NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 1, LOS ANGELES GALAXY 0
LOS ANGELES GALAXY HEAD COACH STEVE SAMPSON
On the game:
"The first 20-25 minutes of the game, we played quite well. We had a couple of different opportunities and I think if we had put one of those away, it becomes a totally different game. I think the guys put in a great effort in the first 25 minutes, and then the goal from New England kind of took the wind out of our sails. It was an issue that didn't need to happen."
On the Galaxy's performance:
"We made some poor judgements on clearances and square balls in our half of the field. The timing on our dead balls was a little off tonight. But the guys pushed forward in the second half and played to win. I was proud of that. We are not quite where we need to be obviously, but I don't think either team out there was where they need to be at this stage of the season. We need to move on. We have a very difficult match next week against Chicago."
LOS ANGELES GALAXY FORWARD HERCULEZ GOMEZ
On the Galaxy's performance:
"We've got a lot of talented players on this team. We can do a lot of great individual things, but if we don't piece it together as a team, then we are not going to get the win. I think we are still not there yet as a team, but the good thing is that it is just the first game of the season. After the way we played in that second half, we can only get better."
LOS ANGELES GALAXY GOALKEEPER KEVIN HARTMAN
On the game:
"Obviously, we are a little bit further along than we were last preseason. I know a lot of the guys were gone with national teams and we met each other pretty much the night before the game in Columbus. It is disappointing to lose at home of course and disappointing to lose, period. It is disappointing for us to give up another free kick goal, so we know that we have a lot of things we need to work on. I think we need to be better with the ball, possess it more and create more opportunities."
LOS ANGELES GALAXY FORWARD LANDON DONOVAN
On the Galaxy's performance:
"We came out and we were playing at home, we had a strong crowd and we were getting our rings. I don't know if because of that we thought we were just going to come out and win the game - but it doesn't happen that way. Not against a team like that. We better learn fast, or we are going to struggle. Teams come here and they want to win, especially New England. Our attitude wasn't urgent enough and it comes down to people making plays and we didn't make plays. Everybody needs to do that, and tonight they made the play to change the game."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION HEAD COACH STEVE NICOL
On the game:
"I didn't think we played particularly well; we can play a lot better. Passing-wise, we didn't pass the ball well, but it is the first game. I can't complain about a win on the road in the first game of the season, I don't think we've ever done that. I couldn't ask for a better start."
On the difference between tonight and MLS Cup 2005:
"This was the first game of the season, not the last. We weren't even thinking about last season. We are thinking about this season; it is what happens this season that counts."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION FORWARD TAYLOR TWELLMAN
On the win:
"Obviously, the last 30 minutes of the game we just stayed back and defended, but we did well. It was a good win."
On the Revolution's first-ever win at The Home Depot Center:
"It was a good win for us, we will take it anytime."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION MIDFIELDER CLINT DEMPSEY
On his game-winning goal:
"It was a good job by Joey [Franchino] to win the foul. It looked like the ball might be going out of bounds. Andy Dorman had a good free kick and I was just able to get on the other side of the defender and get a flick on it and it went into the back of the net."
On the game:
"Coming out here it is a big field, there is a lot of time and space on the ball. When we are playing our little pickup games in practice, you don't have much time and space on the ball, so it is a luxury when you get in a game to have more time. That is the key, the way that we train. We go out and play hard everyday and that prepares us for games like this."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION DEFENDER JOEY FRANCHINO
On the win:
"To start off the season like that and get a win like is important. We could play better, but we got the result, so it is good."
