CARSON, Calif. - A quick look at the Los Angeles Galaxy headlines for the week of November 29, 2004 ...
LOS ANGELES GALAXY TO HOST MEXICAN CLUB NECAXA THIS FRIDAY IN CARSON:
The Los Angeles Galaxy, coming off their berth in Major League Soccer's Western Conference Championship, will host Mexican Primera Division side CID Necaxa this Friday, December 3 at 7:30 pm (PT) at The Home Depot Center. The game will be the third international friendly on U.S. soil for the Galaxy in 2004, after playing to a 1-1 tie against Tecos de UAG (Mexico) on April 20 in Nashville, Tennessee and dropping a 1-0 decision to Sao Paulo FC (Brazil) in Carson on June 2. Los Angeles also played in three friendly matches during a preseason tour of Southern France this year. Overall, the Galaxy have amassed a record of 22-11-15 (.615 winning percentage) in international matches in the nine years since the club's inception in 1996. The international encounter will be Bonus Game #4 for Galaxy 20-game full season ticket plan holders - to whom the club will be sending their tickets. All other Galaxy fans interested in purchasing tickets to the match between two of North America's premier clubs, which range from $12 to $45 (in advance), may do so by calling the Galaxy ticket office toll-free at 1-877-3GALAXY. Special group discounts are also available.
GALAXY COACH STEVE SAMPSON TO TRAVEL TO SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA:
Los Angeles Galaxy Head Coach Steve Sampson will be traveling to South and Central America throughout December and much of January to scout players in the hopes adding some new faces to the Galaxy for the 2005 season, the club announced today. His extended trip begins with a December 1 flight from Los Angeles to Buenos Aires, Argentina and he will not conclude all of his traveling until the middle part of January, 2005. Fabled Argentine side Club Atlético River Plate will be the first stop on Sampson's journey - he will scout players there from December 1 - December 6. The club current sits in second place in Argentina's Torneo Apertura. The Galaxy field general will head to Brazil for a few days of visiting with the technical staff observing players at Sao Paulo Futebol Clube, with whom the Galaxy have an International Protocols agreement that began this past March. The veteran coach hits the road again on December 14 and will make stops in Guatemala and Costa Rica, presently scheduled for three days apiece, before returning to L.A. on December 20. After the first of the New Year, he will scout players in both Honduras and El Salvador.
NGWENYA TRAINS WITH GERMAN SIDE:
Galaxy forward Joseph Ngwenya will be training with German Bundesliga side Hamburger SV this week. Ngwenya departed from Los Angeles on Sunday, arrived in Germany on Monday, and will begin training there Tuesday until his scheduled return on Dec. 5. The 24-year-old native of Zimbabwe appeared in 22 regular season games for the Galaxy in his rookie season - made eight starts - and scored four goals and added two assists for a total of 10 points, fifth best on the club. He signed with the Galaxy after being selected out of Coastal Carolina University in the first round (third overall) in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft. Hamburger SV currently sits in eighth place in the 18-team Bundesliga, on 22 points through their first 15 matches.
Did you know ... That the Los Angeles Galaxy will take a seven-game home unbeaten streak into the 2005 MLS Season. Their last loss at The Home Depot Center was a 3-0 defeat against the MetroStars on Wednesday, June 23, 2004.
