Vanney says ´every play is precious´ as Galaxy approach playoffs

Greg Vanney says the LA Galaxy’s failure to top the Western Conference was a reminder that “every play is precious” as they prepare for their first-round playoff tie against the Colorado Rapids.

The Galaxy suffered a last-gasp defeat to the Houston Dynamo on the final matchday of the regular season, allowing cross-city rivals Los Angeles FC to pip them to the West’s top seed.

Vanney’s team are now gearing up to host Colorado in Game 1 of a three-match first-round series, and the Galaxy coach says they must work to be on the right side of the fine margins.

“Obviously Colorado had a couple of little knocks near the end of the season, which from their perspective I’m sure they never really wanted,” Vanney said.

“But we just have to prepare ourselves for whatever we might see and be the best version of us.

“The result in Houston was a reminder that every play matters and every play can be the difference in a championship, winning the West or being out of the playoffs quickly.

“So that’s what we can take away from Houston, the reminder that every play is precious when it comes to this time of year.”

Addicted to the grind. pic.twitter.com/OnOSg5lKCQ

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) October 24, 2024

The Rapids, meanwhile, only just held onto an automatic playoff spot after ending the regular season with four straight losses – the latest a 3-2 defeat at Austin FC.

“We’ll take many things from it heading into the playoffs, but there are also good things in there,” head coach Chris Armas said of that loss.

“The way we started the game, there was a good energy, a real focus and intensity to what we were trying to do.

“Overall, I think we had discipline and control, where in other games recently we were vulnerable in transition, so for the most part in areas where we wanted to get better, we did.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

LA Galaxy – Gabriel Pec

Galaxy trio Pec (16), Dejan Joveljic (15), Riqui Puig (13) and Joseph Paintsil (10) are the first set of four team-mates to all score at least 10 goals in a single regular season in MLS history.

Pec (16 goals, 14 assists) is the fourth Galaxy player to record 30 goal contributions in a single season, meanwhile.

Putting the league on notice

Gabriel Pec is a 2024 @MLS Newcomer of the Year Award finalist.

: https://t.co/GAxHUERiXS pic.twitter.com/3mJb5BMSQ0

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) October 24, 2024

Colorado Rapids – Djordje Mihailovic

Mihailovic tied the Rapids’ single-season club record with 23 goal contributions in 2024 (11 goals, 12 assists) while team-mate Rafael Navarro had 19 (15 goals, 4 assists).

Only one Rapids player posted 19 or more goal contributions in a single season from 2011 to 2023 (Diego Rubio – 23 in 2022).

MATCH PREDICTION – LA GALAXY

This will be the sixth playoff tie between the Galaxy and Rapids with LA advancing from each of the first four before the Rapids progressed from the most recent meeting in 2016.

The Galaxy have won three of their four home playoff matches against Colorado (one draw), keeping a clean sheet in all four games.

The Galaxy have also won 30 of their 36 all-time home playoff matches (three draws, including a breakaway shootout loss, three defeats) including their last nine in a row.

LA have not lost a home playoff game in 12 years, since a 1-0 defeat to the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2012 Western Conference semifinals, and they approach Game 1 as favourites.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

LA Galaxy – 56.2%

Colorado Rapids – 21.1%

Draw – 22.6%