COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Coming off an energetic 2-0 home opener win against the Portland Timbers on Feb. 28, the Colorado Rapids (1-0-1) have set their sights on the weekend as they prepare to host the LA Galaxy (1-1-0) at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park, bringing the Western Conference to the Mile High City. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m, Saturday, March 8.
Saturday’s matchup will mark the 100th all-time meeting between the two clubs across all competitions. The Galaxy currently holds a 49-35-13 advantage in the series, including a 3-0 victory in the teams’ most recent meeting on Aug. 23, 2025, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. The Rapids, however, have won three of the five most recent matchups.
Colorado enters the contest looking to maintain momentum following last Saturday’s home opener victory and will be utilizing new additions to the club. Including the implementation of new leadership as head coach Matt Wells acts in his first season with the Rapids, focusing on developing the team’s roster while encouraging them to think beyond their role as “young players.”
“I’ve been keen to stress with them that they need to stop seeing themselves as young players. I don’t want you here training as young players. I don’t want you here trying to contribute to training and get the odd minutes here and there,” Wells said. “See yourself as a star, and maybe I’ll see you as one as well.”
Wells and his coaching staff have been adamant regarding opportunities for growth in their program and on the roster. Numerous substitutions in last week’s matchup leave fans curious about the starting lineup vs. the Galaxy and the future progression for the young team.
“Thats the culture I want here,” Wells stated early in the season. “If you train well, then you get opportunities to play, and that goes across the squad.”
Week two against the Portland Timbers produced two different starters from the original week one starting lineup, including senior defender Rob Holding and left wing Alex Harris, marking his first career MLS regular-season start.
Additionally, five other Rapids substitutions were made in the second half, allowing players Wayne Fredrick, Darren Yapi, Keegan Rosenberry, Connor Ronan and Ted Ku-DiPietro to enter the game and defend the Rapids 2-0 lead.
Both Frederick and 22-year-old Jackson Travis are two names that come to mind specifically for Wells and his coaching staff when describing the talent and dedication of the younger side of the roster.
“I think certainly Jackson, Wayne, those two guys spring to mind… I think they’ve really embodied that. They’ve shown the correct mentality, and I’ll be honest, they’ve made a massive impact on me,” Wells said.
Despite being early in the season, the home opener win against the Portland Timbers dramatically changed the energy for the club, reevaluating how personality is implemented in play and allowing many firsts for the team. Among these “firsts” included 18-year-old Lucas Herrington’s first MLS goal and HCA HealthONE Rocky Mountain Children’s Man of the Match honors.
Additionally, a quick goal from Hamzat Ojediran in the sixth minute and numerous saves from goalkeeper Zack Steffen throughout the last match allowed the Rapids to claim a 2-0 shutout win against the visiting Timbers.
Steffen, who has totaled six saves throughout 180 minutes this season, including an early save in the third minute of last match, is predicted to face a heavy offensive lineup from the Galaxy out of the gate.
Though senior midfielder Riqui Puig is out with a season-ending knee injury, Midfielders Lucas Sanabria and Gabriel Pec pose an offensive threat, with Sanabria scoring one of four goals this season and Pec having seven on target scoring attempts thus far.
However, the largest threat lies with Galaxy senior forward João Klauss, who is responsible for three of the four goals the Galaxy has scored across two matches this season, as the team comes off a 3-0 home win against Charlotte on February 28.
Going into Saturday, Colorado heavily leads the Galaxy both on shots, 16-11, and aerial duels, 29-9, though the teams compare closely in passing accuracy, with the Rapids at 87 and the Galaxy at 87.5. Other standout stats include eight attacking assists from Rapids midfielder Paxton Aaronson and 100% passing accuracy from senior midfielder Connor Ronan.
Nonetheless, as the season progresses, Wells continues to impress and amplify club management’s expectations, “checking all the boxes,” for both Rapids President Pádraig Smith and KSE President of Team & Media Operations Kevin Demoff.
“To talk about what he has already done….. What is really thrilling for me is what we’ve already been able to see in such a short period of time,” said Rapids President Pádraig Smith. “That is what makes me really excited about what’s to come over the course of the next season.”
