CARSON, Calif. (Friday, August 5, 2011) – The LA Galaxy announced today that tickets for the first two games of the club’s 2011/12 CONCACAF Champions League campaign are now sale. Tickets for the games start at $25.
After being drawn into Group A of the Champions League in May, the Galaxy will begin their participation in the tournament with a pair of games at The Home Depot Center. The first game will be against CD Motagua of Honduras on Tuesday, August 16 at 7 p.m.
The second game will be nine days later against Costa Rican champions LD Alajuelense on Thursday, August 25 at 7 p.m.
The home match against Motagua is included in all Galaxy full season ticket plans as Bonus Game 3. Additionally, the club has extended complimentary tickets to the game against Alajuelense to full season ticket holders, even though it was not included in their original ticket plan. Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets in each seating level and range from $20 to $150.
Last week, CONCACAF unveiled the first two rounds of the Champions League Group Stage schedule. The full schedule will be released at a later date.
The opponent of the Galaxy’s first game in Group A had been unknown until last night’s conclusion of the Preliminary Round Series. Motagua, the winner of the 2011 Clausura championship in Honduras, beat CSD Municipal of Guatemala by an aggregate score of 4-2 to advance to the Group Stage. Los Azules, as they are known by their fans, got goals from 2004 MLS MVP Amado Guevara, Honduran national team forward Jerry Bengston and former Galaxy midfielder Guillermo “Pando” Ramirez, among others.
Joining the Galaxy, Motagua and Alajuelense in Group A will be Monarcas Morelia of Mexico, who advanced to the Group Stage by beating Tempete FC of Haiti in their Preliminary Round series, 7-0 on aggregate score, winning 5-0 in the first leg before earning a 2-0 win in the second leg on Wednesday. Morelia qualified for the tournament by virtue of their runner-up finish in the 2011 Clausura championship in Mexico.
As a result of winning the 2011 Supporters’ Shield last season, the Galaxy qualified for the Champions League for a second consecutive season. Since their inception in 1996, the Galaxy have competed in six 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.
READ: Tournament format & Galaxy history in Champions League
The Galaxy first qualified for the tournament in 1997 when they reached the Final against Mexican side Cruz Azul. 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 the 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. The Galaxy qualified for the Champions League last season, but were knocked out in the Preliminary Round Series by the Puerto Rico Islanders, falling 5-3 on aggregate.
For more information about the games, and the CONCACAF Champions League, please contact the Galaxy by calling 1-877-3GALAXY (342-5299) or by visiting www.lagalaxy.com.
