The Galaxy kick off the second half of their season this weekend when they travel north to Canada to take on Toronto FC. After recording a 10-1-2 record in their 13 games before the World Cup to take a nine point lead at the top of the Western Conference, the club will now aim for similar success over the second half of the season, which begins at 4:30 p.m. (PT) on Saturday evening.
Saturday’s game will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel and fox Sports en Espanol, while KTLK 1150 AM and ESPN Deportes Radio 1330 AM will also carry the game live locally on the radio in English and Spanish respectively.
The club’s return from Toronto will be dependant upon Tuesday’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup game between AC St. Louis and NSC Minnesota Stars. If the hosts, Minnesota, win, they will host the Galaxy in the Third Round of the Open Cup on Tuesday, June 29, meaning that the Galaxy would travel directly there from Toronto. If St. Louis wins, the Galaxy will return to Southern California on Sunday and then host AC St. Louis on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at The Home Depot Center.
THE WEEK THAT WAS
Saturday, June 19, 2010; Galaxy U-20’s 1 –
Southern California Seahorses U-20’s 1 – The Home Depot Center
INJURY REPORT
Galaxy Injury Report
OUT – Mike Magee (Bilateral Sports Hernia – Surgery)
DOUBTFUL – None
QUESTIONABLE – Dema Kovalenko (Right Hamstring – Strain)
PROBABLE - None
TEAM NOTES
MAGEE UNDERGOES SPORTS HERNIA SURGERY: The Galaxy will be without forward Mike Magee for the next 4-6 weeks after he underwent surgery to repair a bilateral sports hernia. Dr. Ulrike Muschaweck performed the procedure in Munich, Germany late last week and Magee is scheduled to begin his rehabilitation this week at The Home Depot Center.
The 25-year-old has one goal and one assist in eight games this season for the Galaxy, scoring the game-winner in LA’s 1-0 win at FC Dallas on May 20 and setting up Edson Buddle’s second goal late on against Chivas USA on April 1. Magee who missed LA’s last two games, against Houston and Real Salt Lake, also missed three games earlier this season with tightness in his right hip.
NORTH OF THE BORDER: The Galaxy will travel north to Canada for the first time this season for Saturday’s game with Toronto FC. LA is 1-1-1 all-time in MLS games in Canada, after winning at BMO Field for the first time ever last season, defeating TFC 2-1. Alan Gordon and Edson Buddle scored the goals in that game for the Galaxy’s first ever goals north of the border.
While this is the club’s only trip to Canada for an MLS regular season game this season, they are in line to make multiple trips there next season and in the future, when the Vancouver Whitecaps join the league in 2011 and Montreal joins the league a year later. Additionally, the club will be hoping to make at least one more trip to Toronto this season, as the city will host MLS Cup 2010 in November.
FOLLOWING THE FIRST LOSS: Since MLS discontinued the shootout to decide games before the 2000 season, the Galaxy are 6-2-3 following their first defeat of the season. In the last six years, LA is 4-0-2 after their first loss of the season, outscoring opponents 12-4.
In 2009, the Galaxy lost a total of six regular season games and only lost consecutive games once, falling 2-0 to Real Salt Lake at home on June 13 and then losing 2-1 at San Jose a week later. Only one other time in Bruce Arena’s tenure with the Galaxy has the club lost two consecutive games.
PLENTY OF TIME OFF: Between the Galaxy’s 1-0 loss to Real Salt Lake on June 9 and Saturday’s game at Toronto FC, the Galaxy will go 15 days between regular season games. This will be their longest in-season stretch without a game since midway through the 2007 season. That year, the Galaxy did not play a regular season MLS game between a 2-2 home draw with Kansas City on July 7 and a 0-0 draw at Toronto FC on August 5. In between those games, the Galaxy lost a U.S. Open Cup Third Round game to the Richmond Kickers (USL – 2nd Division), played against Tigres UANL and Chelsea FC in the World Series of Football at The Home Depot Center and played three group stage games at the inaugural SuperLiga tournament, defeating Pachuca 2-1 at The Home Depot Center, losing 2-1 to Chivas at the L.A. Coliseum and beating FC Dallas 6-5 at Pizza Hut Park.
