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MLS LA Galaxy

Galaxy Earn First Victory of the Steve Sampson Era In Front of Sellout Crowd

September 12, 2004 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
LA Galaxy News Release


(Carson, CA Saturday, September 11, 2004) – Goals from Sasha Victorine and substitute Arturo Torres handed Steve Sampson a crucial first win in three matches as a professional manager in front of sold-out home crowd, as the Los Angeles Galaxy claimed another hard-fought 2-1 victory with in-state rival San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night at The Home Depot Center.

It was another typical clash between the West Coast rivals with sand and elbows both flying as the Galaxy snapped a seven-game winless that dated back to the tenure of former manager Sigi Schmid, bringing them even on points in the Western Conference with the Kansas City Wizards.

Ronnie Ekelund's 77th-minute goal proved too little for the Earthquakes, who despite the return of Landon Donovan, Brian Ching and Pat Onstad from international duty failed to lead the team to victory. Following the Dallas Burn's afternoon loss to D.C. United, San Jose remained fourth in the West table.

As has become customary in the so-called "California Clásico," the two teams were at each other's throats from the get-go. An intense battle developed early between Paul Broome and Brian Mullan on the far side touchline, the Los Angeles left back being whistled twice within the first quarter-hour for uncharitable behavior toward the former Galaxy player.

In the end, it was 6-foot-2 Victorine who managed to stand above the fray and produce the several chances and a lead that the Galaxy never lost.

Victorine got his first crack at goal 28 minutes in, after Todd Dunivant was shown yellow for fouling Brazilian midfielder Marcelo Saragosa near the top of the area, but the fifth-year winger's ensuing free kick was easily punched away by Onstad.

His persistence would pay off eight minutes later, as Alejandro Moreno's header off an Andreas Herzog cross rattled off the woodwork and into the path of the onrushing Victorine, who hammered the ball home from five yards as Onstad had no chance.

Then some three minutes later, Broome shook Mullan on the left flank and sent in a cross that, after being cleared off Broome's head by Quakes defender Troy Dayak, was headed by Victorine just wide of Onstad's far post.

The visitors possession improved in the second half, and in the 53rd minute Ching appeared to have goalkeeper Kevin Hartman beat after he ran onto a Donovan pass in the penalty area, but "El Gato" stretched out low to block the Hawaiian's right-footed shot from close range.

Second-half sub Joseph Ngwenya -- who replaced a visibly upset Herzog up top in Sampson's 4-4-2 formation -- took little time to show his worth, nearly scoring on his first touch in the 65th minute after slipping by Onstad.

The hosts doubled their lead in the 75th, as second-year player Torres ran onto a Peter Vagenas pass, and slotted it just inside Onstad's far post for his first MLS goal before leaping into the stands to celebrate with delighted fans.

But Ekelund pulled one back for San Jose two minutes later, taking a clearance of a Jeff Agoos freekick just inside the area and launching it off the crossbar and downward into Hartman's goal, which the lineman correctly ruled had crossed the line before bouncing back out.

But with Ching and Donovan both looking tired after their busy week, San Jose's last best chance came in the 87th minute, when second-half sub Chris Brown's powerful long-range shot curled up and away from the upper corner of Hartman's goal.

The two teams will meet again in two weeks time in their final league meeting of the campaign at Spartan Stadium, but first they both hit the road for vital Western Conference battles next weekend, the Galaxy traveling to the Cotton Bowl to face the Burn (8:30 p.m. ET) and the Earthquakes heading to Arrowhead Stadium to face the Wizards (8:30 p.m. ET).

MLSnet.com Man of the Match: Sasha Victorine (Los Angeles Galaxy)

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