LA Galaxy a near guarantee to win against Colorado

The Los Angeles Galaxy's offense came out of the gate in Game 1 of the opening round in the Western Conference Finals. The blew out and shut out their guest, the Colorado Rapids, 5-0.

Forward Dejan Joveljic and midfielder Riqui Puig both notched a pair of scores. Defender John Nelson scored his first career MLS goal in the game, as well.

Yes, the Rapids have a chance to return favor as a win by any score for them ties up the series. If Colorado were to win Game 2, they of course set up a Game 3 where they could pull off the upset and advance eliminate the LA Galaxy.

The stars don't look to align in favor for the Rapids

Hold your horses, Rapid fans! The LA Galaxy did not win 19 games during the regular season by accident.

In fact, of their eight losses, none of them were back-to-back. Thus, it is highly unlikely that Friday and next Saturday the Galaxy would drop consecutive games for the first time all year.

Counting last weekend's defeat, the Rapids are on a five-game losing streak. Their last win in MLS came against Toronto in the middle of September.

That game was at home. The last time Colorado has won a game on the road was on August 31st against FC Dallas. That was two months ago.

Furthermore, the Rapids have only won back-to-back games five times counting their biggest win streak of three games during mid-June. To ask Colorado to accomplish something that was a rarity this year in order to save their season is unfair and nearly impossible.

"You have to play each game as it comes to you, and you have to play each game to solve the problems of the day and to get the result at the end of the day."

- Greg Vanney, LA Galaxy Head Coach

The Los Angeles Galaxy have a 4-1 in playoff series against Colorado. The Rapids have only eliminated the Galaxy from the postseason once (2016).

Puig has scored or assisted at least once in four of his last five contests for the Galaxy including Game 1. He has five goals and three assists in that stretch.

Teammate Gabriel Pec is on an even bigger tear as of late. The last time he failed to record a goal, or an assist was the 4-2 win against rival LAFC on September 14. The newcomer from Brazil has five goals and five assists in his last six games for the LA Galaxy.

Simply put, the Colorado Rapids are outmatched. This series is as good as over. While there is a sliver of hope for the Western Conference's seventh seed, the LA Galaxy are a near guarantee to win the series and advance, again.