CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy will have to go to great heights to advance in the MLS Cup playoffs. Literally.
More than 5,000 feet, to be exact. That’s the challenge that awaits the five-time MLS Cup champions Sunday in Commerce City, Colo., where the Galaxy will take on the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (11 a.m., ESPN).
Attend the LA Galaxy tailgate in Colorado
Commerce City is located 5,160 feet above sea level, which is why the Rapids’ home field is regarded as one of the toughest venues in Major League Soccer. The altitude also helps explain the Rapids’ 11-0-6 home record, why they gave up just seven goals at home and why the Galaxy, leading the two-leg Western Conference semifinal by one goal following last Sunday’s hard-earned 1-0 win at StubHub Center, face one of their toughest hurdles in their chase for another MLS Cup.
“There’s not a whole lot you can do,” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said of the altitude. “Make sure your team’s hydrated. We don’t spend any time at altitude before a game. If you’re fit you can deal with it.
“The fitter you are the better you’re able to cope with it. That’s about all the game plan is for that.”
The Galaxy’s Landon Donovan, who recently came out of retirement, called the altitude “a very physical component.”
“But what we work on a lot of the year is making good decisions when you’re tired,” he said. “That’s part of how you train. Generally in the 70th or 80th or 85th minute that kind of training comes into play. When you go to Colorado that could be in the 10th minute, when you lose your breath.
“The key for us is mentally stay engaged and focused, even if there are a few players here or there who are exhausted. I think we have enough guys now that have dealt with it.”
The Rapids allowed an MLS-low 32 goals this season, but the Galaxy defense has been in top form lately with three shutouts in the last four matches, including last Sunday’s playoff. Donovan said he’s noticed a different mentality in defending the goal.
“I think we’re all starting to jell,” he said. “We’re not having to deal with 10 dangerous situations a game. It’s more like two or three.”
Attend the LA Galaxy watch party at StubHub Center
Sunday will mark the fifth time the Galaxy have played in a postseason game in Colorado, with L.A. holding a 3-1-0 advantage. The Rapids, by the way, have not scored in their last four postseason games overall. Their last playoff goal was by Omar Cummings in a 1-0 win over Columbus on Oct. 27, 2011.
Sunday’s playoff game will also be the Rapids’ first at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park since a 2-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City on Oct. 30, 2011.
Left back Ashley Cole said he can’t wait for Sunday’s test. The winner, on aggregate goals, will face the FC Dallas-Seattle winner, with the Sounders holding a decisive 3-0 advantage entering the second leg of that series.
“We know how good they are, they’re a tough team to play and of course playing away is going to be difficult,” he said of the Rapids, who were boosted by the return last Sunday of midfielder Jermaine Jones, who missed much of the season with a knee injury. “We know the kind of job we have to do and the conditions we’re going to face, but we have a lot of experienced players, so hopefully we can kind of help the young ones in terms of what to do on the pitch.
“First and foremost we have to fight for each other. This is a great opportunity, especially for me and Jelle (Van Damme) and the newcomers who have come into the squad to try and get into another final.”
2016 Western Conference Semifinal – Leg 2
Dick's Sporting Goods Park | Commerce City, Colorado
Sunday, Nov. 6
11:00 am PT (ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN in the US | TSN5 in Canada)
The Lowdown:
The LA Galaxy defended their turf by picking up a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids in the first leg of this series, and now the Rapids will need to win by the same margin or more if they wish to keep their season alive. That will require an improvement in the attack, as Colorado registered just one shot on goal in the first leg. The Galaxy can complicate matters for the Rapids with an away goal, but have to deal with the difficulty of playing at altitude.
Two players who will be talked about plenty are LA's Robbie Keane and Colorado midfielder Jermaine Jones. Neither of the two grizzled veterans started in the opening leg, and their statuses for the decisive fixture remain question marks. Both are likely to see the field at some point, however, given their big-game experience and the fact that a trip to the Western Conference Finals is at stake.
Colorado Rapids Snapshot:
- 2016 Regular Season Finish: West No. 2 seed (15-6-13 record, 58 pts / 4-6-7 away record)
- Current Form: W-W-W-L-D
- Strengths: Colorado has an organized and stout defense that is tough to break down. Even if teams do, they then have to get past the stellar Tim Howard in goal, which is no easy feat.
- Weaknesses: The attack lacks some punch, as was evident in the first leg. There are talented offensive-minded players on the squad, but not a plethora of them.
- Injuries/Suspensions: OUT: M – Dillon Serna (knee)
- Player to Watch: Jermaine Jones. The midfield anchor came off the bench at halftime in the first leg and injected a bit of life to what was otherwise an anemic attack. He said after the match that he is ready for 90 minutes, but whether that's true or not will be something worth tracking both in the lead-up to and during the game.
- Probable Starting XI: Tim Howard; Eric Miller, Jared Watts, Axel Sjoberg, Mekeil Williams; Sam Cronin, Michael Azira; Dominique Badji, Jermaine Jones, Shkelzen Gashi; Kevin Doyle
LA Galaxy Snapshot:
- 2016 Regular Season Finish: West No. 3 seed (12-6-16 record, 52 pts / 8-1-8 home record)
- Current Form: W-D-W-W-W
- Strengths: Boast a talented and well-balanced squad that includes star players and seasoned veterans who have won MLS Cups before.
- Weaknesses: The Robbie Keane-Giovani dos Santos partnership does not bring the best out of both of them, but leaving out a star Designated Player like Keane from the lineup in back-to-back matches of such importance can be a gamble.
- Injuries/Suspensions: QUESTIONABLE: F – Gyasi Zardes (metatarsal), M – Steven Gerrard(hamstring)
- Player to Watch:Jelle Van Damme. The center back proved to be the difference on both ends of the field, as he defended well in the first leg while also getting into the attack and delivering a game-winning assist.
- Probable Starting XI: Brian Rowe; Ashley Cole, Jelle Van Damme, Daniel Steres, Robbie Rogers; Baggio Husidic, Sebastian Lletget; Landon Donovan, Giovani dos Santos, Emmanuel Boateng; Alan Gordon
Match Essentials
Referee: Mark Geiger
Assistant Referees: Sean Hurd (AR1), Joe Fletcher (AR2)
4th Official: Armando Villarreal
LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids Head-to-Head
All-Time (71 Meetings)
LA 36 wins, 110 goals • Colorado 25 wins, 79 goals • Ties 10
All-Time Playoff Meetings (8 Meetings):
LA 7 wins, 15 goals • Colorado 1 win, 1 goal • Ties 0
All-Time in Colorado (35 meetings):
Colorado 17 wins, 46 goals • LA 12 wins, 41 goals • Ties 5
2016 Meetings (4 meetings):
COL 1, LA 0 (Mar. 12); LA 0, COL 0 (June 22); LA 1, COL 1 (Aug. 13), LA 1, COL 0 (Oct. 30).
