Spotlight on Gyasi Zardes: A “homegrown player” in his second season with the Galaxy, Zardes scored twice last week against Chivas USA — his second two-goal game this season — and has 12 goals for the season. He is the top scorer among American players in Major League Soccer. A native of Hawthorne, Calif., who came up through the Galaxy Academy and played at Cal State Bakersfield, Zardes scored four goals last year in his rookie season for the Galaxy. Growing up in Southern California, he attended Galaxy games and dreamed of playing with Landon Donovan.
NOTEBOOK
• Galaxy: Los Angeles has won four consecutive matches and six of its past eight, and is in second place in the Western Conference. The Galaxy scored seven goals in its past two games and 13 in its past four. The Galaxy leads MLS in goals scored (48) and has yielded the fewest (27). Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane are tied for the MLS lead in assists (12). But Keane will miss this game because of national team duty (Ireland), as will Los Angeles first-team goalkeeper Jaime Penedo (Panama).
• Rapids: Colorado has lost six straight (yielding 16 goals), tying the franchise record for consecutive losses set in 1997 and 2012. Before losing 1-0 at Seattle last Saturday, the Rapids gave up 11 goals in the previous three games, including a 4-3 home loss to Los Angeles on Aug. 20.
Footnote: Colorado coach Pablo Mastroeni played the final nine matches of his career for Los Angeles after the Rapids traded him in 2013. Galaxy coach Bruce Arena coached Mastroeni on the U.S. national team and is a mentor for the Rapids legend.
