A quick look at the Los Angeles Galaxy headlines for the week of June 14, 2004 ...
• L.A. Galaxy Visit Giants Stadium for First Game of Home and Home Series Against MetroStars
• Viewing Parties At Locations Throughout The Southland For MetroStars Match
• Special Viewing Party At Nike Downtown L.A. Installation
• June 23 Match Vs. MetroStars A Los Angeles Times Family Pack Night
• Galaxy Torch Fire on the Weekend To Maintain Top Spot in Overall MLS Table
• Kirovski Sees Extensive Time for USA, Will Stay Aboard for Second Leg of Grenada Series
• Midfielder Gonzalez Gets Call to U.S. Under-20 National Team
L.A. GALAXY VISIT GIANTS STADIUM FOR FIRST GAME OF HOME AND HOME SERIES AGAINST METROSTARS: After a four-game homestand (including a friendly against Brazilian club Sao Paulo FC), the Los Angeles Galaxy (6-3-3 - 21 pts. - 1st West) travel to Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey this week for an inter-conference match against the MetroStars (3-3-4 - 13 pts. - T-3rd East). The trip to the East Coast marks the first time the Galaxy have played a game outside the friendly confines of The Home Depot Center in Carson, California since a match against arch-rivals San Jose Earthquakes at Spartan Stadium May 22. After posting a 2-1 MLS record on their recent homestand, the Galaxy now posses MLS' best home record (4-1-2) so far in 2004. The match, slated for Saturday, June 19 at 1 pm (PT), will be televised live on ESPN2's MLS Radio Shack Soccer Saturday. It will also be available live throughout the Southland to radio listeners in English (KMPC 1540 AM) and Spanish (KMXE 830 AM).
The game is also the first of two consecutive between the Galaxy and the MetroStars, who will return the favor on Wednesday, June 23 at 7:30 pm when they make their only appearance at The Home Depot Center for 2004. Fans attending the match on the 23rd with receive a Galaxy t-shirt courtesy on JNCO Jeans and a Kohl's Galaxy cheer card, while supplies last.
VIEWING PARTIES AT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHLAND FOR METROSTARS MATCH: When the Galaxy are on the road, join other Galaxy fans at official Away Game Viewing Parties. Come cheer on your team at the following Galaxy friendly bars and restaurants. Every Away Game Viewing Party will feature the Galaxy game on the restaurants' televisions, food and drink specials and Galaxy giveaways. Make sure to be there this Saturday, June 19 when the Galaxy battle the MetroStars at Giants Stadium. Join your fellow Galaxy fans at any of the following five locations:
• Underground - 1332 Hermosa Avenue, Hermosa Beach (310) 318-3818
• El Pollo Inka - 1425 W. Artesia Blvd in Gardena (310) 516-7378
• Maxsports - 8716 Garfield Ave., Suite 101 in South Gate (562) 928-8992
• Plaza Bar & Grill (Carson Hilton) - 2 Civic Plaza Drive in Carson (310) 830-9200
• Island Sunfish Grill - 423A Shoreline Village Drive in Long Beach (562) 285-2288
SPECIAL VIEWING PARTY AT NIKE DOWNTOWN L.A. INSTALLATION: In addition their usual viewing parties, Galaxy fans will have the chance to attend a special viewing party for next Saturday's match against the MetroStars at the Nike Downtown L.A. Installation at 1150 South Flower Street from noon to 3 p.m. The viewing party will be held in conjunction with Youth Soccer Saturday festivities at the installation. In addition, free refreshments will be served, patrons will have the chance to play foosball and the Nike Street Team will be doing demonstrations.
JUNE 23 MATCH VS. METROSTARS A LOS ANGELES TIMES FAMILY PACK NIGHT: The Los Angeles Galaxy are pleased to announce that the match against the MetroStars on Wednesday, June 23 will be the next chance this season for fans to purchase a Los Angeles Times Galaxy Family Pack. For as a little as $52, a family of four gets four match tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and a Los Angeles Times newspaper. To take advantage of this offer, please call the Galaxy ticket office toll-free at 1-877-3GALAXY.
