Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo may want to send Chicago winger Justin Mapp a fruit basket.
Mapp’s stoppage-time goal Sunday sank Los Angeles 2-1, which means the Rapids (9-11-4) trail the Galaxy (10-11-5) by four points with two games in hand heading into Saturday’s showdown at the Home Depot Center.
With Colorado in position to overtake the Galaxy for the Western Conference’s third playoff spot, this historically rude rivalry has the Rapids braced for impact.
“It’s going to be dirty,” veteran defender Ritchie Kotschau said.
The Rapids are unbeaten in their past five games; the Galaxy has dropped two straight.
“I expect it to be more physical, I expect it to be more emotional,” Clavijo said of the match. “They’re going through some tough times, and we need to take advantage of that.”
Clavijo is quick to recall the Rapids’ May 8 trip to Carson, Calif., when referee Jair Marrufo awarded a controversial penalty kick in stoppage time to set up the Galaxy’s 3-2 victory.
The Galaxy knocked the Rapids out of the playoffs last season with a 2-1 aggregate victory. Colorado last won at the Home Depot Center on July 9, 2003.
Clavijo expects to have midfielder Alain Nkong back after he missed Saturday’s win over D.C. United while attending to personal matters in Cameroon. Leading scorer Jeff Cunningham and team captain Pablo Mastroeni are in Guatemala for tonight’s World Cup qualifier.
Serna almost signed
With the departure of Israeli international Guy Melamed, the Rapids are in the process of signing Colombian striker Diego Serna.
Even with Serna, the Rapids have one roster spot available.
Footnotes
Former Rapids striker John Spencer, 34, is training with Scottish club Livingston, according to the BBC. … Kansas City rookie Scott Sealy was named MLS player of the month for August.
