LAFC at Colorado Rapids
Saturday, March 30 at 1:00pm PT
Location: Dick's Sporting Goods Park - Commerce City, CO
TV: Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: 710 AM ESPN, ESPN LA App, 980 AM La Mera Mera
Coming off a convincing 5-0 win against Nashville SC last Saturday, LAFC takes on the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, March 30, at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
A set-piece goal in the ninth minute by Timothy Tillman snapped a three-game scoreless drought for the Black & Gold. Reigning MLS Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga scored his first goal since the MLS Cup final in December, then added a second against Nashville in the 48th minute. Cristian Olivera and Eduard Atuesta sealed the match with a goal each in the second half.
The win also snapped a three-game winless streak for LAFC and lifted the Black & Gold into sixth place in the Western Conference (based on Supporters’ Shield tiebreakers), with seven points through five matches played.
LAFC owns an all-time record of 6W-3L-1D against the Rapids across all competitions, but has won just once at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The Black & Gold’s lone road victory in the series came in 2018 by a 3-0 score line.
Rapids in-depth
Led by head coach Chris Armas, the Rapids are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2021
Colorado has started this season with a record of 1W-2D-2L, and is winless in its last two matches. The Rapids lost a 1-0 heartbreaker at home last weekend when Houston netted a stoppage-time goal at the 90+6’ mark.
Having parted ways in the offseason with former captain Jack Price, as well as club mainstays Danny Wilson and Diego Rubio, the new-look Rapids include United States international and former Columbus Crew goalkeeper Zack Steffen.
Steffen returns to Major League Soccer after spending time with reigning Premier League champs Manchester City as well as on loan with English side Middlesbrough and German club Fortuna Düsseldorf.
The Rapids also brought in winger Djordje Mihailovic from Dutch club AZ Alkmaar. Mihailovic, also a USMNT hopeful, returns to MLS after playing for the Chicago Fire and CF Montréal between 2017 and 2022.
The Black & Gold Will Win If…
the team can carry the momentum it found last Saturday into the Colorado altitude. Back in 2018, the Black & Gold clinched its first-ever playoff berth at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, but the club has struggled there since, scoring just two goals in its last four visits. The end of Bouanga’s goal drought may provide the lift LAFC needs to gain its second-ever victory in Colorado.
Rapids Can Win If…
they prevent LAFC from scoring the first goal. Last year, LAFC’s record was 22W-1L-4D in all competitions when scoring the first goal. That trend has continued this season. LAFC’s two wins in 2024 have come when LAFC scored first (in both of those wins LAFC also scored the second goal). LAFC’s two defeats this year came when the club fell behind in the first half – a trend that Colorado will try to prolong this Saturday.
