CARSON, Calif. – Mathematically, the Colorado Rapids are the hardest team for any MLS team to score on in 2016.
After only managing one goal against them in three tries this year, the LA Galaxy know all too well the strength of the defense they’ll face on Sunday in the first leg of the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals (5:00 pm ET; ESPN in the US; TSN1/4 in Canada).
For head coach Bruce Arena, the question of whether this is the best defense he’s faced all year is a baffling one.
“I don’t know how to answer that question,” said Bruce Arena. “They’re certainly one of the better defensive teams.”
LA, who beat Real Salt Lake 3-1 in the Knockout Round on Wednesday, have certainly been stymied by Colorado this year. The Rapids shutout the Galaxy in two of their three meetings, beating LA 1-0 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in March, holding them to 0-0 draw in California in June and tying them 1-1 at StubHub Center in August.
The Galaxy were able to put six shots on targets in that final meeting, though they were only able to sneak one past goalkeeper Tim Howard. LA know beating the US international is a tall task.
“I’ve been watching from afar this year, haven’t had a chance to play against them. You would expect that [head coach] Pablo [Mastroeni], with a lot of time that he’s had now over the years would get things right in that way,” said LA’s Landon Donovan. “You look at them individually and they have a lot of quality players. You look at them collectively and they’re even better defensively.
“What they will do is they’ll press us in certain ways, they’ll be compact, and then they’ve got a few playmakers, so we’ve got to be mindful of that.”
Boosting the Galaxy’s chances of breaking down Colorado’s vaunted defense is Robbie Keane, who could get the start after coming off the bench to make his return from injury on Wednesday. Keane missed LA’s last meeting with Colorado, as well as a midweek bout in June. So, what are his impressions of the defense he’ll be facing?
“They’re a fit team,” said Keane. “They press a lot. Got good players, a good manager who’s done a great job with them this year. We’re expecting a completely different game that we got against Real Salt Lake.”
Mastroeni’s turnaround of the Rapids has impressed his former Galaxy teammates, as well as the head coach who has seen several of his progeny go on to lead MLS teams. Arena’s been particularly impressed with the additions of Howard and Shkelzen Gashi.
“He’s obviously getting better,” Arena said of Mastroeni, who he coached with the Galaxy and the US national team. “It takes some time. It’s like young players, you have your peaks and valleys, ups and downs. It’s the same with young coaches, as we’ve seen throughout the league the last couple of years.”
And how does this team reflect the personality of Mastroeni?
“Competitive team, they battle,” said Arena. “That was Pablo as a player. There was some quality there as well.
“He wasn’t just a ‘bring your lunch-pail’ type of guy. He brought his lunch-pail, but he had caviar in it once in a while – not always a ham sandwich.”
