Rocky Mountain Ready!

Despite an 80-minute flight delay last night, the team arrived safe and sound in Denver just after 11pm. Originally set to depart a 6:30pm, the flight was delayed to 8:50pm but ended up leaving an hour early as the airline found another plane. Thankfully, everyone made the flight depsite all of the time changes. Once we touched down it was time to get to some rest, so the guys grabbed the team bags and headed to the hotel in downtown Denver.

This morning, the players are on their own for breakfast, then will meet for a team lunch and meeting with a pre-game meal at 4:30pm. Then it is off to the stadium at 5:45pm.

Don’t forget that tonight’s game is tape delayed on FS West starting at 10 p.m., or live through the MLS Direct Kick television package and online at MLSnet.com. The game will also be available live on the radio in Spanish at KWKW 1330 AM ESPN Deportes Radio and online in English at www.lagalaxy.com.

Here are a few notes about the match and a preview video to get you ready for kickoff.

TOUGH PLACE TO PLAY: Saturday’s game will be the Galaxy’s fourth trip to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park since it opened at the start of the 2007 MLS season. In the previous three games, the Galaxy have allowed eight goals and failed to score any, while losing all three matches. In 2007, LA suffered 1-0 and 3-0 loss on the road to the Rapids before opening the 2008 MLS season with a 4-0 defeat.

All-time the Galaxy are just 7-15-3 in Colorado, with their last win coming on July 13, 2002 when Danny Califf, Ezra Hendrickson and Carlos Ruiz all scored in a 3-1 win over the Rapids. Since that game, the Galaxy have played 11 regular season league games in Colorado, going 0-8-3 and have been outscored 17-3 in those matches.

However, LA is 3-1-0 all-time in Colorado during the postseason, including a 2-0 win over the Rapids in their last postseason trip to Colorado for the 2005 Western Conference Final.

FAMILIAR FOES: Tonight’s game is the third and final game on the schedule between the Galaxy and Rapids this season. On April 4, Conor Casey scored three times, including the game-winner in the 84th minute, giving the Rapids a 3-2 win at The Home Depot Center. Three days later, the same two sides met in a U.S. Open Cup Play-In Game, with the Rapids coming out victorious 4-2 on penalties after the game finished 0-0 after 90 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of extra time.

In 2008, the Galaxy did not finish their first season series with an opponent until May 31, when they played their second and final game of the year against Toronto FC.

AGAINST THEIR FORMER CLUB: Jovan Kirovski and Tony Sanneh will each be facing their former club later today. Kirovski joined Colorado from the Galaxy in September 2005 and spent two and a half years with the club, scoring 12 goals in 61 games for the club before being traded to San Jose in midway through the 2008 season.

Sanneh played for the Rapids at the end of the 2007 season, playing in nine games for the club before sitting out the 2008 campaign.

BERHALTER AND GORDON RETURN: After serving their one game suspensions for receiving red cards against Chivas USA two weeks ago, Gregg Berhalter and Alan Gordon are eligible to be back in the squad for tonight's game against the Rapids.

Gordon has two goals in 10 career games against the Rapids, including one in the two side’s first meeting this season when he tapped in from close range in the 48th minute to give LA a 2-1 lead.

Berhalter made his Galaxy debut against Colorado , playing 74 minutes in central defense in the U.S. Open Cup Play-In Game between the two sides on April 7.

BUDDLE BACK ON THE PRACTICE FIELD: The Galaxy’s second leading scorer with a career-best 15 goals last season, Edson Buddle is closing in on a return to the field after missing the first three games of the season. Buddle, who also missed Tuesday’s Open Cup Play-In Game against Colorado, has been out since suffering a right quad injury at a training session in early March.

The 27-year old returned to training last week and could feature in the club’s game tonight.

He played two games against Colorado last season, both at home, scoring two goals and adding an assist in those games. He tallied a hat trick in LA’s 3-0 win over the Earthquakes on June 14 and then tied the score at 2-2 on August 3, a game that LA went on to lose 3-2.


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