A quick look at the Los Angeles Galaxy headlines for the week of June 28, 2004 ...
• "California Clasico" Rivalry Renewed as L.A. Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes Do Battle
• Galaxy Host Largest Fireworks Show in Southern California on July 4th
• July 4 Marks Tenth Anniversary Of Historic USA-Brazil Encounter
• Galaxy Knock Off Fire in Chicago To Remain Atop Western Conference Standings
• MLS Cup 2004 Awarded To The Home Depot Center
"CALIFORNIA CLASICO" RIVALRY RENEWED AS L.A. GALAXY AND SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES DO BATTLE: The fiercest and most intense rivalry in all of Major League Soccer, the "California Clasico" between the Los Angeles Galaxy (7-5-3, 24 pts - 1st West) and the San Jose Earthquakes (4-3-5, 17 pts - 3rd West) comes to The Home Depot Center this Sunday, July 4, 2004 at 7 pm. The match-up will add even more fuel to an already electric atmosphere at the premier soccer venue in the Americas for the Independence Day game. The clubs have met once in 2004, a 4-2 Earthquakes victory at Spartan Stadium in San Jose on May 22. The two clubs have not met in Carson during the regular season since a 2-0 Galaxy victory on October 18, 2003. The match will be televised live on KWHY Channel 22 (Spanish) and will also be heard on the radio in three languages, English (KMPC 1540 AM), Korean (Radio Korea 1230 AM) and Spanish (KMXE 830 AM).
GALAXY HOST LARGEST FIREWORKS SHOW IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA JULY 4: The Los Angeles Galaxy will host the largest fireworks show in Southern California after their match on the Fourth of July against the San Jose Earthquakes at The Home Depot Center in Carson. As was the case a year ago when the Galaxy also hosted the largest show west of the Mississippi as part of their inaugural season in their new stadium, Rialto-based Pyro Spectaculars will be responsible for the production. Additionally, the club also announced that Cuban-American music sensation Franky Perez will be performing live prior to the match. The pre-game concert will kick off the evening of entertainment off with a bang at 5:30 pm on The Home Depot Center's plaza. The Galaxy-Earthquakes match will follow at 7:00. The explosive festivities will conclude with Southern California's largest fireworks show, presented by the Daily Breeze. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call the Galaxy toll-free at 1-877-3GALAXY.
JULY 4 MARKS TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF HISTORIC USA-BRAZIL ENCOUNTER: In addition to the Galaxy-Earthquakes match, Sunday will also mark the tenth anniversary of the historic USA-Brazil match (a 1-0 Brazil victory) in the round of 16 at Stanford Stadium in FIFA World Cup USA 1994 - the tournament that served as the impetus for the creation of Major League Soccer. Galaxy midfielder Cobi Jones and Earthquakes President/General Manager Alexi Lalas were both on the field for the Red-White and Blue that day.
GALAXY KNOCK OFF FIRE IN CHICAGO TO REMAIN ATOP WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS: A stunning late strike from midfield by Jovan Kirovski capped a tremendous defensive performance, the Los Angeles Galaxy getting back on track after two consecutive losses with a 1-0 victory against the Chicago Fire on Sunday night at Soldier Field. For the second time in three weeks, the Galaxy got a late goal to earn all three points against the Fire, with a 50-yard bomb from Kirovski after an errant clearance by Fire 'keeper Henry Ring putting Los Angeles back atop the Western Conference as they've reached the halfway point of the 2004 season. After a back and forth encounter with chances for either side, the Galaxy brought on striker Carlos Ruiz in the 70th minute in an effort to get the three points, and his introduction indirectly led to the winner in the 79th minute. Andreas Herzog played a hopeful long ball forward in Ruiz's direction, and Ring came out well out of his penalty area to beat the Guatemalan international to the ball. But the 'keeper's clearance was poor and went directly to Kirovski in the center circle, and the Galaxy striker sent a first-time shot high over the retreating Ring and floating into the unguarded goal. However, in the 89th minute the Fire thought they had equalized when Damani Ralph fired home on the turn, but his shot clipped the heel of Kelly Gray before crossing the line and the Fire defender was ruled to be in an offside position.
MLS CUP 2004 AWARDED TO THE HOME DEPOT CENTER: Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber announced that the 2004 edition of the League's premier event, MLS Cup, returns to The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., for the second consecutive season. Home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, 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. The championship match will be broadcast live on ABC Sports. MLS Cup 2004 marks the third time that Major League Soccer's champion will be crowned in Southern California, as the Chicago Fire captured the Cup at the conclusion of their inaugural 1998 season and the San Jose Earthquakes captured their second Cup in three seasons with a thrilling 4-2 victory over the Fire at The Home Depot Center last year.
MÁS GALAXY TAKES A LOOK AT THE GALAXY AND THE QUAKES: 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-Earthquakes match-up this week. The program, hosted by Troy Santiago and Rigoberto Cervantez, will feature interviews with guests from each team 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, July 3 at 3 p.m. on KWHY - Channel 22. Galaxy Deportivo, hosted by Los Angeles area personalities Jaime Motta and Elmer Polanco, can be seen at 3 p.m. each and every Saturday on Channel 22.
WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
GP W L T Pts
LA 15 7 5 3 24
KC 14 6 4 4 22
SJ 12 4 3 5 17
DAL 12 4 4 4 16
COL 12 3 3 6 15
Galaxy Injury Report
Out:
Cobi Jones, Concussion/Neck Strain
Peter Vagenas, Strained Right Groin
Doubtful
Tyrone Marshall, Sprained Left MCL
Probable
Chris Albright, Strained Right Hamstring
Sasha Victorine, Sprained Left Hip
NOTE: The Galaxy Injury Report seen above was upon the team entering the match on 6/27. It will be updated on Tuesday or Wednesday this week.
Did you know ... The Los Angeles Galaxy hold an all-time record of 4-3-1 in games played on the Fourth of July. A year ago, they tied the New England Revolution 2-2 in a re-match of MLS Cup 2002 in front of a sold-out crowd of 27,000 at The Home Depot Center. The Galaxy have not lost on the Fourth of July since 2001.
