Major League Soccer Regular Season - 3

Colorado Rapids 4 - 1 FT Los Angeles Galaxy

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
77
FT
Sun, Mar 8
Colorado Rapids
4-1
Los Angeles Galaxy
⚡ Intensity 89
⚖️ Balance 51
🏆 Stakes 44
🎲 Upset 0
Rapids rout Galaxy after Pec sees red

Rapids Run Riot After Galaxy See Red in First Leg

Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 77/100. Our verdict: Colorado's late surge blew the doors off this first leg, punishing a depleted Los Angeles side with ruthless efficiency.

The Opening Act

High Intensity from the kickoff set an aggressive tone as the Colorado Rapids edged possession in the opening phases. The Rapids pressed high, seeking an early advantage in this crucial first leg. Their breakthrough arrived in the 23rd minute when D. Yapi found the back of the net, rewarding the home side's relentless early pressure. Despite Colorado holding the ball and dictating the tempo, Los Angeles Galaxy remained incredibly dangerous on the counter-attack. The visitors fired off 15 total shots throughout the game, constantly testing the Rapids' defensive resolve. The persistence of the away side paid off shortly after the halftime break. Joao Klauss struck a clinical finish in the 56th minute to equalize, setting up what appeared to be a tightly contested and dramatic second half.

The Pivot

The true turning point, completely shattering the game's fragile Balance, came just four minutes after the Galaxy equalizer. Gabriel Pec, who had just delivered the crucial assist for the tying goal, was shown a straight red card in the 60th minute. Reduced to ten men, the visitors' defensive structure instantly collapsed under the weight of the disadvantage. Colorado capitalized mercilessly on the extra space. Substitute A. Manyoma stepped onto the field and instantly made his mark, restoring the Rapids' lead with a sharp strike in the 76th minute. From that pivotal moment, the floodgates opened entirely. The numerical advantage allowed Colorado to stretch the field, turning what was a gritty tactical battle into a completely lopsided offensive exhibition.

The Resolution

With incredibly high Stakes in this knockout format, Rafael Navarro decided to put the entire tie almost out of reach for the visitors. The prolific forward netted a rapid-fire brace in the 85th and 89th minutes, the latter expertly assisted by fellow substitute W. Frederick, to seal a commanding 4-1 victory. At the other end, Rob Holding anchored the backline flawlessly, ensuring no late surprises or slip-ups. This dramatic late goal flurry fundamentally alters the complexion of the series. The Galaxy now face an agonizing wait until the return leg on September 27th in Los Angeles, where they will need a miraculous recovery to overturn this massive three-goal deficit and save their season.

Key Questions

How did the red card for Gabriel Pec impact the match?

Gabriel Pec's 60th-minute dismissal completely unraveled LA Galaxy's defense, allowing Colorado to score three late goals and dominate the final half-hour.

What made Darren Yapi the Man of the Match?

D. Yapi recorded a crucial early opening goal and an assist, driving Colorado's offense and earning a stellar 8.9 rating.

What caused the 5-goal thriller?

A combination of LA Galaxy's red card, clinical finishing from Rafael Navarro, and impactful substitutions transformed a tight 1-1 game into a high-scoring rout.

What is the Futmetrix Score?

The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.

Match Statistics

Possession
53%
47%
Colorado Rapids 53%
Los Angeles Galaxy 47%
Shots
10
15
Colorado Rapids 10
Los Angeles Galaxy 15
Shots on Target
6
7
Colorado Rapids 6
Los Angeles Galaxy 7
Expected Goals (xG)
1.88
1.09
Colorado Rapids 1.88
Los Angeles Galaxy 1.09
Passes
499
449
Colorado Rapids 499
Los Angeles Galaxy 449
Pass Accuracy
90%
86%
Colorado Rapids 90%
Los Angeles Galaxy 86%
Corners
2
5
Colorado Rapids 2
Los Angeles Galaxy 5
Fouls
10
5
Colorado Rapids 10
Los Angeles Galaxy 5
Yellow Cards
0
3
Colorado Rapids 0
Los Angeles Galaxy 3
Red Cards
0
1
Colorado Rapids 0
Los Angeles Galaxy 1

