BAYAMON, Puerto Rico - The Los Angeles Galaxy were crowned the champions of the first USL-MLS Challenge by beating the Puerto Rico Islanders 2-1 Saturday in the nightcap of a doubleheader. FC Dallas topped the Rochester Rhinos 2-0 in the early match.
The night also featured a bit of ceremony, as the Galaxy's Cobi Jones was given a proclamation and homage by the Islanders in Juan Ramón Loubriel stadium in appreciation for his career. Jones announced last week that he will retire after this season.
The Hoops got the night started by scoring early and controlling the result against Rochester.
Dallas struck just seven minutes in when Colombian Juan Carlos Toja sidefooted home a pass from Guatemalan international Carlos Ruiz. This was Toja's first match with the team; he joined the club in Puerto Rico after training with the Hoops in Brazil earlier this month.
Arturo Alvarez finished off the scoring for the MLS side, converting a Toja through ball just two minutes after halftime.
"We have a couple of weeks until the season starts; every week we get better try to improve and we did today. We had a good performance and a good result today. The sport has captured the imagination here in Puerto Rico," said FC Dallas keeper Shaka Hislop.
Most of the crowd of 8,589 arrived for the nightcap between the hosts and the Galaxy, which decided the champions' trophy. Both the Islanders (1-0 over FC Dallas) and the Galaxy (3-2 over Rochester) had won their opening matches.
The hosts and the Galaxy traded blow for blow in a match of ebb and flow, but the Galaxy's greater experience showed in cashing in opportunities. At the two-minute mark, Chris Albright scored the first goal for the Galaxy before the Islanders responded two minutes later with a header from Canadian Alen Marcina, who scored both goals for the Islanders in the tournament.
But after 24 minutes Nate Jaqua, picked up a rebound from an Albright shot to tally the winning goal.
A reflex save from new Galaxy goalkeeper Joe Cannon in the last five minutes kept the Islanders from getting the tying goal.
"It was difficult for us. They're a good team, but we played well and won," said Cannon.
"They didn't give us anything. But we've definitely had a good start to the season," said Galaxy defender Mike Randolph.
As is the tradition after the Islanders' home matches, local children, some dressed in Galaxy jerseys or Islanders kits, invaded the field for autographs. The Galaxy don't expect as much love on their travels in league play this season.
"It's nice that the crowd appreciates our coming here. But we've got to be used to having crowds against us," said Jones.
The Galaxy open their MLS season on April 8 at the Houston Dynamo, the current league champs, while FC Dallas visit Real Salt Lake on April 7.
Keyvan Heydari is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
