The MLS Cup Playoff semifinals are entering their final stretch, with the second leg of the semifinal ties in both conferences set to bring a lot of high-impact action. The day’s festivities will be kicked off by settling last weekend’s grudge match between the Colorado Rapids and the LA Galaxy, with the Galaxy holding a slim 1-0 aggregate lead.
Rapids vs. Galaxy, 2016 MLS playoffs: Start time, live stream, TV schedule, and 3 things to know
The LA Galaxy hold a slim aggregate lead going into this match, but the Colorado Rapids will hope their home-field advantage lets them win the tie.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
That thin margin means that the first goal in this match will have a huge impact on the outcome. If the Galaxy score first, holding an away-goal tiebreaker will mean that any aggregate draw will see them win. That means the Rapids would have to score three times to win — something they have only done three times this year. If the Rapids score first, however, it then becomes a wide-open race, with a 1-1 scoreline going to extra time. But both teams will be pushing hard to find a winner.
One thing’s for sure: This match will not be boring.
TV: ESPN (U.S. - English), ESPN Deportes (U.S. - Spanish),
Online: WatchESPN (U.S.)
Match Date/Time: Sunday, 2 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. local
Venue: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Denver, Colorado
Three big things to know
- The Colorado Rapids may be coming into this match with a one-goal deficit in the tie, but it’s far from over. Their home record this season was phenomenal, going undefeated in MLS action, and only giving up two goals at home since the end of July. The last time the Galaxy came to town, they lost 1-0, and that was before Colorado had Tim Howard in goal. The Galaxy may be leading, but this is still anyone’s tie to win.
- That said, if the Rapids are going to win this tie, they need to be better in the final third than they were in the first leg. Kevin Doyle was underwhelming up top, and it was telling that their attack was so inconsistent all match long that Jermaine Jones’ runs up from midfield in the second half represented their most dangerous attacks. They need to find a way to better break the Galaxy down if they’re going to score the goals they need, or it doesn’t matter how well they defend.
- The Galaxy, meanwhile, can’t afford to get off their game plan. They won the first leg of the tie because they came up with the right approach: switching the ball inside and out and always making sure to try to find that one extra ball to catch Colorado off guard. They obviously need to make sure not to concede, but if they don’t work to score and get too far off of what got them here, the Galaxy will be in a heap of trouble.
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