2012 MLS Standings Week 8: Galaxy Climb, Chivas Fall

The LA Galaxy joined the Colorado Rapids with nine points on the season after defeating the Rapids on Saturday. This also pulled them even with stadium-mates Chivas USA, who did not grab any points on Saturday losing at home to Philadelphia. The Galaxy are on top of that group on goal differential.

For the second week in a row, LA's opponent this weekend is within passing distance in the standings. FC Dallas come to The Home Depot Center Saturday to take on LA sitting one spot ahead with ten points. Dallas are 0-3-0 on the road this season, and have to play RSL on Wednesday.

Chivas on the other hand get to go on the road, where they are undefeated this season. Their opponents are the Colorado Rapids who just lost at home to the Galaxy last week.

The leaders in the Western Conference are San Jose with16 points and Real Salt Lake with 15. RSL has to travel to FC Dallas midweek, then hosts Toronto on Saturday. San Jose travels to Philadelphia to take on the Union.

Galaxy Vs. Rapids: LA Holds On Against Pressure To Win 2-1

The LA Galaxy defeated the Colorado Rapids 2-1 tonight at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, holding on to three points despite a last minute penalty kick awarded to Colorado. Landon Donovan ends up with the game winner, with an assist from Robbie Keane. However, Josh Saunders saving an Omar Cummings penalty kick with the match on the line certainly earns him Man of the Match.

Colorado earned a free kick just before stoppage time, when Andre Akpan went down in the box jostling with David Junior Lopes and Todd Dunivant. Lopes, who had the least amount of contact, was given the yellow card by referee Ramon Hernandez from thirty yards behind the play. Omar Cummings telegraphed the resulting penalty kick, and Josh Saunders guessed right to knock it away.

Landon Donovan's game winner came in the 29' when Robbie Keane made great run into the middle of the defense. They converged on Keane, allowing him to find Donovan trailing to his left. Donovan took the ball cleanly in the box and rolled it past Matt Pickens.

Going back twelve MLS matches, including playoffs, before tonight the LA Galaxy had scored more than one goal only four times; an offense Opta Sport described as mediocre. However, the Galaxy were able to do better than mediocre for the third time this MLS season and coincidentally all three of those matches were victories.

However, one trend that didn't hold up is Colorado being held without a goal for two straight matches. This was the third time in their last sixteen matches that this had happened. However, the Galaxy couldn't make it three in a row and are still without a clean sheet on the season.

One thing the Galaxy were able to make up for is Sean Franklin's own goal in their match against Real Salt Lake (Galaxy lost 1-3). That was the only recorded own goal in MLS coming into this week, until Martin Bonjour flubbed on Wednesday. In the 21' when Mike Magee's header on a brilliant free kick from David Beckham was deflected in by Marvell Wynne, the score was finally evened for the Galaxy.

Galaxy Vs. Rapids: TV, Kickoff Time, And More

The LA Galaxy are back on the winning track, and hope to stay that way; on the road to face the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Here are the relevant details of Saturday night's MLS matchup:

Records: Galaxy (2-3-0, 6 pts); Rapids (3-3-0, 9 pts)

Location: Dick's Sporting Goods Park; Commerce City, Colorado

Time: 6:00 p.m. PDT

TV: KDOC with Mark Rogondino and Kobi Jones

Goals Per Match: Galaxy 1.60; Rapids 1.17

Goals Allowed Per Match: Galaxy 1.80; Rapids 1.33

Home vs. Road: The Galaxy only have one road match this season, which they lost 1-0. The Rapids are ecstatic to be home, where they are 2-0-0, after going 1-3-0 on the road this season so far.

Series History: The Galaxy have won each of their last visits to Colorado, including a 1-3 win last June 18th. The Galaxy won both meetings a year ago. However, before the Galaxy beat the Rapids 1-0 at home last year, the Rapids had won each of their last two visits to Carson.

Losing streaks: The Galaxy snapped their two game skid against Portland last week, avoiding a three game losing streak unheard of in the Bruce Arena era. Colorado are currently on a two game losing streak.

For more news and notes on Galaxy soccer, be sure to read LAG Confidential.

Galaxy At Colorado: LA Travels To Rockies For Important Showdown

The LA Galaxy (2-3-0) hit the road this week, taking on the Colorado Rapids (3-3-0) at Dick's Sporting Goods Park at 6:00 PDT, with a chance to move further up the Western Conference standings.