Most dangerous lineup for LA Galaxy levels the Rapids (again)

The Los Angeles Galaxy has now played the Colorado Rapids four times this year. All four times the five-time MLS Champions have won.

Friday night's Game 2 victory marked not only the end of their opponent's season, but their own will continue. The LA Galaxy have etched their name as one of the four teams in the MLS Western Conference Semifinals.

LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney chose to go with a 4-3-3 formation. In going with this particular set up, it gave him four defenders and two lines up front. Three midfielders and three forwards.

The 4-3-3 formation is designed to maximize ball control by moving and keeping the ball to the front line. So long as players stay focused and commit to their role within this configuration, it works.

Why did this work so well for the LA Galaxy against the Rapids?

In the first meeting between these two teams, (July 17) Vanney went with a 4-2-3-1 formation. This still gave him four defenders.

However, while it placed on person up top, it provided Vanney and his Galaxy players a row of two and another row of three towards the middle of the field. Dejan Joveljic was not in the lineup due to a lower body injury and Marco Reus was not signed with the team yet.

The result of the game, 3-2, was the only close game of the four played. The other three games saw the LA Galaxy win by more than one goal including the two playoff games this month. The Rapids were outscored 9-1.

In the second regular season game against Colorado, Vanney went with the 4-3-3 formation. A 3-1 victory kept the LA Galaxy on pace for the top seed in the MLS Western Conference playoffs.

Since they lost in Match #34 against the Houston Dynamo and LAFC won against the Vancouver Whitecaps, the LA Galaxy earned the second seed. That, along with the Rapids clinching the seventh seed, pit these two soccer clubs against each other in the playoffs.

In Game 1 of the first round, the same 4-3-3 formation was used. Joveljic played up top again along with Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec on either side of him. Marky Delgado, Edwin Cerrillo and Riqui Puig formed the second line in the midfield.

Puig and Cerrillo had switched spots from the October 2nd contest going into Game 1. The Spaniard talent was a difference maker in all four games against the Rapids. He scored at least one goal each time the Galaxy faced the Rapids.

In the 4-3-3 formation, Puig scored two goals each game. He only scored once when the Galaxy used the 4-2-3-1 lineup back in July.

Puig did so in Game 2 on Friday night minutes apart in stoppage time of the second half. He was credited with scoring four of the LA Galaxy's nine goals in the opening round of the playoffs. The 25-year-old also assisted on a fifth goal which happened in Game 1.

The star midfielder committed to his role in the 4-3-3 formation. Vanney trusted him and his teammates to keep the ball up top.

Between the two playoff games, the LA Galaxy had 18 goals on target from 21 attempts. The Rapids had just four on target with 9 attempts including just one in Game 1.

Vanney may have found the winning lineup here. This starting lineup within the 4-3-3 format also gifts him the ability to have Reus, Miguel Berry, Diego Fagundez, Gaston Brugman and others come in off the bench to provide fresh legs.

The Los Angeles Galaxy look sharp and poised in their quest for a tenth MLS Finals appearance and to win a sixth MLS Cup.