Colorado Rapids vs. Los Angeles Football Club | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Colorado Rapids vs. LAFC
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 32
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park — Commerce City
October 6 - 9 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

Two Western Conference foes looking to bounce back from Week 31 defeats meet at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park Saturday when the Colorado Rapids host LAFC.

One of three teams already eliminated from playoff contention, the Rapids are looking to play the part of spoiler and bounce back from a 4-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders, while LAFC had a six-match unbeaten streak snapped with a 3-1 defeat to the Chicago Fire.

This is the second all-time meeting, with LAFC winning 2-0 at Banc of California Stadium on August 19. Lee Nguyen scored four minutes into the second half and Diego Rossi tacked on an insurance goal with 10 minutes remaining.

Colorado Rapids

Colorado (6-18-6) suffered a sixth straight defeat with a 4-0 loss in Seattle Saturday.

Raul Ruidiaz scored a goal in each half, Nico Lodeiro made it 2-0 in the 52nd minute and Victor Rodriguez tacked on a fourth goal in the 80th minute.

“In the end, overall, we got beat by the better team,” Anthony Hudson said. “It was a bad day. I think myself, the players, we’re very disappointed, but I think today really highlights the gap in terms of where we’re at as a team and a team like Seattle who completely outclassed us today.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: F - Jack McBean, M - Johan Blomberg, M - Jack Price, D - Tommy Smith
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: M - Sam Nicholson (back injury), F - Jack McBean (foot/toe injury); QUESTIONABLE: F - Shkelzen Gashi (calf injury), M - Nana Boateng (undisclosed injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-1-2, right to left)
GK: Tim Howard — Kortne Ford, Danny Wilson, Tommy Smith, Deklan Wynne — Johan Blomberg, Jack Price, Dillon Serna — Kellyn Acosta — Enzo Martinez, Giles Barnes

Notes: In the 1,495+ minutes Enzo Martinez has played this season, Colorado is averaging 1.3 goals for and 1.4 goals against per 90 (averaging 0.6 for and 2.2 against per 90 in the 1,430+ minutes without Martinez). … Colorado has lost the last two home games, scoring none and conceding nine. They haven’t gone three straight scoreless at home since Oct. 2014 to April 2015.

LAFC

LAFC (14-8-8) squandered a chance to move into second place in the West, suffering a shock 3-1 defeat at Chicago Saturday afternoon.

Djordje Mihailovic and Nemanja Nikolic scored nine minutes apart midway through the first half to give the hosts a 2-0 lead. Aleksandar Katai made it 3-0 in the 66th minute before Rossi pulled the visitors back a goal seven minutes later.

“We were no good today so we’re pretty angry with ourselves,” Bob Bradley said. “More often than not we come on the field with a good idea of the football we want to play, we come on the field with the right mentality. Today things were slow. Things were casual.

“It’s a day where we have to be honest with ourselves that we were just not good.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: GK - Quillan Roberts (right fibular fracture), M - Mark-Anthony Kaye (fractured ankle), M - Aaron Kovar (left knee irritation), D - Danilo Silva (right hamstring irritation), F - Latif Blessing (left hip flexor strain)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Tyler Miller — Steven Beitashour, Dejan Jakovic, Walker Zimmerman, Jordan Harvey — Benny Feilhaber, Eduard Atuesta, Lee Nguyen — Diego Rossi, Adama Diomande, Carlos Vela

Notes: Carlos Vela has eight goals+assists in league play since Aug. 1. Only one other teammate has more than three in that time (Rossi – six). … LAFC have won once in their last six road games (3L-2D), allowing 2.5 goals per game.