LOS ANGELES - A quick look at the Los Angeles Galaxy headlines for the week of April 11, 2005 ...
SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE FOR APRIL 23 GALAXY-CHIVAS USA CLASICO
Single game tickets for the Los Angeles Galaxy's April 23 home match against Chivas USA, the first edition of the Southern California Clásico are already on sale. Galaxy fans looking to buy tickets specifically for this historic encounter will be able to through TicketMaster and the box office at The Home Depot Center. Additionally, the club is offering its fans two special ticket packages featuring that game over the next weeks. The options are:
a) The Galaxy Gold 4 Pack, which includes four center sideline or reserved sideline seats for the Chivas USA game on April 23 and four Galaxy Gold T-shirts, all for just $200.
and
b) The Celebration Pack, which includes one center or reserved sideline seat for the Chivas USA game on April 23, one center or reserved sideline seat for the Galaxy's home match against FC Dallas on April 30 Game and one Galaxy Gold T-shirt for only $97.
For more information, or to purchase tickets for the match, please call the Galaxy toll-free at 1-877-3GALAXY.
DONOVAN SHINES AS GALAXY OPEN MLS HOME SCHEDULE WITH 3-1 DEFEAT OF REAL SALT LAKE
Landon Donovan showed why his return to Major League Soccer has been so highly anticipated, making his Los Angeles Galaxy debut in high style Saturday night as he scored two goals and set up a third to lead his new club to a 3-1 victory against expansion side Real Salt Lake at The Home Depot Center on April 9. Just nine minutes into the match, Donovan found the back of the net from about 18 yards out. The goal was set up after a clever switch of play opened up Cobi Jones on the right flank, who then found Chris Albright making an overlapping run. Jovan Kirovski collected Albright's centering pass in the box before coolly laying the ball off to his new strike mate. RSL would level the score after a Dipsy Selolwane blast would stretch Hartman to his limits. Hartman made the save, but the ensuing rebound was knocked home by Jason Kreis, the first goal in RSL franchise history. But just when it seemed like the two sides would head into the lockerroom knotted at a goal apiece, Donovan struck again. Guillermo Ramirez ran down the ball on the left and tried to put in a cross, only to see it deflected high into the air, eventually falling at the back post. Donovan quickly pounced, heading home from close range in front of Behncke. In the 72nd minute the Galaxy would finally break through, as Donovan again would play a part in the Galaxy goal. After winning the ball in midfield he sent Jones free on the right, and he carried the ball into the RSL penalty area, eventually firing a shot that would beat Countess low to the back post. It was Jones' first goal since June 14, 2003.
GALAXY RESERVES WIN FIRST-EVER MATCH, 4-2 AGAINST RSL
The Los Angeles Galaxy reserves scored three goals in the second half and defeated the Real Salt Lake reserves, 4-2, on April 10 at The Home Depot Center on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills. Real had taken an early lead just ten minutes into the match when Jordan Cila collected a failed clearance by Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin about 30 yards from the goal and chipped the 'keeper. The home side responded to tie the score in the 22nd minute, a Guillermo Gonzalez free kick finding Troy Roberts in a crowd inside the six-yard box, with Roberts tapping the ball home. The Galaxy reserves got on the board next. In the 47th minute, Michael Enfield's through ball hit Joseph Ngwenya in stride for a first-time shot that eluded Real 'keeper Jay Nolly. The visitors then equalized in the 73rd minute when Jaime Watson collected a pass in the penalty area and rounded Cronin before slotting his shot home. The last 15 minutes of the match belonged to the Galaxy reserves. After an extended possession in the 79th minute, Herculez Gomez fired a low shot that Jolly did well to stop, only to see Ngwenya out-jump a defender and head the loose ball into the back of the net. Gomez would add a goal of his own before the final whistle, settling a pass from Ryan Shaw in the box, eluding a defender and hitting home for the final margin.
TWO EXHIBITION MATCHES ON THE DOCKET FOR THE CLUB THIS WEEK
With the week off from MLS competition, the Galaxy will participate in two exhibition matches, one Wednesday and the other Saturday. For the first match, The Galaxy will make a trip to the Pacific Northwest to meet the Portland Timbers (USL First Division). The game, slated for 7 pm at PGE Park, will be the second-ever meeting between the teams; with the first one won by the Timbers in 2002. Tickets are available for purchase at area Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at (503) 224-4400 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. In the second tilt, the Galaxy will face PDL side San Diego Gauchos in a charity match benefiting Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Oxnard at Channel Islands High School. The game will start at 7 pm, to purchase tickets for this game, call (805) 688-0058 or visit www.socceractionusa.com.
GALAXY INDIVIDUAL TICKETS NOW ON SALE THROUGH THE CLUB, TICKETMASTER
Los Angeles Galaxy individual game tickets are now on sale for the 2005 season. Complete details on pricing for individual game tickets are available by calling the Galaxy Ticket Office toll-free at 1-877-3GALAXY or by visiting the club's website at www.lagalaxy.com. Those looking to order tickets can do so through TicketMaster via phone at 213-480-3232 or 714-740-2000; and at TicketMaster outlets: Wherehouse Music, Ritmo Latino, Tu Musica, Robinsons May and Tower Records or by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com.
Galaxy Injury Report
OUT - None
DOUBTFUL - None
QUESTIONABLE - Josh Gardner (Left Foot), Alan Gordon (Right Hip)
PROBABLE - None
Did you know ... That rookie defender Troy Roberts scored the first goal in the Galaxy reserves' history, knocking in a Guillermo Gonzalez free kick on Sunday, May 10 against the Real Salt Lake reserves.
