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 starts in goal in tonight’s Round One Best-of-3 Series match against the Colorado 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 has tallied seven assists in 36 appearances across all competitions during the 2024 campaign.
- Colombian defender Emiro Garces, 22, makes his fifth 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.
- 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). Notably, Yoshida played in three FIFA World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022) for the Japanese National Team.
- John Nelson makes his 16th start (27th 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 37th appearance (28th 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 returns to the starting lineup after missing the regular-season finale against Houston Dynamo FC due to suspension. Delgado tallied one goal and seven assists in 32 appearances (29 starts) in league play this season. Delgado has recorded one goal in 13 career playoff appearances (10 starts).
- Riqui Puig, who has recorded three goals in two appearances 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). Notably, Puig has recorded a goal or an assist in 12 consecutive matches played at Dignity Health Sports Park dating back to March 30, totaling 18 goal contributions (8 goals, 10 assists) during that span. Additionally, Puig ranked fourth amongst all players in MLS 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. Notably, Pec recorded 21 goal contributions (11 goals, 8 assists) in 17 games played at home (15 starts) in league play this season. Pec has scored a goal in five consecutive matches played dating back to Sept. 18, totaling nine goal contributions (5 goals, 4 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. Notably, Paintsil has recorded seven goal contributions (3 goals, 4 assists) in his last five matches played at home dating back to July 17.
- Serbian National Team forward Dejan Joveljić, who recorded 15 goals and six assists during the 2024 MLS Regular Season, starts up top in tonight’s match against the Rapids. In 13 matches played at Dignity Health Sports Park this season, Joveljić has recorded nine goals and three assists. Joveljić ranks tied for ninth in team history with Gyasi Zardes with 34 goals scored in league play. Joveljić has recorded one goal across eight minutes played in two career playoff appearances (0 starts).
