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LAFC Looks to Capitalize on Games in Hand in Crucial Clash with Rapids
The Western Conference playoff race is a crowded and chaotic affair, and on Wednesday night, two teams locked in the middle of that logjam will face off in a crucial showdown. Los Angeles FC holds a significant advantage over the teams around them in the form of games in hand, and they will look to begin their climb up the table as they host a Colorado Rapids team that is looking to break a long and frustrating historical curse.
The Games in Hand Advantage
A quick glance at the standings shows LAFC and the Rapids tied with 26 points each, mired in a four-team battle for the final playoff spots. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. While Colorado has played 21 matches, LAFC has played just 17. Their participation in the Club World Cup, combined with a recent postponement of their match against Austin FC due to devastating floods in Texas, has left them with a golden opportunity. If LAFC can capitalize on these games in hand, they have the potential to make a significant leap up the standings and into a comfortable playoff position. However, head coach Steve Cherundolo knows that potential doesn’t equal points.
“We have a lot of work to do and a lot of points to catch up on to fulfill our goals,” Cherundolo said on Tuesday. “Time is running out. The schedule is what it is; we cannot change that.” That unplanned postponement, however, does mean that LAFC is coming into this match well-rested, having not played since June 29.
Colorado’s California Curse
For the Colorado Rapids, a trip to face LAFC has been a recurring nightmare. In six all-time MLS visits to Los Angeles to play their conference rival, the Rapids have never won, posting a dismal record of 0-5-1. The futility runs even deeper than that. Colorado has been shut out in their last five consecutive trips to LA across all competitions, including a Leagues Cup match last season and a CONCACAF Champions Cup visit earlier this year. They simply cannot find a way to score in this building. Breaking this long-standing mental and tactical block will be their biggest challenge on Wednesday. The concept of “bogey teams” and historical matchups is a key factor for consideration in our expert betting guide.
A Tale of Two Slumps
While the long-term picture favors LAFC, neither team enters this match in peak form. The Rapids are in the midst of a 1-4-1 rut, a six-game stretch where their offense has been shut out twice and held to a single goal twice. They are coming off a 2-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City where their only goal came on a late penalty kick. LAFC, meanwhile, also lost their last match before the break, a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps. Both teams are desperate to get back in the win column.
“There is a real burning desire to win games, get points and inch closer to our goal, which is the playoffs,” Rapids coach Chris Armas said. “It’s a great matchup and one that will challenge us. Flat out — we want to win the game.”
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Key Players and Recent History
This will be the first MLS match between the two clubs this season, but they are very familiar with each other. They played a hard-fought two-leg series in the CONCACAF Champions Cup back in February. The Rapids won the first leg at home 2-1, with their leading scorer Djordje Mihailovic bagging two goals. LAFC won the return leg 1-0, advancing on the away goals tiebreaker. This shows that despite Colorado’s struggles in LA, the two teams are very evenly matched on talent. The attack for LAFC is led by their own star, Denis Bouanga, who has eight goals on the season. The scores and odds for this crucial match are expected to be tight. To see who our experts are backing to win this vital “six-pointer,” check out our daily soccer picks.