OPEN CUP OPPONENT TO BE DECIDED TUESDAY: For the first time since 2007, the Galaxy will play in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Third Round. The Galaxy will discover the identity of their Third Round opponent tonight, with the club scheduled to face the winner of the game between AC St. Louis and NSC Minnesota Stars. That game, which pits two USSF Division 2 Pro League teams against one another, will be played in Blaine, Minn. on Tuesday, June 22 at 5 p.m. (PT). Those two teams first met in Minnesota on May 29, with the Stars coming out on top 3-2.
If the Stars win again in their Second Round matchup, they will host the Galaxy at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn. on Tuesday, June 29. However, if AC St. Louis win that game, the Galaxy will host them on Tuesday, June 29.
The Galaxy have never faced AC St. Louis, who began play this season, while they are 2-1-0 against Minnesota in the Open Cup. The Galaxy defeated Minnesota (who were previously called the Thunder) 4-0 in the Third Round of the 2002 Open Cup and 5-2 in the 2005 Open Cup Semifinals, but lost to them 1-0 in the Fourth Round of the 2004 Open Cup.
LA also played the Thunder in November 2007 in a friendly at the Metrodome, with the game finishing 0-0 after 90 minutes before the Galaxy came out victorious on penalties to claim the inaugural Copa Minnesota.
BUDDLE AND DONOVAN SET FOR GROUP C DECIDER: Galaxy forwards Edson Buddle and Landon Donovan will look to help the United States advance to the second round of the World Cup when they take on Algeria on Wednesday in a game that kicks off at 7 a.m. (PT) on ESPN.
Donovan has played the full 90 minutes in both of the U.S.’s group games, scoring his third career World Cup goal early in the second half of Friday’s game against Slovenia and then helping to set up Michael Bradley’s late equalizer as the U.S. earned a 2-2 draw.
Buddle made his World Cup debut in the 77th minute of the 1-1 draw with England, replacing Robbie Findley for his fourth cap, but he was an unused substitute in the draw with Slovenia.
CUP OF JOE WITH GREGG BERHALTER: Tune-in to the Galaxy's weekly live web show, Cup of Joe, with the English language radio voice of the Galaxy, Joe Tutino. On Wednesday afternoon at approximately 1:30 p.m., Berhalter will join Tutino to discuss the U.S.-Algeria game, the club’s return to MLS action against Toronto FC and much more. The show will air live on the Galaxy’s website, www.lagalaxy.com, where it will also be archived for future viewing.
Fans can participate asking by questions either beforehand or live during the chat. Start submitting questions for Gregg now to socialmedia@lagalaxy.com.
CLINT MATHIS TO BE GUEST WEDNESADAY ON EXTRATIME RADIO: On Wednesday afternoon, LA Galaxy midfielder Clint Mathis will be a guest on ExtraTime Radio, a two-hour daily audio cast featuring a live “call-in” option, at 3:30 p.m. (PT) on MLSsoccer.com. Be sure to tune-in and listen or call-in at 1-888-MLS-GOAL (888-657-4625) with your questions for Clint about the Galaxy and the World Cup.
YOUTH ACADEMY
GALAXY U-18’S HEAD TO NORTH CAROLINA FOR ACADEMY PLAYOFFS: The LA Galaxy U-18 team will travel to North Carolina on Thursday ahead of the Development Academy Playoffs, which will be held in Browns Summit, N.C. from June 25-29. A total of 32 teams qualified for the U-18 Academy Playoffs, with the Galaxy garnering the #15 seed in the tournament.
They will open postseason play against FC Greater Boston (#22 seed) on Saturday, June 26 at 9 a.m. (PT). They are back in action the next day, Sunday, June 27 at 2 p.m. (PT) when they take on the Clearwater Chargers (#27 seed) before rounding out group play on Tuesday, June 29 when they play FC Dallas (#7 seed) at 8 a.m. (PT).
