LA Galaxy Starting XI: GK John McCarthy; D Miki Yamane, D Emiro Garces, D Maya Yoshida ©, D John Nelson; M Edwin Cerrillo, M Riqui Puig, M Mark Delgado, M Joseph Paintsil, M Gabriel Pec, F Dejan Joveljić
Substitutes: GK Novak Mićović; D Julián Aude, D Mauricio Cuevas, D Jalen Neal, D Eriq Zavaleta, M Gastón Brugman, M Diego Fagundez, M Marco Reus, F Miguel Berry
Lineup Notes
- 2022 MLS Cup MVP John McCarthy, who recorded a shutout after not facing a shot on goal in Game 1 of the Best-of-3 Series match against Colorado on Oct. 26, starts in goal in Game 2 of the series against the Rapids. The Philadelphia, Penn., native made a career-high 32 appearances (32 starts), finished second in the league in saves (127) and posted six shutouts during the 2024 MLS Regular Season. McCarthy has made two career playoff appearances (1 start).
- Japanese International defender Miki Yamane, who finished the 2024 MLS Regular Season with six assists in 33 matches played (33 starts) starts at right back in tonight’s match against the Rapids. Yamane, who recorded an assist in Game 1 of the Best-of-3 Series against Colorado on Oct. 26, has tallied eight assists in 37 appearances across all competitions during the 2024 campaign.
- Colombian defender Emiro Garces, 22, makes his sixth consecutive start across all competitions in tonight’s match against Colorado. Garces ended the 2024 MLS Regular Season with one assist in nine matches played (4 starts) in his first season with the Galaxy. Garces has recorded one assist in matches played (6 starts) across all competitions during the 2024 campaign.
- Japanese International defender Maya Yoshida captains the Galaxy in tonight’s match. Yoshida ended the 2024 MLS Regular Season with two goals and one assist in 34 matches played (34 starts) and was the only player on the Galaxy roster to start every league match. Yoshida has recorded two goals and one assist in 37 matches played (37 starts) across all competitions during the 2024 campaign. Notably, Yoshida played in three FIFA World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022) for the Japanese National Team.
- John Nelson, who recorded his first career MLS goal (Regular Season or Postseason) and tallied an assist in the 5-0 win over Colorado in Game 1 of the Best-of-3 Series on Oct. 26, makes his 17th start (28th appearance) across all competitions during the 2024 campaign in tonight’s match against the Rapids. Nelson ended the 2024 MLS Regular Season with one assist in 23 matches played (12 starts).
- Edwin Cerrillo makes his 38th appearance (29th start) across all competitions for LA this season in tonight’s match against the Rapids. Cerrillo has notched one goal seven assists in 127 games played (92 starts) in six seasons played in MLS (2019-Present). Cerrillo ended the 2024 MLS Regular Season with one goal and two assists in 33 matches played (24 starts).
- Mark Delgado, who has recorded one goal and eight assists in 36 matches played (32 starts) across all competitions during the 2024 campaign, starts in midfield. Delgado tallied one goal and seven assists in 32 appearances (29 starts) in league play this season. Delgado has recorded one goal in 14 career playoff appearances (11 starts).
- Riqui Puig, who has recorded five goals and one assist in three appearances across all competitions against the Rapids this season, starts in tonight’s match against Colorado. Puig finished the 2024 MLS Regular Season with 13 goals and 15 assists and led all players in MLS this season in touches (2,847), passes attempted (2,847), passes completed (2,497), fouls suffered (83) and multi-assist performances (6). Puig ranked fourth amongst all players in MLS in league play this season in game-winning goal contributions (11; 5 goals, 6 assists) behind only Denis Bouanga (13; 9 goals, 4 assists), Cucho Hernandez (12; 8 goals, 4 assists), Lucho Acosta (12; 7 goals, 5 assists).
- MLS Newcomer of the Year candidate Gabriel Pec, 23, who finished the 2024 MLS Regular Season with 30 goal contributions (16 goals, 14 assists) in 33 appearances (30 starts), starts on the right wing in tonight’s match against Colorado. Pec’s 30 goal contributions during the 2024 campaign is tied for sixth-most all-time amongst all MLS players in their first season in the league. The 2024 MLS All-Star has recorded one goal and five assists in three appearances across all comps against Colorado during the 2024 campaign. Additionally, Pec has recorded a goal or an assist in six consecutive matches played across all competitions dating back to Sept. 18, totaling 10 goal contributions (5 goals, 5 assists) during that span.
- Ghanaian National Team forward Joseph Paintsil, who recorded a goal and two assists against Colorado on July 17, starts on the left in tonight’s match against the Rapids. Paintsil recorded 10 goals and 10 assists in 29 matches played (28 starts) during the 2024 MLS Regular Season.
- Serbian National Team forward Dejan Joveljić, who has recorded 17 goals and seven assists in 29 appearances (24 starts) across all competitions during the 2024 campaign, starts up top in tonight’s match against the Rapids. In two appearances across all competitions against the Rapids this season, Joveljić has tallied two goals and two assists. Joveljić has recorded three goals and one assist across 84 minutes played in three career playoff appearances (1 start) for the Galaxy.
