L.A. GALAXY ENJOY RARE WEEKEND OFF; PREPARE FOR STRETCH RUN OF SEASON IN FIRST PLACE
The Los Angeles Galaxy (9-6-8, 35 pts - T-1st West) will enjoy the benefit of a bye this week as they prepare for the last two months of the 2004 MLS regular season. The club will not return to action until September 4, when they will play the first road match of the Steve Sampson era against the Columbus Crew at Crew Stadium. The game, slated for a 4:30 pm (PT) kickoff, will be televised live throughout the Southland on KCAL-9, beginning with the Galaxy Countdown pre-game show at 4 pm. Galaxy fans unable to be in front of their television that afternoon can listen to the game live on the radio in two languages, courtesy of KMPC 1540 AM (English) and KMXE 830 AM (Spanish).
DRAMATIC EQUALIZER FROM CARLOS RUIZ GIVES GALAXY TIE WITH THE FIRE
It took a late equalizer from Carlos Ruiz to give Steve Sampson a point from his debut as coach of the Los Angeles Galaxy, the 89th-minute header from the Guatemalan international giving his side a 1-1 tie with the Chicago Fire on Saturday at The Home Depot Center. Ruiz notched his goal in the 89th minute to finish off a solid performance by the Galaxy in the opening of the Sampson era, after he replaced Sigi Schmid at the start of the week. While the Galaxy allowed the Fire to have most of the scoring chances in the first half, they increased their attacking pressure over the last quarter of the match after Damani Ralph gave the Fire the lead to snatch a point and move into a tie atop the Western Conference with Kansas City Wizards, who won earlier in the day.
RUIZ'S 11TH TALLY OF THE SEASON AN MLS HIGH AND 50TH OF CAREER
Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz's last-minute tally against the Fire on Saturday gave the Guatemalan international 11 goals on the season - and a share of the MLS lead with the San Jose Earthquakes' Brian Ching. The 24-year-old Ruiz, in his third year with the Galaxy and the 2002 Honda MLS Most Valuable Player became the only player in history to lead the league in scoring in each of his first two seasons when hit home for 24 markers in 2002 and 15 in 2003, giving him a grand total of 50 regular season career goals.
FIRST TIME ON THE SIDELINES A CHARM FOR GALAXY COACHES
Thanks to Saturday's 1-1 draw against the Fire, Steve Sampson ensured that none of the Galaxy four coaches in the club's history has dropped their opener in charge of the green and gold. Lothar Osiander won his and the club's first-ever match on April 13, 1996 - defeating the MetroStars 2-1 at the Rose Bowl. Octavio Zambrano, who replaced Osiander in early June 1997, was also victorious in his debut on the Galaxy sideline - his side posted a 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Mutiny on June 5, 1997, also played at the Rose Bowl. After taking the place of Zambrano, Sigi Schmid also earned the victory when behind the Galaxy bench for the first time - a 1-0 (shootout) defeat of the MetroStars on May 1, 1999 - one week after watching from the press box as interim coach Ralph Perez guided them to 1-0 win over the then-San Jose Clash on April 24.
BROOME AND SARAGOSA TO MISS CLUB'S NEXT MATCH IN COLUMBUS
After each received a yellow card from the referee in Saturday's match against the Chicago Fire, Galaxy defender Paul Broome and midfielder Marcelo Saragosa will be forced to sit out the club next match at the Columbus Crew on September 4 due to caution point accumulation. Each of the players has collected 25 caution points over the course of the 2004 campaign to bring about the one-game suspension.
U.S. SOCCER FOUNDATION PASSBACK PROGRAM COMES TO THE HOME DEPOT CENTER SEPTEMBER 11
The Los Angeles Galaxy, the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Eurosport, Kwik Goal and local sponsor Western Union, join forces to bring the USSF Passback Program to the Galaxy's home game on September 11 against the San Jose Earthquakes. Galaxy fans attending that evening's match are invited to donate "used but usable" soccer equipment to the collection - which will benefit local soccer organizations in Southern California. The donated soccer gear - jerseys, shorts, shoes, balls and shin guards are all acceptable - can be dropped off at any one of several locations throughout The Home Depot Center. In addition to the equipment being donated by fans attending the match, Western Union has pledged to contribute jerseys, shorts, shin guards and shoes as part of their local support of the Passback Program.
MAS GALAXY PREVIEWS THE REST OF THE 2004 SEASON
Más Galaxy, the club's Spanish-language radio talk show, which airs each Wednesday at 8 p.m. on KMXE 830 AM, will give fans an inside look at the rest of the 2004 MLS Regular Season. The program, hosted by Troy Santiago and Rigoberto Cervantez, will feature interviews with guests from around the league 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 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, August 28 on KWHY - Channel 22. Galaxy Deportivo can be seen at 3 p.m. each and every Saturday on Channel 22.
WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
GP W L T Pts
LA 23 9 6 8 35
KC 22 10 7 5 35
COL 23 8 7 8 32
SJ 21 8 7 6 30
DAL 22 8 9 5 29
This week's schedule
Date Time/Location*
Tues. August 24 10 a.m. - T1
Wed. August 25 10 a.m. - T1
Thrs. August 26 OFF
Fri. August 27 OFF
Sat. August 28 OFF
Sun. August 29 OFF
Mon. August 30 10 a.m. -TBA
NOTE TO MEDIA
All training fields are at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., unless indicated differently. Times and locations are subject to change. Media attending training must notify Galaxy Communications upon their arrival at The Home Depot Center and wait to be escorted to the correct field.
GALAXY INJURY REPORT
No injuries to report at this time
Did you know ... The Los Angeles Galaxy are averaging 23,011 fans per game in 2004 at The Home Depot Center?
