A quick look at the Los Angeles Galaxy headlines for the week of September 5, 2005 ...
• Galaxy Look To Hold Off Surging Rapids Saturday At The Home Depot Center
• Club Will Partner With U.S. Soccer Foundation Passback Program at Match
• Donations For Victims of Hurricane Katrina to be Collected at All September Galaxy Home Games
• September 17 & 21 Road Games will be Televised Throughout the Southland on KWHY - Channel 22
• National Teams Update - Qualifying Continues in CONCACAF Region
• Fire's Last-Minute Marker Hands Galaxy Stunning Defeat
• Galaxy and Fire Reserves Play to 2-2 Deadlock
• Tickets for Galaxy's U.S. Open Cup Semifinal Match Already On Sale
• Tickets for Galaxy's Remaining Home Games Available Through the Club, TicketMaster
GALAXY LOOK TO HOLD OFF SURGING RAPIDS SATURDAY AT THE HOME DEPOT CENTER: The Los Angeles Galaxy continue their current homestand with an MLS Western Conference match against the Colorado Rapids this Saturday, September 10 at The Home Depot Center on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills. It will be the first time the two clubs have met in the Southland since a 3-2 dramatic victory for the home side on Sunday, May 8 that saw three goals scored in the final five minutes of that encounter.
The club will be giving away Decade of Stars soccer balls to the first 10,000 children 16 & under attending the match whose parents purchase either group tickets or a family four-pack in advance. Prices for the four-packs begin at just $88 and group rates are applicable for all parties of ten or more - for more information, call the Galaxy ticket office toll-free at 1-877-3GALAXY.
The game - which will pit two clubs separated by less a handful of points in the standings - will be televised nationally in high definition on HDNet and will be broadcast LIVE on the radio in Spanish on KMXE 830 am.
CLUB WILL PARTNER WITH U.S. SOCCER FOUNDATION PASSBACK PROGRAM MATCH: Also that day, the Galaxy and the U. S. Soccer Foundation are asking all fans to bring new or gently used soccer equipment to The Home Depot Center with them to that night's match. As a token of appreciation, fans participating will receive a special "Buy One, Get One Free" ticket offer to an upcoming Galaxy home game. Those who donate equipment will also be eligible to sign up to win autographed team items at the Passback tables located at the entry gates. Soccer teams should get organized - the club or team to bring in the most merchandise wins a $200 EUROSPORT gift certificate! For more information please call 1-877-3-GALAXY.
DONATIONS FOR VICTIMS OF HURRICANE KATRINA TO BE COLLECTED AT ALL SEPTEMBER GALAXY HOME GAMES: The Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation and The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation will partner with the Greater Long Beach chapter of the American Red Cross to collect donations of spare change for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, whose after-effects continue to ravage several areas along the Gulf Coast of the United States. The donations will be collected at each of the Galaxy's three MLS home games and their U.S. Open Cup semifinal match (all during the month of September) at The Home Depot Center on the campus of Cal State University, Dominguez Hills. The game dates are: Sunday, September 4 (vs. Chicago Fire); Saturday, September 10 (vs. Colorado Rapids); Wednesday, September 14 (vs. Minnesota Thunder - U.S. Open Cup) and Sunday, September 25 (vs. Kansas City Wizards). In addition, monetary gifts will be accepted on non-game days in the reception area at The Home Depot Center. To launch the extensive fundraising campaign, the Galaxy Foundation made a contribution in the amount of $ 5,000 to the cause. In addition, AEG and The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation have stepped up to give $2,500 apiece for the relief efforts.
SEPTEMBER 17 & 21 ROAD GAMES WILL BE TELEVISED THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHLAND ON KWHY - CHANNEL 22: The Galaxy is pleased to announce that the club's next two road games - Saturday, September 17 at Kansas City and Wednesday September 21 at Dallas, will be televised on KWHY - Channel 22. The Saturday match will be carried LIVE at 5:30 pm (PT) and the Wednesday night contest will air tape-delayed starting at 8 pm - marking the third consecutive season the station has broadcast at least one Galaxy game. KWHY currently broadcasts Galaxy Deportivo, which airs each Saturday afternoon throughout the season.
