MLS LA Galaxy

L.A. Galaxy weekly update

Published on November 1, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
LA Galaxy News Release


LOS ANGELES GALAXY AND KANSAS CITY WIZARDS COLLIDE WITH AN MLS CUP BERTH ON THE LINE: The Los Angeles Galaxy look to clinch a berth in their League-record fifth MLS Cup when they clash with the Kansas City Wizards in the Western Conference Championship at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City this Friday, November 5 at 5:30 pm (PT).

The Galaxy and the Wizards have collided eight times in the MLS Cup playoffs prior to the 2004 campaign. The Galaxy own a 5-2-1 record in those matches. The most recent playoff battle between the teams resulted in a 5-2 win by the home team on October 2, 2002 at the Rose Bowl and clinched a series between the two sides, earning Los Angeles a berth in the Conference final against the Colorado Rapids. Additionally, the Galaxy are 9-4-2 all-time in semifinal-round MLS Cup Playoff matches.

The winner of this Friday's match will play in the League's crown jewel - MLS Cup 2004 - on Sunday, November 14 at The Home Depot Center. This week's game will be broadcast LIVE on both television and radio. FOX Sports World will be televising the match to a nationwide audience, while Galaxy radio partners KMPC - 1540 AM (English) or KMXE - 830 AM (Spanish) will bring the match to fans throughout the Southland.

GALAXY STORM FROM BEHIND TO EARN BERTH IN WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP: The Los Angeles Galaxy used their home-field advantage to full measure, scoring a pair of goals in the first half to overcome a first-leg deficit and defeat the Colorado Rapids 2-0 on Saturday night at The Home Depot Center, winning their Western Conference Semifinal series 2-1 on aggregate. Trailing 1-0 after Game 1 in Denver, the emphasis all week for the Galaxy had been goal scoring. L.A. came out early, dominating the run of play from the start and creating most of the scoring opportunities. The Galaxy capitalized on a pair of those chances, getting opportunistic goals from Carlos Ruiz in the 30th minute and Tyrone Marshall in first-half added time, to move into the Western Conference Final next Friday against the Wizards at Arrowhead Stadium.

WIZARDS WORK SOME MAGIC TO GET BY QUAKES, INTO FINAL: A first-time strike from Jack Jewsbury two minutes deep into second-half stoppage time capped a dramatic and exhaustive come back for the Kansas City Wizards, as they defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 3-0 on Saturday night at Arrowhead Stadium to claim their Western Conference Semifinal series 3-2 on aggregate. Needing to overcome a 2-0 deficit after their first-leg loss, the Wizards got the vital first goal midway through the first half from surprise starter Khari Stephenson, then an unfortunate own goal off the foot of Brian Ching just after the second half began levelled the aggregate score, setting the stage for Jewsbury's heroics.

HARTMAN A NOMINEE FOR MLS GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR: Los Angeles Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman is a nominee for MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, along with Joe Cannon of the Colorado Rapids and Jon Busch of the Columbus Crew. The Galaxy 'keeper this season took over as the league's all-time win leader while helping his team through a season where the defensive lineup was rarely the same from game to game. While the players in front of him were dealing with injury and suspension troubles, Hartman was his usual steady self, making 117 saves on the season and notching seven shutouts and earning team Most Valuable Player honors from the local media that covers the Galaxy.

GALAXY FANS REMINDED MLS CUP 2004 WILL BE PLAYED AT THE HOME DEPOT CENTER ON SUNDAY, NOV. 14: Galaxy fans, remember that MLS Cup returns to The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., for the second consecutive season. The Home Depot Center will host the League's ninth championship game, MLS Cup 2004, on Sunday, November 14, 2004 at 12:30 p.m. PT. For more information about purchasing tickets, please call the Galaxy toll-free at 1-877-3GALAXY.

REVOLUTION - UNITED TO MEET AT RFK STADIUM SATURDAY TO DECIDE EASTERN CONFERENCE CROWN: D.C. United did just what they needed to do, keeping things tight in the back before sneaking two late goals to knock off the MetroStars 2-0 at RFK Stadium and win their Eastern Conference Semifinal series 4-0 on aggregate. With the victory, United advances to the Eastern Conference championship match for the first time since 1999, where they will host the New England Revolution on Saturday. New England goalkeeper Matt Reis single-handedly knocked the Columbus Crew out of the MLS Cup Playoffs on their home field, saving a pair of penalty kicks as the teams settled for a 1-1 draw, the Revolution advancing to the Eastern Conference Final 2-1 on aggregate.

MAS GALAXY PREVIEWS WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: Más Galaxy, the club's Spanish-Language radio talk show, which airs each Wednesday at 8 pm on KMXE 830 AM, will give fans an inside look at the Western Conference Championship game between the Galaxy and the Wizards. The program, hosted by Troy Santiago and Rigoberto Cervantez, will feature analysis by both Santiago and Cervantez. Remember Galaxy fans, for the latest news on your favorite team, tune in every Wednesday night throughout the 2004 season to Más Galaxy, only on KMXE 830 AM.

DON'T MISS GALAXY DEPORTIVO, THIS AND EVERY SATURDAY AT 3:00 P.M. ON CHANNEL 22: Galaxy Deportivo, The weekly, half-hour Spanish language television show devoted to the Los Angeles Galaxy, can be seen this Saturday, November 6 on KWHY - Channel 22. Galaxy Deportivo can be seen at 3 p.m. each and every Saturday on Channel 22.

Galaxy Injury Report

Player Injury Status

NONE

Did you know ... Thanks to his first-half goal against the Rapids last week, Los Angeles forward Carlos Ruiz has scored 11 goals in nine career MLS postseason matches.

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Major League Soccer Stories from November 1, 2004


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