CARSON, Calif. – It will be a reunion of sorts when the LA Galaxy take on the Colorado Rapids on Saturday in a Western Conference showdown at StubHub Center (7:30 p.m., Time Warner Cable Sportsnet, Time Warner Cable Deportes).
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The familiarity isn’t so much because the teams already have played twice this season, with the Rapids winning 1-0 on March 12 on a stoppage-time goal by Marco Pappa and the teams playing to a scoreless tie two months later, but because of the presence of Tim Howard in the Colorado goal.
The 37-year-old netminder, who joined the Rapids earlier this season after spending most of his career in the English Premier League with Manchester United and Everton, played for Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena when Arena coached the U.S. national team. He also was teammates with the Galaxy’s Mike Magee and Galaxy assistant coach Kenny Arena when they were on the MetroStars in 2003. The Galaxy’s Gyasi Zardes also is a teammate on the current national squad.
“Timmy’s the best,” Magee said.
“I don’t know if I would call him an old friend,” Arena joked to a reporter Friday after training. “He might call me an old friend.
“It’s great to have Tim back (in MLS). I’ve known him a lot of years. He’s a real good person and an outstanding goalkeeper, and I think it’s great to have a person and a player of his caliber back in the league.”
Howard has played in six games, all starts, and made his Rapids debut on July 4 in a 0-0 tie with Portland. He has three shutouts, but also suffered a 5-1 loss to New York City on July 30.
He may have a lot of mileage, but Arena still considers him one of the best in the world at his position.
“From his early days he’s been tremendously athletic,” he said. “Now he’s a well-seasoned goalkeeper and he relies more on his experience than his athleticism, but he still has that as well.
“He’s a very commanding goalkeeper, he’s very good at communicating with his back line, he’s hard on the players in front of him, he gets their attention and he can make the big save.”
Zardes said he was looking forward to the challenge of facing his rival/teammate.
“He’s a great goalkeeper,” he said, “and I love playing against him, whether it’s in training or this weekend. It’s going to be a great opportunity for us to play against him.”
Saturday’s game marks the third match in a week for the five-time MLS Cup champions, who began this grueling stretch with a come-from-behind, 2-2 tie with the New York Red Bulls last Sunday and continued with a stunning, 2-1 loss to FC Dallas in Wednesday’s semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup.
The Galaxy, 4-0-4 since a 1-0 loss to Toronto on June 18, are tied for third in the Western Conference with Real Salt Lake. Colorado is second in the West at 11-3-8 and leads the league in goals against with only 19. The Galaxy (9-3-10) are second in goals allowed with 22 and top MLS in goal differential at plus 15.
The Galaxy will be missing midfielder Jeff Larentowicz, who was suspended one match for a tackle on New York’s Damien Perrinelle that left the center back with ankle and meniscus injuries that could sideline him 4-6 weeks. The Rapids’ Jermaine Jones is doubtful with a quad injury.
Zardes, who has been recovering from a strained pectoral muscle, is expected to play Saturday. The status of Robbie Keane, who was involved in a violent, first-half collision with Red Bulls goalie Luis Robles but finished the game, remains uncertain.
LA GALAXY vs. COLORADO RAPIDS
STUBHUB CENTER | Carson, Calif.
August 13, 2016 | Week 23 | MLS Game #236
7:30 pm PT (MLS LIVE, Altitude, TWCSN-LA)
- The Galaxy extended their undefeated streak to eight games in league play with a second consecutive draw, coming back for a 2-2 tie with the New York Red Bulls on Sunday evening at the StubHub Center. Giovani dos Santos recorded an assist for a third consecutive contest, while Steven Gerrard had one for a second game in a row.
- ​​Marlon Hairston and Dominique Badji scored goals – for Hairston, his third in the last four matches – as the Rapids rebounded from their first loss in 16 MLS games with a 2-0 win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday evening at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
- ​The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Marco Pappa scored the game’s lone goal five minutes into second-half stoppage time to give the Rapids the victory March 12 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park; the teams reached a scoreless draw June 22 at StubHub Center.
- The Rapids' win in the first meeting ended a four-game Galaxy undefeated streak alive in the series. It also ended a two-game Galaxy winning streak in Commerce City.
- ​The last Rapids win at StubHub Center came in 2013. The Galaxy won 6-0 there in 2014 – the largest-ever victory in the all-time series; the teams have reached draws in the last two Carson meetings.
