MLS LA Galaxy

Cobi Jones Sparks Galaxy Offense

Published on July 14, 2002 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
LA Galaxy News Release


DENVER, CO (Saturday, July 13, 2002) - Sparked by three assists from U.S. World Cup Team midfielder Cobi Jones, the Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the Colorado Rapids, 3-1, Saturday night at INVESCO Field. Unanswered goals from Danny Califf, Ezra Hendrickson and Carlos Ruiz enabled the Galaxy to claim the team's first road win since a 1-0 victory against Chicago on May 11. For Jones, the three points marked his first since returning from the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan.

"I thought it was our best game in the last two months," said Galaxy Head Coach Sigi Schmid. "There were a lot of positive signs and now we have to build upon what we did well here tonight. We got goals from different sources and it was important to get Ezra in the scoring column and Danny's goal off a set piece."

The Rapids grabbed a 1-0 lead just before the game reached the half hour mark when forward Chris Carrieri launched a cross-field pass to teammate Chris Henderson. Controlling the ball just outside the right edge of the penalty area, Henderson fired a low, diagonal shot that beat Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman just inside the left post. The goal was Henderson's eighth goal of the year, bringing the veteran just one goal shy of his career-high established during the 2000 season with the Kansas City Wizards.

Six minutes later, a well executed short corner kick played from Mauricio Cienfuegos to Jones worked to perfection, as Jones sent a well-weighted cross to the center of the box. His service was met by an unmarked Califf, who nodded a strong header inside the right post for his first goal of the season. The goal ended 338-minute goal-scoring drought on the road for Los Angeles.

Both teams aggressively pursued the next goal as the second half began. The Galaxy nearly seized the lead in the 56th minute when a reaction save from Garlick denied a left-footed poke from Albright. On the other end, consecutive give-and-go plays orchestrated by Carlos Valderamma, first with Carrieri then with Chung, freed the Colombian for a 19-yard blast that was denied by a diving save from Hartman.

Moments after another header from Califf was blocked of the goal line by Henderson in the 69th minute, it was the Galaxy who took the lead. Good combination play between Jones and Peter Vagenas created space for an overlapping run from Hendrickson. Taking a pass from Jones just outside the penalty area, Hendrickson touched the ball past defender Ritchie Kotschau into space and fired a shot past Garlick into the top right corner of the goal.

Still reeling from Hendrickson's blast, Colorado was beaten again just two minutes later, as Carlos Ruiz outjumped Colorado defender Robin Fraser to nod home a swerving cross from Cienfuegos. Ruiz now has 13 goals on the campaign, tying him with New England's Taylor Twellman for the League-lead. Both of the decisive scoring plays originated on the right wing, where Jones and Cienfuegos effectively created space and scoring opportunities for most of the second half.

With the win, Los Angeles (8-7-2, 26 pts) catapults over the Rapids into third place in the Western Conference. The Galaxy will next take the field this coming Saturday on Korean Heritage Night when they play host to the Kansas City Wizards (7:00 p.m. ET). For more information regarding Los Angeles Galaxy tickets for the club's next home game (June 8 vs. Chicago Fire), please call the Galaxy toll free at (877) 3GALAXY.

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 14, 2002


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