GALAXY TORCH FIRE ON THE WEEKEND TO MAINTAIN TOP SPOT IN OVERALL MLS TABLE: Chris Albright snagged a winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time last Saturday as the Los Angeles Galaxy came from behind to defeat the Chicago Fire 3-2 at The Home Depot Center. Albright, a forward-turned-defender, headed home a Sasha Victorine cross to complete the Galaxy's comeback and maintain L.A.'s hold on the MLS overall points lead, spoiling a two-goal performance by Fire forward Ante Razov in the process. Razov, wearing the captain's armband while Chris Armas is away on national team duty, returned to the scene of his MLS Cup 2003 nightmare and appeared to have given his team all they needed to win. However, the Fire defense couldn't make a late 2-1 lead hold up, as rookie forward Joseph Ngwenya netted the equalizer in the 81st minute with a perfectly placed header and Albright finished the job. The win makes the Galaxy the first team to reach the 20-point mark this season and solidifies their position at the top of the Western Conference for another week, while the Fire are now susceptible to takeover at the top of the Eastern Conference after losing their first road game of the 2004 campaign.
KIROVSKI SEES EXTENSIVE TIME FOR USA, WILL STAY ABOARD FOR SECOND LEG OF GRENADA SERIES: L.A. Galaxy forward Jovan Kirovski, called on to come in as a substitute for an injured Conor Casey midway through the first half of the USA's 3-0 defeat of Grenada on June 13 in Columbus, Ohio, will be again be of the U.S. roster for a June 20 match against the same opponent in St. George's, Grenada. The series, played in an aggregate goal format, is part of the first round of CONCACAF qualifying to the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany. The winner of the USA-Granada pairing will be placed into one of two semifinal groups with the winners of four other head-to-head series. Former Galaxy defender Greg Vanney, who scored in second-half stoppage time of the USA's win in the first leg of the series, will also be part of the roster for the second leg next weekend.
MIDFIELDER GONZALEZ GETS CALL TO U.S. UNDER-20 NATIONAL TEAM: Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Guillermo Gonzalez, who split time between the club and the U.S Under-17 national team during his rookie season of 2003, has been called into the U.S. U-20 side by Head Coach Thomas Rongen for a friendly against Brazil on June 16 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Gonzalez is one of five MLS players on the roster, joining Freddy Adu (D.C. United), Arturo Alvarez (San Jose Earthquakes), Craig Capano (Chicago Fire) and Eddie Gaven (MetroStars). After the match Gonzalez and most of his teammates will leave for South Korea and the Busan Four Nations International Tournament. The U.S. will play South Korea, Poland and Brazil once again in a round-robin format. The U-20s will have a few days of training before facing South Korea in the opening match of the tournament on June 22. The U.S. will then face Brazil on June 24 and finish the round-robin play against Poland on June 26.
MÁS GALAXY TAKES A LOOK AT THE GALAXY AND THE METROSTARS: Más Galaxy, the club's Spanish-Language radio talk show, which airs each Wednesday at 8 pm on KMXE 830 AM, will give fans an inside look at the Galaxy-MetroStars match-up this week. The program, hosted by Troy Santiago and Rigoberto Cervantez, will feature interviews with guests from each team as well as analysis by both Santiago and Cervantez. Remember Galaxy fans, for the latest news on your favorite team, tune in every Wednesday night throughout the 2004 season to Más Galaxy, only on KMXE 830 AM.
DON'T MISS GALAXY DEPORTIVO, THIS AND EVERY SATURDAY AT 3:00 P.M. ON CHANNEL 22: Galaxy Deportivo, The weekly, half-hour Spanish language television show devoted to the Los Angeles Galaxy, can be seen this Saturday, June 19 at 3 p.m. on KWHY - Channel 22, immediately following the Galaxy - MetroStars match. Galaxy Deportivo, hosted by Los Angeles area personalities Jaime Motta and Elmer Polanco, can be seen at 3 p.m. each and every Saturday on Channel 22.
WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
GP W L T Pts
LA 12 6 3 3 21
KC 12 5 4 3 18
SJ 10 4 3 3 15
DAL 10 4 4 2 14
COL 10 2 3 5 11
Galaxy Injury Report
Out
Peter Vagenas, Strained Right Groin
Doubtful
Tyrone Marshall, Sprained Left MCL
Ryan Suarez, Strained Middle Back
Questionable
Danny Califf, Sprained Right MCL
Carlos Ruiz, Sprained Right Ankle
Did you know ... The Los Angeles Galaxy and the MetroStars met in the first game in Galaxy history, a 2-1 victory for the home side on April 13, 1996 before a crowd of 69,255 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
