RETURN TRIP FOR L.A.?

Byline: Fred J. Robledo Staff Writer

Galaxy players are saying all the right things heading into Game 2 of their MLS semifinal series against the Rapids tonight in Denver.

After beating the Rapids 4-0 Saturday at the Rose Bowl, the Galaxy needs a victory at Invesco Field at Mile High to earn its fourth trip to the MLS championship game in seven years.

Galaxy midfielder Peter Vagenas is confident but weary of the situation.

``When we were leading 2-0 (Saturday), I thought to myself that we better not upset them too much,'' Vagenas said. ``Sometimes you mislead everyone when you beat a team so badly, especially when you have the benefit of being at home.''

The winner of this series will play the winner of the New England-Columbus series for the MLS Cup on Oct. 20 in Foxboro, Mass.

If the Galaxy loses or ties tonight, Game 3 will be played Saturday at Cal State Fullerton because UCLA is hosting Oregon at the Rose Bowl.

The Galaxy was 5-8-1 on the road this season and lost its only playoff game on the road 4-1 to Kansas City.

``Colorado has a quality team, and if we aren't paying attention and at the top of our game, they can easily take two from us,'' Vagenas said.

The Rapids already have done it once.

After losing 4-2 to Dallas in the opening game of the first round, Colorado returned home and beat the Burn 1-0 to even the series.

The Rapids returned to Dallas and earned a 1-1 tie in the third game, then won the series in a sudden-death tiebreaker when Mark Chung scored in the first minute.

Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid is concerned with what adjustments the Rapids might make.

When Colorado lost to Dallas in the opener, it switched from a 3-5-2 to a 4-4-2 formation. The Rapids remained in a 4-4-2 alignment Saturday.

``They could go to more of a man-marking three in the back to tighten up our spaces,'' Schmid said.

That's because the Galaxy had huge amounts of space to work with.

``Not only that, but we forced them into hitting a lot of long balls, and that's not their style,'' Vagenas said. ``They like to play through midfield, but we frustrated them into getting (goalkeeper David) Kramer and their backs into hitting long balls out of the back. We have one of the best aerial teams in the league, so they don't have a chance up front if they're hitting long balls in the air.

``So if we can get them to continue to do that, and keep them away from playing to Chung's feet, (Carlos) Valderrama's feet and (Chris) Henderson's feet, we'll be OK.''

Carlos Ruiz has tied the MLS playoff records for most points (14) and goals (6) in a postseason, and Cobi Jones is second among playoff leaders with nine points (three goals, three assists).

But as Schmid pointed out, it's the team's work on defense that has paid dividends the past two games.

``Where we've improved the most is defending in advanced parts of the field,'' he said. ``Our forwards have tracked back to help out.

``And the job Simon (Elliott) did of slowing Valderrama is an area that usually goes unnoticed to the casual fan, but not to me.''

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Photo:

Alexi Lalas, right, will try to get the Galaxy back into the MLS championship game, which could happen with a win tonight.

Nick Ut/Associated Press

Box:

GALAXY vs. COLORADO