GALAXY TONIGHT
Opponent--Colorado Rapids.
Site--Rose Bowl.
Time--7:30.
Radio--KTNQ (1020).
Records--Galaxy 11-16, Rapids 13-15.
Record vs. Rapids--2-1.
Galaxy update--The roller-coaster ride that has been the Galaxy’s second Major League Soccer season is due to hit a downturn tonight if past performance is anything to go by. After a 3-1 loss to the New York/New Jersey MetroStars on Thursday, Los Angeles soared to a 6-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Mutiny on Sunday. In the Galaxy’s favor tonight is that most of its starting lineup will be available. The only player missing, however, is a key one. Midfielder Mauricio Cienfuegos, the creative force on the team, has left to rejoin El Salvador’s national team in its preparation for Sunday’s World Cup ’98 qualifying match against Canada. The Galaxy is in fourth place in the Western Conference with 29 points, two ahead of the San Jose Clash and six behind Colorado. The Galaxy needs to win its remaining five games, including tonight’s, to finish the regular season with a .500 record. The team has cut its general-admission ticket price to $6 for tonight’s game only.
Rapid update--Colorado defeated the Galaxy, 2-1, on June 21 at Mile High Stadium but lost to Los Angeles in the other two meetings. Former U.S. national team midfielder Chris Henderson leads the team in scoring with six goals and 13 assists. Forward Paul Bravo has seven goals and six assists. Goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann’s 1.57 goals-against average is fourth-best in the league. Colorado is coming off a 2-1 loss to the Western Conference-leading Kansas City Wizards and trails the second-place Dallas Burn by only a point.
