MLS LA Galaxy

L.A. Galaxy Weekly

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


The Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) will face the New England Revolution in the 2002 MLS Cup Championship on Sunday, October 20 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA. The championship match is set to start at 10:30 a.m. (PT) and will broadcast live on ABC Sports. Galaxy fans can also listen live over the airwaves on ESPN Radio 1110 AM (English) and KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish).

The title game will be the Galaxy's second consecutive appearance, third in four seasons and record fourth trip to MLS Cup in the seven-year history of the League. L.A., who will also play in the final of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Oct. 24 against the Columbus Crew, is poised to become the first team to win the "Double", an MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup titles, since the Chicago Fire accomplished the feat in 1998.

The Galaxy advanced to the final after sweeping the Colorado Rapids 2-0-0 (6-0 pts.) in the semifinal series and defeating the Kansas City Wizards 2-1-0 (6-3 pts.) in the quarterfinal series. The Revolution punched its ticket to the MLS Cup Final, defeating the Columbus Crew 1-0-2 (5-2 pts.) in the semifinals and the Chicago Fire 2-1-0 (6-3 pts.) in the quarterfinals.

Los Angeles and New England are no strangers to important games, having met just last year in the 2001 U.S. Open Cup Final. The Galaxy's Danny Califf scored the game-winning goal in overtime against the Revolution to give the Galaxy a 2-1 win and its first domestic championship.

Over the last two years, Los Angeles has qualified for the finals in five competitions in which the club has participated, including two MLS Cups (2001-02) and U.S. Open Cups (2001-02), and one F.C. Champions Cup (2001). In 2001, the Galaxy captured the U.S. Open Cup and F.C. Champion's Cup titles.

RUIZ PUTS MARK ON MLS POSTSEASON RECORD BOOKS: Carlos Ruiz's seven goals and two assists gives him a League-leading 16 points in the 2002 postseason, breaking the record for the most goals and points ever scored in a postseason. The Chicago Fire's Ante Razov registered 14 points on four goals and six assists during the 2000 playoffs. The Guatemalan's seven goals also set another postseason record set by surpassing Raul Diaz Arce (D.C. United) and Roy Lassiter (Tampa Bay Mutiny) in 1996.

JONES EXCEEDING PLAYOFF NUMBERS: Cobi Jones ranks tied for second on the playoff scoring leader board with three goals and four assist for 10 points. Jones's 10 points is a personal playoff best in the postseason and puts him only three points behind his all-time total (13) from 1996-2001. The Galaxy's dynamic duo of Jones and Carlos Ruiz has combined to net 10 goals and six assists for 26 points, the most of any two players from a single team.

PLAYOFF ATTENDANCE LEADER: The Galaxy leads the league in playoff attendance with 54,040 coming through the turnstiles for two Wednesday and one Saturday home games for an average of 18,013 per game.

L.A. PLAYOFF HISTORY: Los Angeles has played 35 all-time MLS Cup Playoffs games, recording 20 wins, 12 losses and 3 ties. That includes three losses in MLS Cup finals and two tiebreakers in which Galaxy won one and lost one, as well as 3 shootout losses and one shootout victory. Also, the Galaxy was defeated in MLS Cup '96 and '01 on a 'golden goals in overtime.
Galaxy Playoff Record: 20-12-3
Galaxy Playoff Appearances: 1996 (4-2), 1997 (0-2), 1998 (2-2), 1999 (4-2), 2000 (3-1-1), 2001 (3-2-2) and 2002 (4-1-0)
Galaxy Playoff Quarterfinal Record: 11-5-1
Galaxy Playoff Semifinal Record: 9-4-2
Galaxy Playoff Championship Record: 0-3-0
Galaxy Playoff Home Record: 14-3-1
Galaxy Playoff Away Record: 6-9-2
Sigi Schmid's Playoff Record: 14-6-3

REVOLUTIONARY CONNECTIONS: Rev's forward Taylor Twellman and defender Nick Downing and Danny Califf were college teammates at Maryland...New England's Joe Franchino played for the Galaxy from 1998-00 and was a member of the club's 1999 team that reached the MLS Cup... Another former Galaxy member, Daniel Hernandez was drafted by L.A. in the 1998 MLS Draft and stayed with the team until being traded before the end of the 1999 season...Galaxy defender Alexi Lalas played for Revolution during the 1996 and 1997 seasons...The Galaxy's Tyrone Marshall along with Revolution midfielder Steve Ralston attend Florida International...Marshall will also be facing off against five former Miami Fusion teammates in Leo Cullen, Alex Pineda Chacon, Shaker Asad, Jim Rooney and Carlos Llamosa.

L.A. GALAXY NOTES:

* Los Angeles leads the all-time regular season series with New England, 10-5-1. The Galaxy also holds the edge in scoring (33-19) and boasts a 6-1-0 record at home and is 4-4-0 at Foxboro Stadium. In 2002, the Galaxy lost the first leg of the home-and-home series, 3-2, at Gillette Stadium, but rebounded at home in the final regular season meeting with a 2-1 victory.

* Home and Away: Los Angeles finished 11-1-2 at home and 5-8-1 on the road in 2002, while Colorado was 9-3-2 at home and 4-8-2 on the road.

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