MLS LA Galaxy

Los Angeles Galaxy weekly update

Published on August 9, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
LA Galaxy News Release


AFTER FIVE-WEEKS ON THE ROAD, L.A. GALAXY RETURN HOME SATURDAY AGAINST COLUMBUS CREW: The Los Angeles Galaxy (9-6-6, 33 pts - 1st West), who remain one point clear of the Kansas City Wizards in the Western Conference, return to the friendly confines of The Home Depot Center for a contest against the streaking Columbus Crew (6-5-7, 25 pts. - 2nd East) on Saturday, August 14 at 7 pm (PT). After concluding five-week, four-game road trip, the Galaxy return home with three points and a 0-1-3 record having earned three ties and just one loss. Now, the club will look to spark their winning ways at home this week.

On Saturday, the first 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a Galaxy jersey key ring courtesy of Proctor & Gamble and a Kohl's cheer card. Radio listeners will also have a chance to hear all the action in two languages on KMPC 1540 AM (English) and KMXE 830 AM (Spanish). For more information or to order tickets, please call the Galaxy ticket office toll-free at 1-877-3GALAXY.

IN NEED OF SOME GOOD Ol' HOME COOKIN': The Galaxy return to The Home Depot Center this Saturday in search of some Good Ol' Home Cookin'. Over the last two years, the club has been nearly unbeatable in Carson, making the Cathedral for American Soccer one of the toughest places in MLS for opponents. The Home Depot Center is where the Galaxy's offense comes to life. In 2003, the club scored 25 of their 35 goals on their home pitch. So far this season - 19 of their 35 have come at home. As a result, the Galaxy are also tied for the best home record in the league at 6-2-2 (.700) with the MetroStars.

Over that same time, the club has averaged more than 21,000 fans at home - best in MLS.

GALAXY RIDING THREE-GAME WINNING STREAK VS. CREW: The L.A. Galaxy are currently riding a three-game winning streak against the Crew dating back to a 2-1 win on July 30, 2003 at The Home Depot Center. During the winning streak, the Galaxy have outscored the Crew, 7-2, including sweeping the season series (2-0-1) in 2003. In fact, the club has not lost to the Crew in four games since falling at the hands of the Crew on August 14, 2002, a 3-2 defeat at Columbus.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS WITH ALBRIGHT AND SUAREZ OUT: L.A. Galaxy defenders Chris Albright and Ryan Suarez will each be forced to miss Saturday's match against the Crew, so two spots will be up for grabs in the club's starting back line this Saturday. Who will fill in those two spots is far from clear. It will come down a week of training to determine who will join the starting lineup. No doubt, training sessions will be even harder fought then usual as players seek to earn the opportunity to be in the starting eleven. Once earned, then the question becomes can they hold onto the spots.

Albright, who has appeared in 18 games with one goal and six assists, will be serving a mandatory one-game red card suspension. He was sent off in the in the 68th minute of Sunday's game for a hard foul against MetroStars defender Chris Leitch. Suarez, who has started 18 of 19 games, will serve a one-game suspension on Saturday for exceeding the 21-caution point total. The former San Jose State defender was cautioned for a tackle from behind in the 22nd minute.

CLUB TO HOST FIRST OF TWO BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVES SATURDAY: The Los Angeles Galaxy, along with Southern California Edison, will be hosting the first of two Back to School Drives on Saturday, August 14 with the second drive taking place on Saturday, August 21. They will be collecting new and unused school supplies for underserved children, including the following items: pens, pencils, paper, notebooks, crayons, markers, backpacks, etc. or a monetary donation of $5.00. The first 1,000 fans that donate at least five dollars worth of merchandise each night will receive a Galaxy Luggage tag!

Back to School Drive contributions will be accepted Monday - Friday 9:00 - 5:00 pm (PT) at the Galaxy Offices at The Home Depot Center the week of the drives as well as on game day at the Galaxy Foundation booth, which will be located in SoccerFest, from 5:30pm - 7:00pm (PT).

RUIZ AND GUATEMALA DEFEAT EL SALVADOR, 2-0, IN PREPARATION FOR WORLD CUP QUALIFIER: L.A. Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz played 45 minutes on August 6 with the Guatemalan National Team, helping the national side to a 2-0 victory over regional rival El Salvador in Washington D.C. The 24-year-old striker will remain with the Galaxy through their match on Saturday, August 14 against the Columbus Crew. The following day, Ruiz is scheduled to report to Guatemala's preparation camp to their semifinal-round CONCACAF qualifying opener at Canada, which will be played in Vancouver on Wednesday, August 18. He is slated to play for the Galaxy against the Chicago Fire on Saturday, August 21.

GALAXY SHUTOUT BY METROSTARS, 3-0: In a battle between Major League Soccer's first-place sides, the MetroStars continued their season-long dominance over the Los Angeles Galaxy with a 3-0 victory on Sunday night at Giants Stadium. Amado Guevara, Eddie Gaven, and John Wolyniec scored for the Metros, who extended their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference to seven points over the Columbus Crew in defeating the Western Conference-leading Galaxy for the third time in three meetings this season. Guevara scored from the penalty spot late in the first half, then Gaven and Wolyniec hit home three minutes apart for the final margin. A chippy match from the start saw the Galaxy reduced to 10 men in the 68th minute when Chris Albright was sent off for a hard retaliation against MetroStars defender Chris Leitch.

MAS GALAXY PREVIEWS THE GALAXY AND THE CREW: 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 Galaxy-Crew match this week. The program, hosted by Troy Santiago and Rigoberto Cervantez, will feature interviews with guests from around the league as well as 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, August 14 on KWHY - Channel 22. Galaxy Deportivo can be seen at 3 p.m. each and every Saturday on Channel 22.

Did you know ... Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz's 15 points - seven goals and one assist - against the Columbus Crew is his largest point scoring total against any one team. In fact, the Crew moved to the top of his 'favorite opponent' list just this season, after scoring both goals in a 2-0 win on April 24, 2004 at The Home Depot Center.

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Major League Soccer Stories from August 9, 2004


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