CARSON, Calif. --
The first installment of the 2008 Honda SuperClasico is on tap for the LA Galaxy this week as they host Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center on Saturday night. After claiming the SuperClasico title in 2005 and 2006, the Galaxy lost the trophy last season and will begin their quest to reclaim it on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. This match, which is presented by Bank of America, can be seen live on Fox Soccer Channel starting with the MLS Saturday pregame show at 7 p.m. KTLK 1150 AM and KWKW 1330 ESPN Deportes Radio will also carry the match live beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Galaxy Injury Report
OUT - Charles Alamo (R-Knee Surgery), Ante Jazic (R-Ankle Surgery); Carlos Ruiz (R-Knee Surgery)
DOUBTFUL - Alvaro Pires (L-Knee)
QUESTIONABLE - Ely Allen (R-Hamstring)
PROBABLE - None
Jazic will start to do some light, non-contact drills with the team while also continuing his fitness regiment. Ruiz continues to progress on schedule and will increase the intensity of his running and fitness rehabilitation this week while Alamo will continue his rehab work.
Allen and Pires will each be monitored throughout the week to check to see how they are recovering from their injuries and could be available for selection on Saturday.
The Week That Was...
LA Galaxy
Saturday, April 19; Galaxy 2 - Houston Dynamo 2
Landon Donovan and David Beckham combined twice to give the Galaxy a 2-2 draw with the two-time defending MLS Cup champions on Saturday night. Donovan equalized twice to earn the draw, giving him an MLS best five goals on the season.
LA Galaxy Reserves
Sunday, April 20; Galaxy 1 - Houston Dynamo 2
A second half goal from Bryan Jordan was not enough to cancel out a pair of first half goals as the LA Galaxy Reserves fell to the Houston Dynamo Reserves 2-1 on Sunday at The Home Depot Center. With the loss, the Galaxy's record falls to 0-2-1.
Galaxy In The Community
Players: Charles Alamo, Edson Buddle, Steve Cronin, Alan Gordon and Troy Roberts
What: Players will help the Orange County Soccer and Boys Scout Council by coaching a series of drills and exercises while also signing autographs.
When: Tuesday, April 22; 6-7:30 p.m.
Where: Eddy West Field; 602 N. Flower Street; Santa Ana, Calif.
Players: Sean Franklin, Michael Gavin, Brandon McDonald, Mike Randolph, Josh Tudela
What: Players will assist West Covina Youth Soccer League coaches with soccer skills stations and sign autographs.
When: Tuesday, April 22; 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Edgewood Middle School at Track & Field; 1625 W. Durness Street; West Covina, Calif.
Players: Ely Allen, Bryan Jordan, Israel Sesay, Julian Valentin, Josh Wicks
What: Players will conduct a soccer clinic for the Commerce Soccer League.
When: Tuesday, April 22; 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Veterans Park; 6364 Zindell Park; City of Commerce, Calif.
Players: Alan Gordon and Greg Vanney
What: Players will meet young soccer players, sign autographs and take photos
When: Saturday, April 26; postgame
Where: The Home Depot Center
Galaxy Team Notes
LANDON LANDS AWARD: Following his two goal performance against Houston on Saturday night, Galaxy forward Landon Donovan was named the MLS Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters. It was the sixth time in his MLS career that Donovan has taken the award, leaving him tied with Jaime Moreno and Preki for the fourth most in MLS history. Donovan, who joins David Beckham as the two Galaxy players to have won the award over the first four weeks of the season, was last named Player of the week in Week 4 of the 2007 MLS season when he had a goal and two assists in a 3-1 win over Chivas USA.
DONOVAN ALONE AT THE TOP: After scoring twice in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Houston, Galaxy forward Landon Donovan is now all alone in first place in MLS scoring with five goals in four games. Donovan is one goal ahead of FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper, who has four goals in four matches so far this season.
For his career, Donovan now has 69 regular season MLS goals, leaving him one goal shy of becoming the 12th player in league history to score 70 or more goals in the league. The last player in MLS to hit the 70 goal plateau was Cobi Jones who scored the 70th and final goal of his 12-year MLS career in a 2-2 draw with Kansas City on July 7, 2007.
BECKHAM TIED AT THE TOP: David Beckham had two assists in the 2-2 draw with Houston, giving him three on the season and placing him in a tie for the most in MLS along with Guillermo Barros Schelotto. This is the second time in his MLS career that Beckham has registered two assists in a game. The last time was on August 18, 2007 when he set up a pair of Carlos Pavon goals in a 5-4 loss to the New York Red Bulls at Giants Stadium.
