Galaxy – Rapids Preview

By: NathanHJ | April 25th, 2009

Haven’t we done this already?

For the third time since the start of the MLS season, the Galaxy will take on the Colorado Rapids. This will be the second MLS tilt with a US Open Cup match thrown in in the middle. So far the Galaxy is perfect. 0-2.

The first game, you will remember, was the horrific 3-2 beat down in which the Galaxy defense gifted Connor Casey a hat trick. You will remember that this is the game in which the Galaxy gave up the fastest goal in team history and the second fastest in league history. You will remember that the Galaxy subsequently squandered a 2-1 lead, and then ended up unable to fight back because of a Dema Kovalenko red card.

You might not remember that the team actually looked pretty good outside of the horrific defensive breakdowns. You might not remember that Sean Franklin set up one goal with a great run down the right side and some great footwork just outside the top of the box. You might not remember the Omar Gonzalez got his 6 ft 5 in noggin on the end of the first goal of his MLS career off of a Landon Donovan corner.

And I am completely sure that most of you do not remember the US Open Cup match between the two clubs because (1) it wasn’t on TV and (2) I was there and I don’t remember a futbol match at all. There were players dressed up in jerseys and it seemed as if they were knocking a ball around, but after that the resemblance to an actual professional futbol match pretty much ended.

So now the two teams meet for the third time, this time in Commerce, CO at The Big Dick. This isn’t a good thing for the Galaxy since in the last almost 7 years, they are a spectacularly suckariffic 0-8-3, according to The Daily News’ Nick Green.

There are some things that are different for the Galaxy this time. First, the unsteady and jejune (oh come on, just look it up – The Google is your friend) Josh Saunders has been replaced by the commanding and solid Donovan Ricketts. Casey isn’t going to have as many good looks as he had the third week of the season. Second, Gregg Berhalter is available for the match, giving the defense a much stiffer presence. Third, Edson Buddle made the trip, raising the possibility that he might be able to give a good 45 minutes or so, which will dramatically raise the Galaxy’s offensive ability.

On the other hand, the Galaxy will be playing at altitude on a gigantic field in a place where they have been notoriously futile. No goals in five years in Colorado. Ugly. And while the Rapids aren’t yet the cream of the MLS crop, they are playing well in the middle and play very well together as a team. While I would love to get revenge for the last two games, I think the best the Galaxy will do here is escape with a draw, a road point not to be sneezed at.

Keys for the Galaxy: Solid defense, scrappy midfield, and opportunistic offense.
Key players: Donovan Ricketts, Gregg Berhalter, Eddie Lewis, and Landon Donovan. If Dema Kovalenko can hold it together, then the midfield could compete.
Key match-ups: Landon vs. Pablo Mastroeni, Berhalter vs. Casey
Who needs to step up: Landon and Berhalter and whoever is the second striker.

Please use this space for pre-game, in-game, and post-game comments. I’ll be here. Don’t make me look like a loser with nothing else to do on a Saturday night. Although I will go there. For you. Because that’s how much I love you guys.

Who’s going to win, who’s going to come up big, and what is it going to take for the Galaxy to get a result?

Here’s what others have to say.

MLSNet Galaxy Prespective
MLSNet Rapids Perspective
MLSNet Game Preview
Grahame Jones’ micro preview in the LA Times
LA Galaxy Official Blog from Wednesday
LA Galaxy Official Blog from today

Game is at 6:30 tonight and you can watch it in real time using MLSNet’s internet package (at $20 for the reason, the price is right) here.

But if you have cable, the game will be on at 10 tonight on FSW.