney would be a major leap forward, threatening for the Supporters’ Shield, taking back Los Angeles from LAFC. But then their next nine matches, things have gone somewhat sideways. They’re 2-5-2 despite scoring 16 goals. They’ve only been shutout once in their last nine but have conceded 18 goals. You don’t need to be in the accounting department to know conceding two goals per game makes it hard to win soccer games.

Their major offseason signing, Brazilian winger Douglas Costa, has not lived up to the hype or the billing. He occupies a DP spot on the roster, but has managed just two goals and one assist. If the Galaxy are going to contend for the trophies they believe they should be, they need him to produce like a Designated Player should produce. As of now, he’s another cautionary tale in a long line of lore that warns against big signings alone being the key to success.

For Chicharito, the Mexican superstar missed their midweek match in the Cali Classico against the San Jose Earthquakes as he was in the league’s health and safety protocols. We don’t know anything more about his status, but it’s severely in doubt for Saturday evening. The Galaxy will surely miss his seven goals and leadership, but they do have another forward on the roster we’ll get to in a minute.

Both teams come into this match looking for 3 points to figuratively…

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