Ten things to know ahead of Colorado Rapids vs. LA Galaxy

 

As we prepare to resume MLS duties this Saturday, here are a few items of note ahead of Colorado Rapids versus LA Galaxy at Dick's Sporting Goods Park (kickoff 7:00 p.m, TICKETS).

1. Colorado Rapids have met LA Galaxy more than any other team in MLS. This will be a 67th regular season contest between these two clubs, with the Galaxy clear leaders in the head-to-head (34-24-8).

2. Of the 66 previous meetings, the Galaxy have won 34, compared to the 24 victories enjoyed by the Rapids. Much of that success for the Galaxy has come in California, where they have an impressive 23-7-3 record.

3. Indeed, in Carson, the Galaxy have outscored the Rapids 67-31 in their 33 meetings. The Galaxy are one of only two teams to have scored a century of goals against the Rapids. The other is FC Dallas.

4. At home the Rapids are 17-11-5 (GF 45, GA 38) in regular season matchups with the Galaxy.

5. Last season started brightly for the Rapids in their meetings with Bruce Arena’s side. A Vicente Sanchez chipped goal was the difference in a 1-0 win for the Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (05/03/2014). Pablo Mastroeni’s team then held a 2-0 and 3-1 lead over the Galaxy at home, only to lose 4-3 in what would be their fifth defeat in a row (08/20/2014). They then crumbled to a franchise-record 6-0 loss at StubHub Center the following month, though their cause was not helped with having goalkeeper Joe Nasco sent off inside the opening 40 seconds.

6. Prior to the two crushing defeats in the latter stages of 2014, the Rapids had actually enjoyed a run of success, winning the previous three games, without conceding a goal. This included a 1-0 win at StubHub Center (09/07/2013), courtesy of Edson Buddle, who now finds himself back at the Galaxy.

7. The long history between these teams began on June 26, 1996. Shaun Bartlett gave the Rapids a fourth minute lead in LA, only for Eduardo Hurtado to net a hat-trick and bag the victory for the home side.

8. As well as the 66 regular season encounters, the teams have also met seven times over four postseasons - though not since 2005 - and three times in the U.S. Open Cup.

9. This Saturday, the Rapids will aim to claim a fourth win in a row as they meet LA Galaxy. They last won four in a row in the 2003 season. Indeed, that year, they won five from five, from 7/4-8/9, defeating Kansas City Wizards (H), Los Angeles Galaxy (A), San Jose Earthquakes (A), MetroStars (H) and Dallas Burn (H).

10. Colorado's 18 goals to date have been scored by 13 different players. This Saturday’s opponents also have 13 different goalscorers, albeit helping to contribute their 36 goals. For the Rapids, only Gabriel Torres (4), Kevin Doyle and Dillon Serna (both 2) have more than one goal thus far.

LA Galaxy players surprised by the departure of Jaime Penedo, excited to move forward with Donovan Ricketts

CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy made some major moves on Thursday as the club bid farewell to incumbent starter Jaime Penedo and then just an hour later, they welcomed back former Galaxy ‘keeper Donovan Ricketts.

The Galaxy and Penedo came to a mutual parting of ways following a two-year stint by the Panamanian at StubHub Center which included winning an MLS Cup title in 2014. Shortly after, the Galaxy finalized a deal to acquiring Ricketts from Orlando City SC for a 2016 MLS SuperDraft second-round selection.

The departure of Penedo seemed sudden for many in the club but according to Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena, it was time for the two parties to move on.

“He did a good, solid job for us for two years,” Arena told reporters on Thursday. “We did all the right things with Jaime. Sorry that he’s leaving but we absolutely did all the things that were supposed to do and we were very responsible and supportive of him.”

Penedo ends his career with the Galaxy with 61 appearances for the club in MLS competitions, earning a 29-14-17 record, with 177 saves and 21 shutouts for Los Angeles. Known for his remarkable athleticism on the field and his happy demeanor off of it, Penedo quickly became a favorite in the clubhouse and in the stands, however, contract issues meant that it was time for him to move on.

“Unfortunately Jaime was unhappy with his contract and asked to be released from it. He’s helped us win a championship last year, and for me personally, he did everything that I asked,” Galaxy goalkeeper coach Matt Reis told LAGalaxy.com. “For me personally, he was the first starter that I’ve worked with, and I couldn’t have asked for a better person to try and help. Unfortunately, he thought for his family and for everything that is happening in the future that it was time for him to leave.

“We made the move to bring in Donovan who is obviously a person that this club is familiar with, and an amazing person in his own right. I look forward to working with him and, hopefully, in the next six months, we can win another championship.”

Added defender A.J. DeLaGarza, “Jaime is a good person and one of the nicest guys that I’ve ever met but he had to make a decision for himself and his family. You can’t fault someone for looking out for their family. All the best to him.”

Ricketts brings a championship pedigree having won a title in 2011 with the Galaxy. During his three seasons with the club from 2009 to 2011, Ricketts complied a 39-16-19 in MLS competition with 226 saves and 30 shutouts.

Since leaving the Galaxy, the 38-year-old has made stops with the Montreal Impact, Portland Timbers and finally Orlando City SC. In his only season with the Lions, Ricketts earned a 2-5-3 record with 21 saves and earned two shutouts.

“There are still seven of us here from when he came in 2009, we know Ricketts well and we know what he’s capable of doing,” DeLaGarza said. “He’s got a lot of experience in this league know, and we’ll look to him to get on the field, and or push the younger goalkeepers. I still think that we’re in a good place.

“We know what he can do. He’s a big guy who comes off his line for crosses, demand his box, and he’s vocal to his backline when we’re not doing the right things. He’s a leader and I’m sure that he’ll continue that and hopefully get us some wins.”

Whether Ricketts will be available to play on Saturday against the Colorado Rapids remains to be seen but Arena is optimistic that the Jamaican will have a significant impact in his return to the club.

“He’s a proven goalkeeper in our league with a lot of experience, hopefully he gets here and we can get him in as soon as possible,” Arena said. “We think that he’s a good goalkeeper in this league and we think that he’ll do a good job for us.”