The Rapids finished any chance Los Angeles FC had to make the playoffs with a 5-2 thrashing on Decision Day 2021. Colorado had scored just three goals in its first five matches against LAFC (W1 L4) before scoring five last November. The five goals allowed equaled the most LAFC has let in in their MLS history.
Los Angeles FC has won all four of its season-opening matches in the club’s MLS history, equaling Vancouver (2011-14) for the longest such run at the start of a franchise.  There have only been two longer opening day winning streaks in MLS history, with Real Salt Lake winning five curtain raisers in a row from 2010 to 2014 and FC Dallas doing so in six straight from 2012 to 2017.
Colorado finished the 2021 regular season atop the Western Conference, the first time they’ve finished first in the conference in team history. The Rapids won eight away matches last season, the second-most in a single regular season in team history (9 in 1999).
Despite missing the playoffs for the first time in club history, LAFC may have found another goal-scoring star in Colombian Cristian Arango. Arango scored 14 goals in his final 14 starts last season, including scoring eight times in the final six matches of last season.
Jack Price led Colorado with 12 assists last season, though he did not find the net. Price became the fourth player in MLS history to record no goals and at least 10 assists in a regular season, along with Ian Bishop (13 with Miami in 2000), Terry Cooke (12 with Colorado in 2005) and Marco Etcheverry (11 with D.C. in 2000).
