Our prediction for this MLS match:
Allianz Field will host Thursday’s MLS game between Minnesota United and Los Angeles Galaxy. The Loons aim to put an end to their three-game losing run, but they will have a big fish to fry against Chicharito and Co. The likes of Hassani Dotson, Romain Metanire, Eric Dick, and Patrick Weah should miss out with injuries for the home team.
LA Galaxy, on the other hand, have been having their ups and downs of late, with the team beating both Nashville and Austin, while losing to Real Salt Lake and Dallas. Anyhow Los Angeles Galaxy are more of a team than Minnesota United, and we predict that the visitors will prove their worth on the field. Jorge Villafana and Adam Saldana should be the only absentees in the away team. In their last meeting in the MLS the two sides played out a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Highlighted Player (Jukka Raitala):
Columbus Crew full back Jukka Raitala was born in Kerava, Finland on September 15, 1988. Raitala started his senior career at Klubi-04 and after making 22 league appearances for the club, he moved to HJK in 2007. After ending his spell with Helsinki, the Finland international signed a loan deal with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
During his spell with die Kraichgauer he appeared for the reserve team as well and in 2011 he was loaned again, this time out to Osasuna. On August 28, 2011 he made his Primera Division debut with los Rojillos playing as a left back against Atletico Madrid. Raitala played for the likes of Heerenveen, FC Vestsjaelland, Aalborg and Sogndal in the past as well he signed for Columbus Crew for the 2017 season.
The Columbus defender made his Finland debut on February 4, 2009 in a friendly against Japan. It has to be noted that he represented Finland at the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship in 2009.
Highlighted Team (Los Angeles Galaxy):
Los Angeles Galaxy are probably the most famous American soccer club. The club have been participating in the MLS since 1996 and San Jose Earthquakes are considered their bitterest rivals. A number of top-class players were part of the team in the past, but, no doubt, David Beckham is the club’s most significant star. The former Manchester United star played for LA Galaxy from 2007 to 2012 and he scored 18 goals in 98 appearances in the league for the club.
Fellow England international Steven Gerrard is yet another Premier League ace who joined LA Galaxy. Stevie G signed a $9 million deal with the club in June, 2015. One year before he arrived to Los Angeles, the Galaxy won their fifth MLS Cup, with the team beating New England Revolution (2-1) in the final of the tournament, but winning the CONCACAF Champions League in 2000 is considered the club’s biggest success. The MLS outfit outplayed Olimpia of Honduras in the title game, with Ezra Hendrickson scoring the winning goal ten minutes before the final whistle.
Los Angeles Galaxy play their home games at StubHub Center, the stadium that was opened on June 1, 2003. The capacity of the venue is 27.000.