The Colorado Rapids are in seventh place in the Western Conference and cannot afford a letdown.
The Rapids aim for their third consecutive victory when they face the disappointing Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night at Carson, Calif.
Colorado (10-11-6, 36 points) is expecting a tough test from the Galaxy (3-16-7, 16 points), who are the worst team in the MLS one season after winning the championship.
“They have some of the best players in the league,” Rapids coach Chris Armas said. “I am always expecting for the LA Galaxy’s best. This is a difficult opponent and a top, top team.”
Colorado is looking to make a move up the standings. The Rapids are one point behind the sixth-place Portland Timbers and four points behind fifth-place Los Angeles FC.
They also are filled with confidence after the back-to-back wins over Minnesota United (2-1 on the road) and Atlanta United (3-1 at home).
“We’re looking to build on the last few games and build on some momentum we’ve created,” Armas said. “We’re just excited for this final little push.”
Forward Rafael Navarro had two goals against Atlanta United last week and leads Colorado with 11 goals.
The Galaxy’s woes continued with last weekend’s 3-1 road loss against Inter Miami, but their focus now is on continuing their run in the Leagues Cup.
Los Angeles edged Mexican side C.F. Pachuca 2-1 at home on Wednesday to reach the semifinals.
The Galaxy will host the Seattle Sounders next Wednesday. The bad part is the Sounders just drubbed Los Angeles 4-0 in MLS play at Seattle on Aug. 10.
Forward Joseph Paintsil, who scored the lone goal against Miami, said after the Pachuca game that a Leagues Cup title would erase all the disappointing MLS experiences of this season.
“Yeah, it’s going to be a success for us,” Paintsil said. “Because, you know, we are having a bad season. All we have to do is just win this Leagues Cup for every eyes and every bad mouth that has been saying all these kinds of things to us, to just shut down and shut up and see us winning the Cup.
“That is the most important thing … and I assure you, if we go to the final, we going to win this Leagues Cup.”
Paintsil and midfielder Marco Reus share the team lead of five goals for Los Angeles, which is winless in its last four MLS matches (0-3-1).
Colorado notched a 2-0 home victory over Los Angeles on June 25. Last season, the Galaxy eliminated the Rapids in the first round of the playoffs to start their championship march.
–Field Level Media
