Galaxy Head to Break with 2-1 Win
Published on July 30, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
CARSON, CA. - The Los Angeles Galaxy celebrated their return to MLS League play with a 2-1 victory over the visiting Columbus Crew Wednesday night at The Home Depot Center. Antonio Martinez and Alexi Lalas of the Galaxy, as well as Columbus' Brian Maisonneuve, all recorded their first goals of the season in the match.
The game is the last on the MLS schedule leading into the 2003 Pepsi MLS All-Star break, which will see the MLS All-Star team take on Chivas de Guadalajara Saturday afternoon at the Home Depot Center (3:30 p.m. ET, live on ABC Sports).
The Galaxy played their last MLS match on Wednesday, July 9th, before heading to South Korea to take place in the inaugural Peace Cup.
The Crew offense buzzed around the Los Angeles for much of the first half, as Columbus threw numbers forward. The Crew had a golden chance in the 33rd minute, only to be stopped by Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. Crew defender Frankie Hejduk sent a cross in to Brian Maisonneuve, who sent a pretty one-touch pass over to Mike Clark. Clark ripped a powerful shot on net, which Hartman was forced to parry away. New Zealand national Duncan Oughton pounced on the rebound for Columbus, but again Hartman was able to make the save.
Former Dallas Burn midfielder Antonio Martinez scored with his new club in the 44th minute of play. Cobi Jones started the play, threading a pass into the penalty area. Crew defender Mike Clark rushed to the ball, but Martinez took advantage of a moment's hesitation to collect the ball and to chip a quick shot over goalkeeper Tom Presthus. Oughton tracked back to try and cover the net, but could not reach the ball before it crossed the goal line for the 1-0 L.A. lead.
The Galaxy doubled the lead in the 57th minute, as midfielder Simon Elliott connected with defender Alexi Lalas inside the penalty area. Taking a free kick from the right of the box, Elliott lofted a ball into the center of the area for Lalas. The Galaxy defender shook off his marker with a diagonal run, nodding Elliott's free kick out of the reach of Presthus for the 2-0 lead.
The Crew cut the lead in half in the 79th minute thanks to an acrobatic effort from Maisonneuve. The Crew capitalized on a failed Galaxy clearance, setting up a quick series of touches between Jeff Cunningham and Frankie Hejduk. Hejduk sent the ball into the box for Maisonneuve, who lunged forward to chip to the ball over an outstretched Kevin Hartman.
With the victory, the Galaxy (4-6-7, 19 points) break a trend that has seen the club go winless in five of their last six games. Los Angeles currently sits in fourth place in the Western Conference standings, trailing the third-place Colorado Rapids (21 pts) by only two points and the league-leading San Jose Earthquakes (30 pts) by eleven.
Columbus (5-7-5, 20 points) continues to wrestle with injuries to key players such as Brian McBride and Kyle Martino. Currently in the basement of the tightly packed Eastern Conference, the Crew are only eight points out of the top spot (Chicago and MetroStars), and trail D.C. United by only one point for the fourth position.
Major League Soccer now prepares for the 2003 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game on Saturday, August 2nd at The Home Depot Center (3:30 p.m. ET, live on ABC Sports). In this year's summer showcase game, MetroStars Head Coach Bob Bradley will lead a team of MLS' best players to face Mexico's Chivas de Guadalajara.
MLS Man of the Match - Kevin Hartman (Los Angeles)
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