The Galaxy U-18’s are the club’s second entrant into the Development Academy Playoffs in as many years of the program, joining last year’s U-16’s, who reached the Development Academy Playoffs in their inaugural season.
The 32 playoff teams are divided into eight groups of four, with all eight group winners moving on to the Development Academy Finals, which will be held at The Home Depot Center from July 10-17.
DRAW KEEPS GALAXY U-20’S IN THIRD PLACE IN SUPER 20 LEAGUE: The LA Galaxy U-20’s are now unbeaten in their last three games after playing to a 1-1 draw with the Southern California Seahorses on Saturday at The Home Depot Center. The Galaxy trailed 1-0 but equalized with two minutes remaining
With the draw, the Galaxy remain in third place in the league with a 2-1-1 record for seven points. They are now two points behind second place SUSA – Everton, who have a 3-1-0 record for nine points but lost to the Galaxy earlier this month, and eight points behind first place Chivas USA, who have played two more games than the Galaxy.
The U-20’s are back in action on Thursday evening at 5 p.m. when they host the Poway Vaqueros at The Home Depot Center.
IN THE COMMUNITY
LOS ANGELES GALAXY FOUNDATION NEEDS FAN SUPPORT TO WIN $250,000 FROM CHASE COMMUNITY GIVING: The Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation, the charitable arm of the LA Galaxy, is competing with charities nationwide for donations ranging from $20,000 to $250,000 through the Chase Community Giving program. Fans have 21 days remaining to help ensure the Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation’s success by simply voting through the Chase Community Giving program running on Facebook. Fans can vote for the Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation and give them the chance to win the grand prize of $250,000 by visiting the Chase Community Giving program at: http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/954770699-los-angeles-galaxy-foundation and clicking the green “Get Started to Vote” button. One vote can be cast for each charity in the competition until 8:59 p.m. (PT) on Monday, July 12.
LA GALAXY PLAYERS TO ATTEND USA-ALGERIA VIEWING PARTIES AT ESPN ZONES AT LA LIVE AND ANAHEIM: The LA Galaxy will be hosting two featured viewing parties for tomorrow’s Group C showdown between the U.S. and Algeria. The game kicks off at 7 a.m. and will be shown live at both of the local ESPN Zones, at LA Live and in Anaheim, with a current Galaxy star in attendance at each event. Galaxy forward Tristan Bowen will be at the ESPN Zone at LA Live while former U.S. National Team midfielder Chris Klein will be at the ESPN Zone in Anaheim. Both Galaxy players will be signing autographs during halftime of the game and helping to cheer the Red, White and Blue on to victory. Each location will open at 6:30 a.m. for the U.S.-Algeria match, which kicks off at 7:00 a.m., and fans are asked to arrive early in order to assure themselves the best seat in the house. For more information and the complete list of the club’s Official Viewing Locations for every game throughout the World Cup, go to www.lagalaxy.com/worldcup.
GALAXY FOUNDATION SHOT OF THE WEEK: At each LA Galaxy home game, fans are invited to visit the Galaxy Foundation Booth to place your bid on the Galaxy Foundation's Shot of the Week presented by MoraPhotography.com. Each photo will be signed by the player or players featured. All proceeds benefit the Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation.
NEED TO KNOW
MEDIA PARKING AT TRAINING: All media members are asked to enter through Gate A, off Avalon Blvd., and to park in Lot 18 when attending Galaxy training sessions at The Home Depot Center. Members of the media who park in Lot 6, across from University Fields 1 and 2, during training sessions may be ticketed by California State University – Dominguez Hills.
LOOKING FOR MORE UPDATES?: If you are looking for continuous updates from the Galaxy all week long, be sure to visit the club’s official websites www.lagalaxy.com and www.lagalaxyfutbol.com, or the club’s official blog at www.thelagalaxy.blogspot.com for all the latest news from the club. The Galaxy can also be followed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/lagalaxy and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lagalaxy.