Match Events

23' D. Yapi
Gabriel Pec 🟨 45'+1
HT
J. Paintsil M. Cuevas 🔄 50'
Joao Klauss (Gabriel Pec) 56'
58' 🔄 D. Sealy T. Ku-DiPietro
58' 🔄 H. Ojediran C. Ronan
58' 🔄 J. Atencio W. Frederick
Gabriel Pec 🟨 60'
Gabriel Pec 🟥 60'
65' 🔄 R. Cannon K. Rosenberry
68' 🔄 Colorado Rapids A. Manyoma
M. Reus E. Thommy 🔄 71'
Joao Klauss Matheus Nascimento 🔄 71'
76' A. Manyoma
J. Aude J. Nelson 🔄 81'
M. Yamane L. Sanabria 🔄 81'
85' Rafael Navarro
J. Glesnes 🟨 88'
89' Rafael Navarro (W. Frederick)
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

Colorado Rapids

Goalkeepers
N. Hansen
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
1
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
R. Cannon
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
65
Total Mins
65
Entry
R. Holding
MAGNET
MAGNET
95
Activity
95
Activity
90
Passes
5
Duels
L. Herrington
MAGNET
MAGNET
86
Activity
86
Activity
80
Passes
6
Duels
Midfielders
J. Travis
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
J. Atencio
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
58
Total Mins
58
Entry
H. Ojediran
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
58
Total Mins
58
Entry
D. Sealy
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
58
Total Mins
58
Entry
P. Aaronson
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
1
Assists
23%
Pass Acc
D. Yapi
SNIPER
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Forwards
Rafael Navarro
CLUTCH HERO
CLUTCH HERO
85
Goal Time
85
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
8.7
Rating
BENCH
Z. Campagnolo
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
N. Cobb
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Navarro
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Rosenberry
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
T. Ku-DiPietro
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
32
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Ronan
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
W. Frederick
SUPER SUB
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
32
Minutes
6.5
Rating
A. Manyoma
CLOSER
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
A. Harris
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Los Angeles Galaxy

Goalkeepers
N. Micovic
SIEVE
SIEVE
33%
Save %
33%
Save %
4
Conceded
2
Saves
Defenders
M. Yamane
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
5
Tackles
100%
Duel Win %
J. Glesnes
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Yoshida
MAGNET
MAGNET
97
Activity
97
Activity
92
Passes
5
Duels
J. Aude
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Midfielders
E. Wynder
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
E. Cerrillo
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Gabriel Pec
FRIENDLY FIRE
FRIENDLY FIRE
Red Card
Mistake
Red Card
Mistake
2
Fouls
6.3
Rating
M. Reus
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
18%
Pass Acc
J. Paintsil
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
50
Total Mins
50
Entry
Forwards
Joao Klauss
FINISHER
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
7.3
Rating
BENCH
J. Marcinkowski
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
J. Nelson
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Cuevas
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
40
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Miller
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Haak
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
E. Thommy
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Sanabria
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Ramos
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Matheus Nascimento
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
08/24/2025 Los Angeles Galaxy 3 - 0 Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer Dignity Health Sports Park
06/26/2025 Colorado Rapids 2 - 0 Los Angeles Galaxy Major League Soccer Dick's Sporting Goods Park
11/02/2024 Colorado Rapids 1 - 4 Los Angeles Galaxy Major League Soccer Dick's Sporting Goods Park
10/27/2024 Los Angeles Galaxy 5 - 0 Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer Dignity Health Sports Park
10/03/2024 Colorado Rapids 1 - 3 Los Angeles Galaxy Major League Soccer Dick's Sporting Goods Park
07/18/2024 Los Angeles Galaxy 3 - 2 Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer Dignity Health Sports Park
06/25/2023 Colorado Rapids 0 - 0 Los Angeles Galaxy Major League Soccer Dick's Sporting Goods Park
05/07/2023 Los Angeles Galaxy 1 - 3 Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer Dignity Health Sports Park
08/24/2025
Major League Soccer Dignity Health Sports Park
06/26/2025
Major League Soccer Dick's Sporting Goods Park
11/02/2024
Major League Soccer Dick's Sporting Goods Park
10/27/2024
Major League Soccer Dignity Health Sports Park
10/03/2024
Major League Soccer Dick's Sporting Goods Park
07/18/2024
Major League Soccer Dignity Health Sports Park
06/25/2023
Major League Soccer Dick's Sporting Goods Park
05/07/2023
Major League Soccer Dignity Health Sports Park
Colorado Rapids Win
Los Angeles Galaxy Win
Draw

