MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER QUOTE SHEET
WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2004 - LOS ANGELES GALAXY 4, D.C. UNITED 2
D.C. UNITED HEAD COACH PETER NOWAK
On the game:
"The last two minutes [of the first half] was a consequence of how we played. We gave them too much room and L.A. is too experienced. Nicky [Rimando] made some big mistakes in the first half, which put us back, but we lost this game together and will work toward the next game."
On Freddy Adu's goal:
"He is doing great. He pushed himself around tonight and he stepped up. He scored a fantastic goal."
D.C. UNITED DEFENDER MIKE PETKE
On the team's performance:
"For 10 minutes of the first half, that was awful. We weren't playing great soccer to begin with, but we really did well to keep them away. I got caught in front of the guy [on the second goal] and got burnt - that's on me. The third goal was a scramble, someone lost their man."
On the injuries:,br> "We were missing several key players. It's tough to step in and fill the shoes of a Ryan Nelsen or a Ben Olsen or a Bobby Convey."
On the mentality of the team:
"We weren't giving up at all. We were shell-shocked and embarrassed - I know I was embarrassed. We were going to do whatever it took to get those goals back."
D.C. UNITED FORWARD JAIME MORENO
On playing a different role:
"It wasn't easy in the beginning, because I had a man marker and it was tough to get away from him. I thought he had a good game. I didn't really feel comfortable. It wasn't my night."
On the team's performance:
"As a team, we have a lot of respect for each other. We know how important it is to keep our chins up and stay on the same page."
D.C. UNITED FORWARD FREDDY ADU
On his goal:
"I got the ball in a great position. That's my strength. I took a few touches inside, beat the defender and got a good shot on goal. The reason I was so open to receive the pass was because there were several guys who were making the right runs."
On his confidence:
"I'm really beginning to feel a lot more comfortable on the ball. Like I said a couple of interviews ago, I'm finally starting to be able to have fun and play."
LOS ANGELES HEAD COACH SIGI SCHMID
On scoring without Carlos Ruiz:
"I think I remember there was a game that Carlos missed in his first season, a game against Colorado and we scored four goals in that game as well. Obviously, Carlos is a great player and he can make goals out of nothing, but I've felt all along, and this game especially, that we have four great forwards and Alejandro showed that tonight."
On the win and heading back west to play San Jose:
"Well, obviously we wanted to get three points tonight, whenever we play on the road we want to get points, but this is our second win on the road in a row and it gives us confidence."
On Freddy Adu:
"You know a good player will show themselves in good time, in this place Freddy showed how good he was tonight."
On Jaime Moreno and Joseph Ngwenya:
"Moreno and Joseph are a good competition, they work well together. Moreno goes up and Joseph plays off of him."
LOS ANGELES FORWARD ALEJANDRO MORENO
On being in and out of the lineup due to injury, and stepping up today:
"Well, it's not the first time. Last year, when things didn't work out for us, they gave me a chance and I was able to do well. Yeah, it's frustrating to come off the bench, but that's why we work every week, everyday, trying to improve so we can do things on the field. The most important thing is that we came out today and got the three points that we needed."
On the hat trick and accuracy of his shots:
"I'll take what I can get. If I think I'm going to make five shots, I'll take five shots. Quality is good, but if you give me 50 goals I'll take that."
On the first goal:
"It's a very difficult play to explain, I mean the ball was bouncing and it came to my feet and I dealt with it whatever way I could."
LOS ANGELES MIDFIELDER ANDREAS HERZOG
On what the game meant and how it prepares them to play San Jose:
"The last game, it was not a good game for us. But today we won. In the first half, say the first 25 minutes, D.C. was the better team; they played better, but then we had four chances and scored four times and then the game was over."
