LAFC vs. Colorado Rapids - Leagues Cup 2024 - Semifinals
Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. PT
🏟: BMO Stadium - Los Angeles, CA
After a 3-0 win over the Seattle Sounders in the Leagues Cup Quarterfinals, LAFC continues its tournament run by hosting the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday, August 21, at BMO Stadium in the Leagues Cup Semifinals.
The winner of this match will not only earn a spot in the Leagues Cup Final but will also secure a place in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, the most prestigious tournament in the region, featuring qualifying clubs from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
LAFC has shone in Leagues Cup during the tournament’s two-year existence. The Black & Gold is 6-1-1 all-time in Leagues Cup play and has outscored its opponents 27-7 in those eight games. Denis Bouanga’s second-half goal against the Sounders in Saturday’s Quarterfinal was his 11th in Leagues Cup, making him the competition’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Lionel Messi (10 goals).
“[Bouanga] has a goal-scorers mentality, meaning he doesn't stop until he scores,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo told the media on Tuesday. “He keeps going and going and going and that wears defenders down … [but] we're not worried who is the hero tomorrow. Just as long as that player is in black and gold.”
Rapids In Depth:
The Rapids have built impressive momentum throughout Leagues Cup 2024. After suffering a 4-0 defeat to the Portland Timbers in its opening Leagues Cup match on August 1, Colorado rebounded with a penalty-shootout victory over Club León to advance from Group West 5. The Rapids have since eliminated Liga MX teams FC Juárez, Toluca F.C., and top-seeded Club América and are making their first-ever appearance in the Leagues Cup Semifinals.
Coached by Chris Armas, the Rapids are enjoying a resurgent MLS regular season after finishing last in the Western Conference in 2023. Currently they are in fourth place in the West with 41 points from 26 matches played.
The Rapids’ Leagues Cup attack is led by Rafael Navarro, who has contributed two goals and an assist in this tournament. Zack Steffen has emerged as a strong candidate for Leagues Cup’s Best Goalkeeper award based on his performances against Club León (a 1-1 full-time draw) and his clean sheet against heavily-favored Club América.
LAFC holds a 7W-4L-1D record against the Rapids over the years, across all competitions. The teams will meet for the third time in 2024, with each club having won its home match in the 2024 MLS regular season.
Playing a familiar conference opponent in a high-stakes game, Cherundolo said, “is like trying to catch an eel with your bare hands. It's difficult at times if you're not careful. It will slip away. For us, it's important to manage transition moments the way we can, and we've done well in the past, but on top of that, set pieces. If we can manage those two phases of the game, I feel we're in a good position to win.”
The Black & Gold Can Win If:
It continues shackling a Rapids team that has not scored at BMO Stadium since 2021. That fact, plus the Black & Gold’s perfect 5W-0L-1D record in Leagues Cup matches at BMO (where the club has outscored opponents 22-4) makes for a significant home-pitch edge for the reigning Western Conference champs.
LAFC will continue to rely on Denis Bouanga to spearhead its attack. The 2023 MLS Golden Boot winner has either scored or assisted in all eight Leagues Cup matches the team has played to date. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who has assisted on two of Bouanga’s goals, has kept three clean sheets in four Leagues Cup appearances behind a new three-back defensive structure.
The Rapids Can Win If:
They get on the scoreboard first in a tough road environment at BMO Stadium. The task won’t come easy as Colorado has failed to win away from home in regulation since June 19 in all competitions. With the recent transfer-window loss of Canadian international Moïse Bombito (who signed with Ligue 1 club Nice), the Rapids will need to lean on Djordje Mihailovic and Cole Bassett’s playmaking abilities in order to snap a bad run of form in Los Angeles.