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 Vancouver Whitecaps 2 6 5 1 +4 WPortland Timbers 1 - 4 Vancouver Whitecaps (08-03-2026)WVancouver Whitecaps 1 - 0 Real Salt Lake (22-02-2026)
2 Colorado Rapids 3 6 6 3 +3 WColorado Rapids 4 - 1 Los Angeles Galaxy (08-03-2026)WColorado Rapids 2 - 0 Portland Timbers (28-02-2026)LSeattle Sounders 2 - 0 Colorado Rapids (23-02-2026)
3 Los Angeles FC 2 6 3 0 +3 WLos Angeles FC 1 - 0 FC Dallas (08-03-2026)WHouston Dynamo 0 - 2 Los Angeles FC (01-03-2026)
4 San Diego 2 6 3 0 +3 WSporting Kansas City 0 - 1 San Diego (08-03-2026)WSan Diego 2 - 0 St. Louis City (02-03-2026)
5 Seattle Sounders 3 6 4 2 +2 WSt. Louis City 0 - 1 Seattle Sounders (08-03-2026)LReal Salt Lake 2 - 1 Seattle Sounders (01-03-2026)WSeattle Sounders 2 - 0 Colorado Rapids (23-02-2026)
6 San Jose Earthquakes 1 3 3 0 +3 WSan Jose Earthquakes 3 - 0 Sporting Kansas City (22-02-2026)
7 Real Salt Lake 2 3 2 2 0 WReal Salt Lake 2 - 1 Seattle Sounders (01-03-2026)LVancouver Whitecaps 1 - 0 Real Salt Lake (22-02-2026)
8 Minnesota United FC 1 1 2 2 0 DAustin 2 - 2 Minnesota United FC (22-02-2026)
9 Austin 1 1 2 2 0 DAustin 2 - 2 Minnesota United FC (22-02-2026)
10 FC Dallas 1 0 0 1 -1 LLos Angeles FC 1 - 0 FC Dallas (08-03-2026)
11 Houston Dynamo 1 0 0 2 -2 LHouston Dynamo 0 - 2 Los Angeles FC (01-03-2026)
12 Los Angeles Galaxy 1 0 1 4 -3 LColorado Rapids 4 - 1 Los Angeles Galaxy (08-03-2026)
13 St. Louis City 2 0 0 3 -3 LSt. Louis City 0 - 1 Seattle Sounders (08-03-2026)LSan Diego 2 - 0 St. Louis City (02-03-2026)
14 Sporting Kansas City 2 0 0 4 -4 LSporting Kansas City 0 - 1 San Diego (08-03-2026)LSan Jose Earthquakes 3 - 0 Sporting Kansas City (22-02-2026)
15 Portland Timbers 2 0 1 6 -5 LPortland Timbers 1 - 4 Vancouver Whitecaps (08-03-2026)LColorado Rapids 2 - 0 Portland Timbers (28-02-2026)