Los Angeles Galaxy earn runner up in Western Conference

The LA Galaxy's 64 points in the Western Conference weren't enough to beat out their crosstown rival, LAFC, for the top seed. The five-time MLS Champions not only lost on Saturday night to the Houston Dynamo FC but they lost out on overall top seed in the West.

The good news is that Head Coach Greg Vanney have almost two weeks to prepare for their best-of-three first round opponent, the Colorado Rapids. The Rapids are the seventh seed as they avoid the Wild Card stage which is between the eighth and ninth seeds.

Game 1 is set for Saturday, October 26th at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. Game 2 is slated for Friday, November 1st at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce Park, Colorado. If a Game 3 is necessary, it will be played on Saturday, November 9th at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

"[So] We need to be able to mature from the moments and be ready. Because the tournament starts now in a week and every moment like that is critical. When we say we have to play every moment and we have to deal with every situation, that's a good example of it right there."

- Greg Vanney, Head Coach of the LA Galaxy

Homefield advantage in this round is key as the LA Galaxy have not lost a game all season while playing in Carson. With a record of 19-7-8, the Galaxy have not lost back-to-back games all year.

In their two meetings this year, the Los Angeles Galaxy have won both against the Rapids. Earlier this month, the Galaxy traveled to Colorado and won, 3-1. After a score from Rapids midfielder Connan Ronan late in the first half, the Galaxy came back with a trio of unanswered goals.

Gabriel Pec and Riqui Puig scored eight minutes apart early on in the second half. Puig would add another to the scoreboard in stoppage time. Marky Delgado and Miguel Berry recorded an assist in the game, as did Pec.

In the middle of July, a shooting exchange took place between the LA Galaxy and the Rapids. Diego Fagundez struck first for the Galaxy and Kevin Cabral responded for the Rapids. Joseph Paintsil and Puig scored next to give Los Angeles the lead for good.

In the first round against Colorado, the Los Angeles Galaxy must....

Win! To drop the first game at Dignity Health Sports Park in 2024 at time like this gives a major shift in momentum and confidence to a Colorado Rapids team that clawed their way to the seventh seed.

In the last five matchups featuring these two teams, the Galaxy have only lost once. They are 3-1-1 during that stretch including the two wins this season. Winning at least once more and another tie would push the Galaxy into the Western Conference Semifinals.

That means an offense that features Dejan Joveljic, Pec, Puig and Paintsil will have to produce. LA Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy also needs to have some strong performances.

One area that will help the Los Angeles Galaxy is starting off strong. In their last five losses during the regular season, McCarthy and the defense have allowed the first score. Early deficits make it hard for any team to win even if their offense is as skilled and loaded as the Galaxy's.

With Marco Reus, Julian Aude and others coming back healthy and ramped up for a potential deep playoff run, it begins next Saturday for the Los Angeles Galaxy.