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The Colorado Rapids, who are winless on the road this season, head to Carson, Calif., on Saturday to take on the Los Angeles Galaxy in a battle of two Western Conference foes with fading postseason aspirations.
The Galaxy (6-14-5) begin the weekend in 10th place in the Western Conference standings, one point ahead of the Rapids (6-15-4). The two teams met in last season's conference semifinals, but are in danger of being left out of the postseason this year.
Los Angeles has lost four straight games, three by shutout. The Galaxy get one of their weapons back this week in star midfielder Jermaine Jones, who is expected to return to the pitch Saturday.
Jones missed the Galaxy's 2-0 loss to Columbus Crew on Aug. 23 and did not start in a 3-0 loss at home to San Jose four nights later while dealing with a cut on his foot between his toes.
"I'm good, and I'm feeling better and better, Jones told the team's website. "The first couple of sessions were a little bit rough, but it's getting better and better. I still have two stitches inside, and they wanted to take them off on Saturday before the game. The doctors gave me the green light, and I'm ready to go."
The Rapids have lost three straight, including a 4-1 defeat at San Jose on Aug. 26. They are 0-10-2 on the road and will be without goalkeeper Tim Howard on Saturday. Howard was tabbed for international duty this past week and will miss Saturday's game while at training camp with the U.S. men's national team.
The Galaxy are just 1-8-4 at home this year. The struggles on their home pitch have put LA in jeopardy of missing the playoffs.
"Every game is a final," Jones said. "That's how you have to see it. I don't want to talk about playoffs, the light is still there, but it's so small," he said.
"Right now, we have to look game by game and see every game as a final. If we at the end, get to the playoffs, we'll be happy, but for now to talk about the playoffs is far away."
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