The Los Angeles Galaxy lost the opening match of their Asian tour, while Chivas USA defeated a pair of college opponents, in MLS preseason action on Friday.
FC Seoul 1, Los Angeles Galaxy 1 (2-1 on penalty kicks)
In the first game of the Galaxy's Asia Tour 2008, presented by Herbalife, LA fell to FC Seoul on Sat., March 1 (Korea time), losing 2-1 on penalties after playing to a 1-1 draw in regulation in the Motorola Cup at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Alan Gordon scored in the 22nd minute of play on an assist from David Beckham but Seoul answered quickly, scoring the equalizer in the 32nd minute when Jung Jo Gook converted from the penalty spot.
Beckham was the only Galaxy member to convert his penalty kick in the loss. Carlos Ruiz, Peter Vagenas, Chris Klein and Greg Vanney all had their attempts saved. Kim Eun Jung and Lee Sang Hup scored on Seoul's first two attempts to earn the victory for FC Seoul, despite Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin making a pair of saves on Seoul's third and fourth attempts.
LA Galaxy: Steve Cronin, Mike Randolph (Michael Gavin 46), Greg Vanney, Abel Xavier, Chris Klein, Alvaro, Celestine Babayaro (Ely Allen 46, David Beckham, Alan Gordon (Peter Vagenas 69), Bryan Jordan, Carlos Ruiz. Subs Not Used: Josh Wicks, Sean Franklin, Julian Valentin, Troy Roberts, Brandon McDonald, Josh Tudela.
Chivas USA 1, California-Riverside 0; Chivas USA 2, California-Irvine 1
Chivas USA played a pair of scrimmages on Friday at The Home Depot Center, before heading to San Antonio for the Texas Pro Soccer Festival starting next week.
In the first match Chivas earned a 1-0 victory against California-Riverside, thanks to a Claudio Suarez goal in the 59th minute of a 70-minute match. In the second match against Cal-Irvine, using a completely different group of players, the Red-and-White then won 2-1 in an 80-minute contest behind second-half goals from Maykel Galindo and Kraig Chiles after the Anteaters took an early lead through Amani Walker.
Chivas USA vs. Cal-Riverside (4-4-2): Brad Guzan; Alex Zotinca, Claudio Suárez, Jim Curtin, Jonathan Bornstein; Sacha Kljestan, Jesse Marsch, Paulo Nagamura (Lawson Vaughn 46), Raphaël Wicky (Luciano Fusco 46); Ante Razov, Atiba Harris.
Chivas USA vs. Cal-Irvine (4-4-2): Sam Reynolds (Lance Parker 40); José Antonio Patlán, Daniel Carlos Montes, Bobby Burling, Jorge Flores; John Cunliffe, Eric Ebert, Lawson Vaughn (Kraig Chiles 40), Luciano Fusco (Gerson Mayen 40); Maykel Galindo (Justin Braun 47), Chukwudi Chijinju.
