The LA Galaxy, presented by Herbalife, will host the Puerto Rico Islanders on Tuesday, July 27 at 7 p.m. in the first leg of the Preliminary Round of the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League at The Home Depot Center. A week later, the Galaxy will travel to Puerto Rico for the second leg at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 4 at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
The home match against the Islanders is included in all Galaxy full season ticket plans as Bonus Game D. A special ticket pre-sale for all full season ticket holders is underway now, with tickets going on sale to the general public on Friday, June 11, starting at just $20.
The winner of the Galaxy-Islanders series will be placed in Group D, which will include the Mexican Clausura champ Toluca, Olimpia of Honduras and the winner of the Preliminary Round matchup between FAS of El Salvador and Xelajú of Guatemala.
As a result of their berth in MLS Cup 2009, the Galaxy qualified for the Champions League for the first time since 2006. Since their inception in 1996, the Galaxy have competed in five editions of the CONCACAF Champions League (formerly known as the CONCACAF Champions Cup), winning the regional championship in 2000 when they became the second MLS club ever to win the tournament.
The Galaxy first qualified for the tournament in 1997 when they reached the Final against Mexican side Cruz Azul. There, despite taking an early 2-0 lead in the Final, the Galaxy gave up five consecutive goals and eventually fell 5-3.
Three years later the Galaxy were able to make it back to the Champions Cup Final and went one step further, winning the tournament by defeating Olimpia of Honduras 3-2 in the final at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 21, 2001. The Galaxy reached the Champions Cup Final by edging past Real España of Honduras and D.C. United in the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively, with both wins coming via penalties.
LA also qualified for the Champions Cup in 2003 and 2006, reaching the quarterfinals each time before being eliminated.
This is Puerto Rico’s third consecutive year participating in the Champions League, qualifying by capturing the Caribbean Football Union’s Club Championship in May.
In their CONCACAF debut in 2008, the Islanders advanced all the way to the semifinals before falling to eventual tournament runner-up, Cruz Azul from the Mexican Primera Division. One year later, Puerto Rico eliminated Toronto FC in the Preliminary Round, but were knocked out at the Group Stage after finishing in fourth place of Group C with an 0-3-3 record.
For more information about this game, please contact the Galaxy by calling 1-877-3GALAXY (342-5299) or by visiting www.lagalaxy.com.
