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November 15, 2005 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
LA Galaxy News Release


Galaxy Defeat Revolution to Capture MLS Cup 2005 Championship Club Becomes Third in MLS History to Capture the Double Thursday Visit To Los Angeles Kings Game Next On The Docket For Team Victory Celebration Slated For Sunday at The Home Depot Center Galaxy Foundation Day On The Links Set For Thursday, December 1 Donovan Up for Honda Player of the Year Prize

GALAXY DEFEAT REVOLUTION TO CAPTURE MLS CUP 2005 CHAMPIONSHIP:

For the second time in an MLS Cup Final, the Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the New England Revolution 1-0 in extra time, as a Guillermo Ramirez blast proved to be the difference Sunday at Pizza Hut Park. Ramirez, much maligned this season for his inability to find the back of the net, fired home the game-winner in the 17th minute of extra time to win Honda MLS Cup MVP honors. Teammate Landon Donovan started the decisive play with a corner from the right, and Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis tried to punch it away, but could only get it as far as the Guatemalan midfielder nicknamed "Pando." He rocketed a right-footed blast over the heads in the packed goalmouth from the edge of the penalty area. Over the season, Ramirez had 62 shots, 30 on goal -- and just one goal, by far the poorest shooting ratio not only this year, but in any single season in MLS history. No one else had ever taken more shots with as few goals. The victory is the Galaxy's second win in five attempts in the league final. The other came in 2002, when forward Carlos Ruiz slotted home a golden goal in the 113th minute against the Revs at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.

CLUB BECOMES THIRD IN MLS HISTORY TO CAPTURE THE DOUBLE:

Not only did Sunday's win against the Revs give the Galaxy their second MLS Cup title, but it also completed the domestic double for them when coupled with their earlier triumph in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Galaxy became the third team in MLS history to with both U.S. titles, the first since the Chicago Fire in 1998, also joining D.C. United in 1996 for the unique distinction.

THURSDAY VISIT TO LOS ANGELES KINGS GAME NEXT ON THE DOCKET FOR TEAM:

The next time the entire Galaxy team will be together will be at a ceremony at this Thursday's Los Angeles Kings game at Staples Center. The team will be honored for their success in 2005 - where they won both the U.S. Open Cup and the MLS Cup during one of the intermissions.

VICTORY CELEBRATION SLATED FOR SUNDAY AT THE HOME DEPOT CENTER:

Galaxy players and coaches will get the chance to celebrate their most recent championship season with their fans at the Los Angeles Galaxy 2005 Championship Season Celebration this coming Sunday, November 20 at 3 pm at The Home Depot Center. For more information about what us sure to be a special event in club history, please call the Galaxy ticket office toll-free at 1-877-3GALAXY. Media wishing to cover the event should contact Galaxy Communications directly at (310) 630-2214/2215.

FOUNDATIONS' FEAST RETURNS TO THE HOME DEPOT CENTER ON NOVEMBER 21:

The Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation will join forces with The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation and several of their corporate sponsors to serve a warm holiday meal the week of Thanksgiving to more than 200 children and families from a wide variety of community-based groups from throughout Southern California. The foundations will play host to their third annual "Foundations' Feast" on Monday, November 21 at 4:30 pm (PT) at The Home Depot Center Stadium Club. Several L.A. Galaxy players and front office members, as well as Home Depot Center and David Beckham Academy staff will be on hand to help serve meals. Players will be available to sign autographs for the children. Of course, no Thanksgiving meal is the same without turkey, and there will be plenty for all those in attendance. For those who prefer ham, Galaxy sponsor Farmer John will be providing 40 of them to make to make the feast more complete. Guests will also be treated an assortment of cold beverages, courtesy of Coca-Cola, who will offer an extensive selection of soft drinks as well as bottled water. Desserts will be provided by local Carson small business and Home Depot Center neighbor, Ken's Ice Cream. Levy Restaurants, who operates all concessions at The Home Depot Center, will also lend their support to the event, cooking all the turkeys and hams as well as preparing several traditional Thanksgiving side dishes, including mashed potatoes and gravy, seasonal vegetables and cranberry sauce.

GALAXY FOUNDATION DAY ON THE LINKS SET FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1:

The Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation's Fourth Annual Day on Links golf outing will be played at Meadowlark Golf Club in Huntington Beach, California. Last year's event, held on Monday, September 27 at Industry Hills Golf Club at The Pacific Palms Conference Resort, raised more than $ 27,000 to help at-risk and underserved children throughout the Southland and bring many of them out to Galaxy games. Once again, the proceeds will benefit many of the Galaxy Foundation's community outreach programs, including Kicks for Kids, where Galaxy tickets are donated to organizations benefiting underserved youth and the Galaxy's Holiday Assist Program, which enables the club to make the holidays a little brighter and more enjoyable for children in need. All those participating in the event will be placed in foursomes with Galaxy players, coaches and select front office members, including Galaxy President and General Manager Doug Hamilton. The entire Galaxy team is expected to participate in the event, as they have each of the first three years it was held. For more information, call the Galaxy Foundation at (310) 630-2222 or visit the In The Community Section of www.lagalaxy.com.

DONOVAN UP FOR HONDA PLAYER OF THE YEAR PRIZE:

Galaxy forward Landon Donovan has been selected as a finalist for the 2005 Honda Player of the Year Award, which for the last 15 years has been widely recognized as the most prestigious award a U.S. National Team player can receive. The winner will be announced during the special award luncheon on Wednesday, November 30 at The Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Donovan, the only three-time winner of the Honda Player of the Year Award (2002-2004), is a finalist alongside goalkeeper Kasey Keller and DaMarcus Beasley. In 2005, Donovan led the U.S. National Team in goals scored and moved into third place on the all-time U.S. National Team goal scorers list.

MAS GALAXY THIS AND EVERY WEDNESDAY:

Más Galaxy, the club's Spanish-Language radio talk show, will focus on the entire MLS Cup Playoff picture. The program, hosted by Troy Santiago, the Spanish-language voice of the Galaxy alongside www.MLSNET.com reporter and local soccer journalist Rene Romano, features an in-depth look at MLS Cup 2005 this week. Remember Galaxy fans, for the latest news on your favorite team, tune in every Wednesday night to Más Galaxy, only on KMXE 830 AM.

GALAXY DEPORTIVO BREAKS DOWN ALL THE ACTION SATURDAY:

Galaxy Deportivo, The weekly, half-hour Spanish language television show devoted to the Los Angeles Galaxy, can present a special inside the lockerroom look at the team's most recent MLS Cup victory this Saturday, November 19 at 3:30 p.m. on KWHY - Channel 22. Galaxy Deportivo, hosted by Los Angeles area personalities Jaime Motta and Elmer Polanco, can be seen at the same time each and every Saturday on Channel 22.

Did you know ... Both of the Galaxy's MLS Cup victories have been thanks to an extra time goal by a Guatemalan International, Carlos Ruiz in 2002 and Pando Ramirez in 2005?

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