FRANCHINO BACK IN THE FOLD: Just hours after arriving from Boston, newly acquired Galaxy midfielder was on the field for his new club, replacing Alan Gordon at halftime of Saturday's 2-2 draw with Houston. Franchino, who began his MLS career with the Galaxy in 1998, was traded to LA on Friday and played the final 45 minutes in central midfield, helping to drive the Galaxy as they twice fought back from a goal down to earn a share of the points against the Dynamo.
MATCH ANALYSIS STAT OF THE WEEK: The combination of Landon Donovan and David Beckham rank one and two respectively in MLS this season in shot creation. Donovan has created 34 shots, compared to Beckham's 32. On the season, the Galaxy have a total of 56 shots, meaning that both players have been involved in more than 60 percent of the Galaxy's shots. No other players in MLS have created more than 30 shots.
LOOKING AT THE OPPOSITION: Chivas USA heads into the first installment of the Honda SuperClasico on the back of two consecutive losses, including a 2-0 home defeat to FC Dallas on Sunday. They are currently in a three-way tie with the Galaxy and Real Salt Lake for third place in the MLS Western Conference with four points. Midfielder Sacha Kljestan leads Chivas USA with two goals and two assists on the season, despite missing last weekend's game through suspension.
After winning each of the first two SuperClasico titles in 2005 and 2006, the Galaxy could only muster a 1-2-1 record against Chivas USA last year, giving them the championship title for the first time.
GALAXY CLÁSICO TO KICK OFF APRIL 26: The fourth annual Galaxy Clásico Soccer Tournament will be held on April 26 and 27 at the San Bernardino Soccer Complex. The Clásico, one of Southern California's top adult soccer tournaments, will feature the prestigious Men's Open division, while also attracting friendly competition in the Men's Over 30 division. Each team will be guaranteed three games of play in the tournament on professionally maintained fields. There will be a $5,000 cash prize for the winner of the Men's Open division, team trophies and sponsor giveaways.
For more information about this tournament and a complete schedule of matches, please contact Blane Shepard by phone at (310) 630-2227 or email bshepard@lagaalxy.com.
COPA LA RETURNS: Registration is now open for the seventh annual Copa LA, which will be held on May 24-26 at the San Bernardino Soccer Complex. Team in all age brackets from U9-U19 (boys) and U15-U19 (girls) can register now for what is annually one of the top youth soccer tournaments in Southern California. Registration is open now at www.lagalaxy.com costs just $250 per teams and all participants receive ticket deals for future Galaxy games and the chance to play against some of the top teams in this region, as well as the opportunity to play in front of Galaxy scouts and select members of the current Galaxy team. For more information about this tournament or how to register, please contact Blane Shepard by phone at (310) 630-2227 or email bshepard@lagaalxy.com.
PURO GALAXY HITS ESPN DEPORTES RADIO: ESPN Deportes Radio KWKW 1330 AM, the Galaxy's official Spanish language radio partner, is the place for all of your Galaxy news and information. The best place to get that information is on Puro Galaxy, the network's weekly, hour-long show that can tell you all you need to know and more about the Galaxy, airs every Saturday from 2-3 p.m., just in time to get you ready for the Galaxy's game on the weekend.
Rolando Gonzalez, who serves as the play-by-play voice of the Galaxy on broadcasts on KWKW, is the host of Puro Galaxy, and he will be joined by his fellow broadcasters and a series of special guests. So tune in each and every week and stay up to date with everything that is going on in the Galaxy.
DON'T MISS GALAXY DEPORTIVO EVERY WEEKEND: Galaxy Deportivo, the Galaxy's official weekly half hour show, is back for another year and can now be seen every weekend on two different stations. The show will first air on KWHY-22 every Saturday night at 6 p.m. with a series of features and interviews that provide insight into the weekend's game. Then on Sunday morning, Galaxy Deportivo will air again, this time on Telemundo-52 with the same in depth access, as well as highlights from Saturday night's match.
For the third straight year, Alejandro Navarro and Elmer Polanco will serve as hosts for the show, giving viewers an unprecedented level of access and insight to the 2008 Galaxy team.
MEDIA PARKING AT TRAINING: All media members are asked to enter through Gate D, off Victoria Blvd., and to park in Lot 17 when attending Galaxy training sessions. Members of the media who park in Lot 6 during training sessions may be ticketed now that school is in session at California State University - Dominguez Hills.
