Colorado Rapids v Los Angeles FC: Armas praises opponents ahead of playoff-decider

Colorado Rapids’ head coach Chris Armas has lauded Los Angeles FC as “among the finest groups within the league” forward of Saturday’s essential resolution day matchup with main implications for each groups’ 2025 MLS Cup playoff hopes.

Colorado have managed only one win of their final six matches, permitting FC Dallas and Actual Salt Lake to maneuver forward within the race for the Western Convention’s wild card spots.

To remain in playoff competition, the Rapids should safe at the very least a draw and will likely be hoping Dallas and RSL drop factors elsewhere.

Final trip, Colorado misplaced 1-0 to fellow playoff-chasers RSL, in a recreation the place Armas’ aspect chalked up an xG of two.2.

“After all, we’ve got to get previous a very good LAFC staff, with [Denis] Bouanga and Son [Heung-min] coming again into the staff, I’m certain, clearly among the finest groups within the league,” Armas stated.

“We’ve performed effectively towards them, and we play effectively at residence, particularly.

“We discuss being daring and never simply ready for issues to occur to be the protagonists in video games.

“We wish to give our followers one thing to be happy with once more, and that’s a visit to the playoffs. We don’t step on with worry; we love the problem.”

Subsequent up: Resolution Day pic.twitter.com/fVlEugl1D1

— Lafc (@lafc) October 16,

In the meantime, LAFC have surged into the dialog as a prime contender for the 2025 MLS Cup, profitable six of their final seven video games to problem for the West’s quantity two seed.

LAFC’s assault has been pushed by forwards Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-min, who’ve mixed to attain 18 of the staff’s final 20 objectives.

Bouanga (24 objectives, eight assists) enters resolution day simply two objectives behind Lionel Messi within the race for the Golden Boot.

Son, who joined from Tottenham in early August, has shortly made his mark with eight objectives and three assists in simply 9 appearances.

Steve Cherundolo’s aspect will likely be desirous to bounce again after falling to a 1-0 defeat away at Austin on Sunday, in what was their first loss in seven MLS outings.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Colorado Rapids – Rafael Navarro

Navarro has been a stalwart for the Rapids this season, main the best way with 12 regular-season objectives for the membership in 2025, following a 15-goal marketing campaign in 2024.

Since 2011, solely two different Colorado gamers have reached at the very least 12 objectives in a single season: Diego Rubio, who scored 16 in 2022, and Kei Kamara, who tallied 14 in 2019.

LAFC – Denis Bouanga

Bouanga has recorded 24 objectives and eight assists within the common season, making him simply the third participant in MLS historical past — alongside Messi (2025) and Carlos Vela (2019) — to hit each milestones in a single marketing campaign.

His 32 complete purpose contributions are 21 greater than every other LAFC team-mate this yr, with Mark Delgado rating subsequent at 11.

MATCH PREDICTION: LAFC WIN

LAFC have registered comfy 3-0 victories towards Colorado in every of their final two conferences, though each of these have been at residence.

The MLS document for many consecutive shutout victories by three or extra objectives towards the identical opponent is three — a feat achieved thrice (by the Philadelphia Union towards D.C. United and New England Revolution, and by the LA Galaxy towards the Vancouver Whitecaps).

The Rapids enter this match on a four-game unbeaten run at residence in league play (three wins and a draw), their longest residence streak of the season.

Since 2019, Colorado have recorded 11 wins in 19 regular-season residence matches towards California golf equipment (5 attracts, three losses), although all three defeats have come throughout the previous two seasons.

LAFC want only one level from this fixture to ensure a second consecutive 60-point season (they earned 62 in 2024). Just one Western Convention staff — FC Dallas in 2015 and 2016 — have ever managed back-to-back seasons with 60 or extra factors.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY:

Colorado Rapids – 24.8%

Draw – 23.1%

LAFC – 52.1%