The Los Angeles Galaxy appear to have steadied the ship after a disastrous start to the season.
They will try to stretch their unbeaten run to four straight league games when they visit the Colorado Rapids for a matchup of the two worst records in MLS on Saturday night in Commerce City, Colo.
The Galaxy (3-9-5, 14 points) are 1-0-2 in their past three after settling for a 2-2 draw with visiting Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday in Carson, Calif. The Galaxy fell behind early, pushed ahead with two goals and then allowed the equalizer on a penalty kick in second-half stoppage time.
Los Angeles midfielder Daniel Aguirre was carded for a hand ball in the penalty area, and Alan Pulido found the top left corner with his penalty kick to secure the draw.
It was the Galaxy’s first home match since firing president Chris Klein amid turmoil and fan protests over the direction of the club. Galaxy coach Greg Vanney was asked Wednesday if the home atmosphere had settled down.
“In general I felt like energy in the building, noise, things like that, it was certainly more of that (Wednesday) than there has been in the rest of the season,” Vanney said. “I think the guys profited from that noise and were able to use it in a positive way.”
Martin Caceres and Preston Judd each scored their second goals of the season, matching the team lead for the Galaxy, who have just 16 goals on the year. But Caceres took a hit in the knee and the resulting avulsion fracture will keep him off the field for 3-5 months.
Now the Galaxy must return to the road and face the Rapids (2-9-7, 13 points), who haven’t played since June 10.
After the league’s week-long international break, the Rapids were ready to return Wednesday at home against the Vancouver Whitecaps, but severe weather created a four-hour delay before the game was postponed.
The Rapids’ last match was a 2-0 road loss to Orlando City that saw Braian Galvan and Lalas Abubakar receive red cards, leaving Colorado with nine men for the final 15 minutes and stoppage time.
“I think the last two performances have been positive and something we can build on, but I just think when you’re not getting the decisions (from the referees), you’re not really given a chance to build on anything,” Colorado midfielder Connor Ronan said.
The Rapids have scored 14 goals this season. Only the New York Red Bulls (13) have fewer.
One piece of good news for Colorado: It has gone 7-1-2 over its past 10 matches against the Galaxy. One of the Rapids’ two wins this season was a 3-1 road triumph over the Galaxy on May 6.
–Field Level Media