The biggest winner in the inaugural Súper Clásico between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA actually emerged about an hour before Saturday night's match.
Jorge Larios, a 33-year-old real estate broker from nearby Downey, Calif., was selected as Major League Soccer's 25 millionth fan upon walking up to the entrance of The Home Depot Center.
"I was just standing outside with my family. I was waiting for a friend of mine when this woman and her colleague approached me and said it was my lucky day," said Larios, who attended the game with his wife Laura and four-year-old son Max.
"I've never won anything before so I was caught off guard. I thought, maybe, they were going to offer me tickets."
Larios was introduced to the fans on the pitch before opening kickoff. MLS showered him with many gifts:
-- Two round-trip flights to Columbus and a pair of VIP tickets to the MLS All-Star Game on July 30, where the MLS All-Stars will take on Fulham of the English Premier League
-- Two Galaxy season tickets
-- Two season VIP passes to Six Flags
-- A one-year supply of Pepsi products
-- A one-year gym membership to Bally's
-- $25,000 worth of Makita brand tools
"I'm going to use (the tools). I'm actually remodeling my house," said Larios, who also plans to use the Galaxy season tickets regularly.
The hype and intrigue behind the first-ever meeting of The Home Depot Center's co-tenants actually was the lure in bringing Larios to what he said was his fourth Galaxy game.
Wearing a Galaxy T-shirt and a Galaxy scarf, Larios said he would root for the Galaxy against Chivas USA, but added, interestingly enough, that Chivas of Guadalajara is his favorite soccer team and he follows the Mexican Primera Division more than MLS.
"I prefer the Galaxy, but I wanted to see Chivas (USA). This is my first time to see Chivas," he said.
Damian Secore is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
