The Colorado Rapids want no part of the misery hanging around the Los Angeles Galaxy; they only want to add to it.
The defending MLS champion Galaxy limps into Invesco Field at Mile High on Wednesday in the midst of a four-game losing streak and carrying a scoreless albatross that has exceeded 390 minutes.
The Galaxy (2-6-1), which hasn’t played since a 1-0 loss to the Rapids on May 20, trails Real Salt Lake by a point and is tied for last in the Western Conference with Chivas USA, which has played two fewer games.
With rumors swirling about the job security of Galaxy coach Steve Sampson, the Rapids (3-3-2) are expecting to see a desperate opponent.
“We have to be smart,” Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo said. “We have to be anxious to finish them and score goals, but we have to be very disciplined.”
Sampson’s plight is not lost on Clavijo, whose Rapids started 2-8-2 last season. The turning point came in June when Colorado defeated the Galaxy 1-0 despite having two players sent off for red cards. The Rapids went 11-5-4 after that win to advance to the playoffs.
“One game will switch a season for many teams, and we don’t want to be that team,” Clavijo, who finished 13-13-6 in his first season with the Rapids.
One might expect the Galaxy’s current spiral to be particularly pleasing to forward Jovan Kirovski. Kirovski exchanged barbs with Sampson last season before being dealt to the Rapids.
Kirovski, who scored his team-leading fifth goal of the season in Saturday’s disappointing 2-2 draw with Real Salt Lake, took the high road Monday.
“It’s over now,” he said. “I’m just concentrating on what we’re doing here. We’re playing well, and whoever it is, we want to win. Especially at home.”
The Rapids play nine of their next 13 games at Invesco Field, where they are 2-1-1 this season.
Injury report
The Rapids escaped the rain and cold of Salt Lake City without any injuries and could get defender Aitor Karanka (ankle) and goalie Joe Cannon (groin) back for Wednesday’s game.
Karanka showed no signs of discomfort Monday and Cannon had some vintage stops during a seven-on-seven game. Cannon said his real test will be kicking the ball long.
Nicolas Hernandez (hamstring) has improved, but Clavijo said the forward will not play Wednesday.
Penalty kicked
The penalty kick awarded to Real Salt Lake on Saturday might have cost the Rapids three points for a victory.
Replays showed the inadvertent hand ball by Mike Petke happened well outside the 18-yard box. Clavijo said Monday that Major League Soccer officials acknowledged to him on the phone that the call was wrong.