NATIONAL TEAMS UPDATE - QUALIFYING CONTINUES IN CONCACAF REGION: Saturday was a day of both agony and ecstasy for Galaxy teammates playing for their respective national teams in qualifying to the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany. While Landon Donovan and his U.S. National Team comrades celebrated a 2-0 victory over Mexico that earned them the first automatic berth from the CONCACAF region to next summer's World Cup, Pando Ramirez could only watch in despair as his two goals failed to hold up in Guatemala's 3-2 loss against Trinidad & Tobago. Meanwhile, the Galaxy's Michael Umaña was on the pitch for all 90 minutes in Costa Rica's 3-1 defeat of Panama. All three players, along with Chris Albright (USA) have also been called in for the next round of qualifiers, which will be played this Wednesday (USA @ GUA, CRC vs. TRI) and will return to the Galaxy in time for Saturday's match against Colorado.
FIRE'S LAST-MINUTE MARKER HANDS GALAXY STUNNING DEFEAT: The Los Angeles Galaxy surrendered a goal in the second minute of stoppage time Sunday night in a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Fire at The Home Depot Center on the campus of Cal State University - Dominguez Hills. Just when it looked like both sides were going to share the points, Justin Mapp went on a long run, weaving through the Galaxy defense and then sending the ball home from just inside the box with a left-footed shot, handing the home side just their second home loss of the 2005 season.
GALAXY AND FIRE RESERVES PLAY TO 2-2 DEADLOCK: The Los Angeles Galaxy reserves played to their second tie of the season, a 2-2 deadlock against the counterparts from the Chicago Fire Monday morning at The Home Depot Center on the Campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills. Los Angeles earned goals from midfielder David Johnson and defender Ugo Ihemelu, while Chicago midfielder Hemir Niebles and forward Andy Herron each found the back of the net for the Fire.
TICKETS FOR GALAXY'S U.S. OPEN CUP SEMIFINAL MATCH ON SALE THURSDAY: Tickets for the Galaxy's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinal match, which will be played September 14 at The Home Depot Center on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills, are already on sale.
The game, which kicks off at 8 pm (PT) will pit the Galaxy, 2-1 winners over the San Jose Earthquakes in the quarterfinals this past Wednesday, against the Minnesota Thunder (USL- First Division), who defeated the Kansas City Wizards, for the right to play for the title in this country's longest-running club championship, which was first played in 1914.
Tickets to the match will be available in the following seating categories, all of which feature deep discounts when compared to the same seats for Galaxy MLS regular season matches: Sidelines ($25), Corners ($15) and Endlines ($10). Galaxy fans wishing to purchase tickets to the match will be able to so through TicketMaster, either over the phone or on the Internet at www.ticketmaster.com. Group tickets, for parties of 10 or more and featuring a savings of five dollars per ticket on sidelines and corners, are available by calling the Galaxy Ticket office directly at 1-877-3GALAXY.
MAS GALAXY THIS AND EVERY WEDNESDAY: Más Galaxy, the club's Spanish-Language radio talk show, will hit the air this week at 7 pm and will feature a look at both the Galaxy and the Rapids. The program, hosted by Troy Santiago, the Spanish-language voice of the Galaxy alongside www.MLSnet.com writer and local soccer journalist Rene Romano, features an in-depth look at the Galaxy and their opponent each week. This week, a special emphasis will be placed on the MLS Western Conference playoff race - with all six teams still very much alive in the fight for just four playoff spots. Remember Galaxy fans, for the latest news on your favorite team, tune in every Wednesday night to Más Galaxy, only on KMXE 830 AM.
GALAXY DEPORTIVO BREAKS DOWN ALL THE ACTION SATURDAY: Galaxy Deportivo, The weekly, half-hour Spanish language television show devoted to the Los Angeles Galaxy, can be seen this Saturday, September 10 at 3:30 p.m. on KWHY - Channel 22. Galaxy Deportivo, hosted by Los Angeles area personalities Jaime Motta and Elmer Polanco, can be seen at the same time each and every Saturday on Channel 22.
TICKETS FOR GALAXY'S REMAINING HOME GAMES AVAILABLE 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 Weekly Training Schedule
Date: Time/Location
Wed. Sept. 7: 10 am - T4
Thurs. Sept. 8: 10 am - T4
Fri. Sept. 9: 10 am - T2
Sat. Sept. 10: 10 am - Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids - The Home Depot Center
Sun. Sept. 11: 10 am - Galaxy Reserves vs. Colorado Rapids - The Home Depot Center - Field TBD
Mon. Sept. 12: TBA
NOTE TO MEDIA: All practice times are listed in Pacific Time and are subject to change without notice.
Galaxy Injury Report
OUT -
DOUBTFUL -
QUESTIONABLE - Ben Benditson (sports hernia), Paulo Nagamura (sprained right ankle)
PROBABLE -
Did you know ... The Galaxy reserves are the only club to use just one goalkeeper between the pipes for all their MLS Reserve Division matches in 2005 - Steve Cronin?
