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Slumping Rapids Host Historically Hapless Galaxy in Key Western Conference Tilt
It is a match between two teams desperate to reverse their fortunes. The slumping Colorado Rapids, clinging to a spot just above the playoff line, will return from a 10-day break on Wednesday night hoping to find their form. Their opponent is the visiting LA Galaxy, a team in the midst of one of the worst title defenses in Major League Soccer history. For both clubs, Wednesday’s contest in Commerce City, Colorado, is a crucial opportunity to build some much-needed positive momentum as the second half of the season gets underway.
The Rapids’ Mid-Season Slump
The Colorado Rapids entered the mid-season break on a low note. The team is currently mired in a three-game losing streak, a stretch in which they have been shut out in their last two matches. This dip in form has put their position in the Western Conference standings in jeopardy, as they are now hovering just above the playoff line with other teams close on their heels. A key reason for their recent struggles has been a goal drought from their leading scorer, Djordje Mihailovic, who has not scored since late May.
The break, however, may have come at the perfect time. It allowed the team to get a key piece back in the fold, as midfielder Cole Bassett returned from an ankle injury just before the layoff. Now, with a chance to reset, head coach Chris Armas is confident his team can turn things around, especially with a stretch of home games on the horizon. “Listen, we’re not going anywhere. We have a lot to play for,” Armas said. “So much of the season is left… Lots of home games are coming up, so we just have to get back to work. After the break, we’ll get ready to go.”
A Historically Hapless Title Defense
To put the LA Galaxy’s season into perspective is to understand just how far they have fallen. As the defending MLS Cup champions, expectations were high coming into the season. What has transpired has been nothing short of a disaster. The Galaxy endured the longest winless streak to start a season in league history, going 16 games without a victory. It’s an unbelievable and historic collapse for one of the league’s marquee franchises. The psychological toll of such a streak can be immense for a locker room full of players used to success. The concept of “fading” a team on a long losing streak is a common strategy, a topic often explored in our expert betting guide.
A Frustrating Glimmer of Hope
Despite their abysmal record, there have been small signs of life for the Galaxy recently. They finally ended their historic skid with a 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake on May 31, and they followed that up with a 3-3 draw on the road against St. Louis City in their last match. They are technically on a two-game points streak. However, even that draw was fraught with frustration. The Galaxy took a 3-2 lead in the 87th minute on a brilliant second goal from Gabriel Pec, only to concede a heartbreaking equalizer in the fifth minute of stoppage time, forcing them to settle for one point instead of three.
“There’s a lot of things (that were) challenging and we still put ourselves in position to win,” Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said. “But given what we’re trying to do in terms of learning to put results and points on the board… it definitely feels like two lost (points) at the end. The guys are definitely frustrated from that side of things.”
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The Matchup and What to Expect
Wednesday’s match pits a slumping home team against a historically bad opponent that has shown small signs of life. Both clubs have struggled to score goals consistently, which suggests that the first goal in this contest could be massive. The scores and odds for this match reflect two teams that are difficult to trust, making it a challenging game to predict.
The Playoff Picture
For the Rapids, a victory is essential to solidify their place in the playoff picture and create some breathing room. For the Galaxy, while the playoffs seem like a distant dream, they must start stringing together wins immediately if they hope to begin the near-impossible climb back to relevancy. To see who our experts are backing in this crucial mid-week clash, check out our daily soccer picks.
