CARSON, Calif. (Monday, February 6, 2012) – After beating the L.A. Blues 7-2 in their first preseason game of the year on Friday, the LA Galaxy returned to The Home Depot Center on Monday for the start of their third week of preseason training. The club will hold three training sessions in Carson this week as they move closer to the start of the 2012 MLS season
In addition to their three training sessions, the Galaxy will also host a pair of preseason games, first taking on the Portland Timbers on Tuesday before then hosting the 2011 Eastern Conference Champion Houston Dynamo to close out the week on Friday. Both matches and all training sessions are closed to the general public. VIEW 2012 PRESEASON SCHEDULE
TEAM NOTES
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TICKETS ON SALE THURSDAY: Tickets for the home leg of the Galaxy’s CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal against Toronto FC will go on sale starting on Thursday, February 9, starting at $30. That game, which is the second leg of the aggregate goal series against Toronto, will be played at The Home Depot Center on Wednesday, March 14, with kick off scheduled for 7 p.m. Capacity for the game will be limited to just 7,500 because of a long standing, mutual agreement with The Home Depot Center and California State University, Dominguez Hills regarding reduced stadium capacity for midweek games during the school year. This agreement also saw the club play in front of reduced capacity crowds during the MLS Cup Playoffs against New York and in September 2011 against Morelia in the Champions League.
Current Galaxy Season Ticket Holders will be able to use their Bonus Game A ticket for the game. They will also be able to purchase additional tickets through a special presale, which will begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, with all remaining tickets going on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 9. Tickets can be purchased online by clicking here or by calling 877-3GALAXY.
BUY SEASON TICKETS | BUY MINI PLANS
VILLARREAL SURGERY SUCCESSFUL: Galaxy Homegrown player Jose Villarreal underwent successful surgery today in Santa Monica to repair the bilateral lower leg compartment syndrome, which he was diagnosed with last week. The Inglewood, Calif. native, who was signed by the Galaxy in December, trained with the team for the first week of preseason before experiencing complications from the injury early in the second week of preseason. He is expected to miss six weeks of action while recovering from the surgery, which was performed by Dr. Bert Mandelbaum.
COME SEE THE GALAXY HOST MONTREAL ON FEBRUARY 14: On Tuesday, February 14, the Galaxy will host the Montreal Impact in their fourth preseason game of the year. For a donation of $5 or more to the Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation, a limited number of fans will be allowed to attend the game, which will be played at 10:30 a.m. on University Field #1.
The Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, strives to support and create educational, health and recreational activities and programs for children, with a specific focus on aiding disadvantaged and at-risk youth. Through the involvement of the club’s players, coaching and front office and support of Galaxy fans, the Foundation seeks to make a positive impact on and off the field.
TWO WEEKS UNTIL TUCSON: With the Galaxy already into the third week of the club’s preseason, they are now just more than two weeks away from the start of the Desert Diamond Cup in Tucson, Ariz. The four-team tournament begins on Wednesday, February 22 at the Kino Sports Complex, with LA opening that evening at 5 p.m. against New England. Following that game, the Galaxy will face Real Salt Lake (Saturday, February 25) and the New York Red Bulls (Wednesday, February 29) before closing out the tournament on Saturday, March 3 by playing in either the Third Place Game or the Championship Game.
The Galaxy will travel to Tucson ahead of the start of the tournament and remain there through its completion. The club will then officially kick off the 2012 season in Toronto on Wednesday, March 7 when they take on Toronto FC in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal at Rogers Centre.
Tickets for the Desert Diamond Cup are on sale now, starting at $20 per game, and can be purchased online by clicking here.
ON LOAN UPDATES: Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane continued their loan spells in England last week, each playing in a pair of games for their clubs. Donovan helped Everton go 1-0-1 during the week, beating Manchester City at home and coming from behind to tie Wigan while Keane helped Aston Villa claim a 2-2 home draw with QPR before losing 2-1 away to Newcastle on Sunday.
On Tuesday, Donovan helped to set up the only goal of the game, tallying his third assist in two games, laying the ball off into the path of Darron Gibson for his first goal with the club as Everton upset Premier League leaders Manchester City 1-0. Donovan once again played 90 minutes for the Toffees on Saturday as they drew 1-1 away to Wigan, extending their unbeaten streak in all competitions to five games.
Keane also started a pair of games last week, setting up his squad’s opening goal late in the first half of the 2-2 home draw with QPR on Wednesday before scoring his third goal in five games for Aston Villa, tying the score 1-1 late in the first half against Newcastle, though they would go on to lose the game 2-1. Like Donovan, Keane played the full 90 minutes in the game, meaning that he has played at least 89 minutes in all four of his starts since joining Villa on loan last month.
Both players will be back in action this weekend, with Everton hosting Chelsea on Saturday afternoon in a game that can be seen live on FOX Soccer starting at 7 a.m. (PT), and Villa hosting Manchester City on Sunday. That game can also be seen live on FOX Soccer starting at 8 a.m. (PT).
SEASON BEGINS
The LA Galaxy will play their first official game of 2012 on Wednesday, March 7 when they face Toronto FC in the first leg of their 2011/12 CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal, which will be played at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They will open the 2012 MLS season three days later on Saturday, March 10 when they host Real Salt Lake at The Home Depot Center in MLS First Kick 2012, presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods. That game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. (PT) and tickets are on sale now as part of season ticket packages as well as three and six-game plans. For more information about this game or to purchase tickets, please visit the club’s official website at www.lagalaxy.com.
