CARSON, Calif. (Monday, August 13, 2007) - After returning late Sunday night from a three-game East Coast road trip, the LA Galaxy return to the training field on Tuesday to prepare for their SuperLiga semifinal match up against D.C. United on Wednesday, August 15 at 7 p.m. at The Home Depot Center. It will be the second time in less than a week that LA will face their Eastern Conference rival, with the first resulting in a 1-0 Galaxy loss at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
Only four teams remain in the battle for regional soccer supremacy and an unprecedented $1 million prize in this year's inaugural SuperLiga, the tournament between four clubs from Major League Soccer and four from Mexico's Primera Division.
The other semifinal is set, as current MLS champion Houston Dynamo will host current Mexican League champion CF Pachuca at Robertson Stadium in Houston tomorrow, Tuesday, August 14, at 7 p.m.
Following the SuperLiga match, the Galaxy will return to the East Coast to take on the New York Red Bulls at Giants Stadium on Saturday, August 18, in a game that can be seen live on Fox Soccer Channel.
Galaxy Training Schedule (All times Pacific)
Date : Time/Location
Tuesday, Aug. 14 : 10:30 a.m. - Galaxy training (University Field #1); Training is open to media starting at 11:15 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 15 : 7 p.m. - LA Galaxy (Winner Group A) vs. D.C. United (Second Place Group B) in SuperLiga Semifinal at The Home Depot Center. The game will be broadcast live on TeleFutura.
Thursday, Aug. 16 (TRAVEL DAY)-Friday, Aug. 17 : 12:30 p.m. - Galaxy training (Montclair State College); Training is open to media for the last 15 minutes.
Saturday, Aug. 18 : 4:30 p.m. - LA Galaxy (3-7-5) at New York Red Bulls (9-7-3) at Giants Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on FSC and on the radio on CA$H 1700 AM (English) and KLAA 830 AM (Spanish).
Sunday, Aug. 19 : 10 a.m. - LA Galaxy Reserves at New York Red Bulls Reserves; TRAVEL BACK TO LOS ANGELES
Galaxy Injury Report
OUT - Chris Albright (R-Hamstring), Troy Roberts (R-Ankle)
DOUBTFUL - None
QUESTIONABLE - David Beckham (L-Ankle), Cobi Jones (R-Hip), Kyle Veris (R-Hip)
PROBABLE - None
Galaxy Team Notes
GALAXY HOST SUPERLIGA SEMIFINAL: LA will look to advance to the final of the inaugural SuperLiga when they face eastern conference rival D.C. United for the second time in less than a week on Wednesday at The Home Depot Center. The Galaxy reached the semifinals by winning Group A with a 2-1-0 record, giving them six points, after posting wins over Pachuca (2-1) and FC Dallas (6-5). If LA defeats United, the club will advance to the final of the tournament, which consisted of four MLS clubs and four Mexican First Division clubs, on Wednesday, August 29 at location to be determined.
DONOVAN AND GORDON TOP THE SCORING CHARTS: LA Galaxy forwards Landon Donovan and Alan Gordon are the joint leading goalscorers after the completion of Group play in SuperLiga. Donovan and Gordon, as well as FC Dallas midfielder Arturo Alvarez, lead the tournament with three goals apiece heading into the semifinals. However, only Donovan will have a chance to increase his goal tally in the semifinals of the competition as Alvarez's side, FC Dallas, was eliminated in the opening round and Gordon is suspended as a result of collecting two yellow cards in group play.
Donovan has scored in a goal in all three of the Galaxy's games in the tournament so far, while also adding a tournament-best four assists, while Gordon registered his first goal against Pachuca and added two more in the 6-5 win over Dallas at Pizza Hut Park on July 31.
THREE TO MISS SUPERLIGA SEMIFINAL: Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop will be without three first team players through suspension on Wednesday night against D.C. United. Alan Gordon, Kelly Gray and Ante Jazic each collected a pair of yellow cards in group play, meaning that they must now miss out against United, who will be without their first choice left back, Mark Burch, through suspension as well.
If the Galaxy advance to the SuperLiga final, they will have all three players back and available for selection. Additionally, the only way that a player can be suspended for the Final is if they are sent off in the previous round. No players can be suspended for the Final because of yellow card accumulation.
RANDOLPH REGISTERS FIRST MLS START: Galaxy defender Mike Randolph registered his first career MLS start on Sunday in the 1-0 loss to New England at Gillette Stadium. The 22 year-old stepped into a starting role, after veteran defender Abel Xavier was ruled out for the match. Randolph, who had made three appearances off the bench this season, while also appearing in all three of the Galaxy's Open Cup fixtures, got the start at left back as Ante Jazic was moved inside to replace Xavier.
BECKHAM MAKES MLS DEBUT: LA Galaxy midfielder David Beckham made his MLS debut on Thursday night, playing the final 18 minutes plus stoppage time of his club's 1-0 loss to D.C. United. The game attracted a crowd of 46,686 at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C., the biggest crowd to see an MLS game this season. With the Galaxy trailing 1-0 in the 72nd minute, Beckham entered the game to rapturous applause, replacing Quavas Kirk as LA pushed for an equalizer. The 32-year old midfielder helped create a series of chances for the Galaxy late on, but they could not find a break through and saw their three-match unbeaten streak in the league snapped.
GALAXY FOUNDATION TO HOST A PAIR OF EVENTS ON AUGUST 23: The Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation will host a pair of events at The Home Depot Center on August 23...
Galaxy Drive Series presented by Infinity Insurance - School Supplies Drive: Fans contributing $5 or school supplies valued at $5, will receive a Galaxy Drive Series License Plate Frame courtesy of the LA Galaxy and Infinity Insurance. Items needed include backpacks, reams of paper (white & multicolored), markers, crayons, pens, pencils, binders, folders, notebooks, etc. All contributors will be entered into a drawing for a Galaxy adidas soccer ball signed by members of the 2007 Galaxy team. Donations to benefit local non-profit organizations.
How Suite It Is!: A fundraiser benefiting the LA Galaxy Foundation & The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation. How Suite It Is! includes a Pre-Game Shopping Party featuring Fendi, wine & champagne tasting, light refreshments & Ketel One "Galaxy Blue" cocktails. For a $100 donation Galaxy season ticket holders, Home Depot Center Club & Suite holders as well as August 23rd ticket holders may attend this event. A limited number of tickets are also available for the How Suite It Is! Event Suite that includes a ticket for the fully catered suite, VIP Gift bag, Pre-Game Shopping Party Access and post game meet & greet with LA Galaxy players, with tickets costing $350.
DON'T MISS GALAXY DEPORTIVO AT A NEW TIME EVERY SATURDAY: Galaxy Deportivo, the Galaxy's official weekly half hour show, is back live every Saturday on KWHY Channel 22. Galaxy Deportivo can now be seen at 6:30 p.m. on every Saturday night, three hours later than its former 3:30 p.m. start time. Catch Galaxy Deportivo and see Elmer Polanco and Alejandro Navarro present the latest news surrounding the club with special features and interviews, as well interacting with Galaxy fans throughout the Los Angeles area.
MAS GALAXY RETURNS ON KLAA AM 830: Mas Galaxy, the Galaxy's weekly Spanish language radio show can be found every Saturday at 1 p.m. on KLAA AM 830. Hosted by Francisco Rivera and Jose "Pepe" Mantilla, the Spanish language radio voices of the Galaxy, Mas Galaxy gets you up to date with all the latest news surrounding the club through interviews, player profiles and expert analysis.
