CARSON, Calif.– After defeating the Philadelphia Union, 1-0, at PPL Park on Thursday to remain a top of the MLS standings, the LA Galaxy return home to take on the Colorado Rapids Saturday night at The Home Depot Center in a game that will be shown tape delayed on Prime Ticket. The game, which is presented by Bank of America, kicks off at 7:30 p.m. with the first 10,000 fans receiving a reusable Galaxy Cinch Sack. In addition, Radio Disney artist Josh Golden will be performing a live concert on the SoccerFest stage beginning at 6:30 p.m.
With one more win, the Galaxy can clinch the 2010 MLS Supporters' Shield and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. A victory over Colorado or Dallas in one the final two games of the season would give the Galaxy 59 points, and neither Real Salt Lake nor FC Dallas would be able to match this total.
Saturday’s game against the Rapids will be broadcast on tape delay on Prime Ticket beginning with the Galaxy Live pregame show at 8 p.m. In addition, the game will be available live on the radio locally on KTLK 1150 AM in English and ESPN Deportes Radio 1330 AM in Spanish.
THE
WEEK THAT WAS
Thursday,
October 7, 2010: Galaxy 1 – Philadelphia Union 0
– PPL
Park – Attendance:
18,779
The Galaxy defeated the Philadelphia Union, 1-0, to claim their 17th win of the season and set a new club record for most wins in a season since the end of the shootout-era following the 1999 season on Thursday at PPL Park. Edson Buddle gave the Galaxy the lead in the 27th minute with his MLS-best 16th goal of the season, while David Beckham earned his first assist of the season.
INJURY
REPORT
OUT – None
DOUBTFUL – None
QUESTIONABLE – Gregg Berhalter (Neck – Strain), Dema Kovalenko (Right Adductor – Strain), Leonardo (Left Quad – Strain)
PROBABLE – None
TEAM
NOTES
PLAYOFF SCENARIOS: If the Galaxy win on Saturday, they will clinch the Supporters' Shield, First Place in the Western Conference for the regular season and home-field advantage throughout the Playoffs. Due to the Galaxy’s 1-0 win in Philadelphia and draws by Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas, the Galaxy can finish no lower than second place in the West and therefore have clinched home-field advantage in the Western Conference Semifinal Series.
The Galaxy can still clinch all of the above with a tie and if Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas play to a draw or FC Dallas defeats Real Salt Lake. Salt Lake and Dallas, the two teams still with a mathematical chance of surpassing the Galaxy for the Supporters' Shield, kick off their game 90 minutes prior to Galaxy versus Colorado.
Regardless of score in the Salt Lake-Dallas game, the Galaxy cannot clinch the Supporters’ Shield with a loss to Colorado.
Due to having home-field advantage for the Western Conference Semifinal Series, the Galaxy will play the first-leg of the series on the road, Oct. 28 to Oct. 31, and host the second leg, tentatively scheduled to be played Nov. 4 through Nov. 7.
BUDDLE SETS NEW CAREER-HIGH: Edson Buddle’s 27th minute goal against Philadelphia on Thursday was the 16th of the season for Buddle, breaking his previous career-high set in 2008. Buddle now has two more goals than San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski this season in the race for the Budweiser Golden Boot. He is aiming to join Landon Donovan (in 2008) and Carlos Ruiz (in 2002) as the only Galaxy players ever to finish as the league’s top goalscorer.
Buddle has scored 10 of his 16 goals this season at home while nine of the 16 have come against Western Conference opposition.
BECKHAM EARNS FIRST ASSIST: Making just his fifth appearance of 2010 and his third start, David Beckham assisted on the game-winning goal, sending a corner kick into the box for Buddle to head home. The assist was Beckham’s first of the season and first in a Galaxy regular season game since a 2-0 win vs. Toronto FC on September 19, 2009.
LA now have five goals direct from a corner kick this season, with Buddle scoring three of those. The Galaxy last scored directly from a corner kick on September 4 at Chicago, with Omar Gonzalez heading home a Landon Donovan corner in the first minute of second half stoppage time to gain a 1-1 draw against the Fire.
RICKETTS EQUALS HARTMAN: With the clean sheet last Thursday against the Union, goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts has now tied Kevin Hartman’s club record for most shutouts in a season with 11.
This was also the Galaxy’s 12th shutout in MLS play this season, tying the club record for most shutouts by the team in a single season, a record set in 2009.
Philadelphia were the 11th different team to be shutout by the Galaxy this season.
SUPPORTING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS: The LA Galaxy in conjunction with MLS W.O.R.K.S., Major League Soccer’s community outreach initiative, will show their support for the fight against cancer by hosting Breast Cancer Awareness Night Saturday at The Home Depot Center. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Galaxy players will have special pink MLS W.O.R.K.S. ribbon patches applied to their jerseys, Galaxy coaches will have pink scarves to walk out to the field with and some players will wear pink cleats to showcase their support. Additionally, the match will be played with commemorative pink adidas Jabulani match balls and players will use pink sideline towels. After the match, game-worn autographed jerseys as well as other memorabilia will be available for auction to raise funds for cancer research and treatment.
IN THE
COMMUNITY
GALAXY TO HOST CLOTHING DRIVE ON OCT. 16: Prior to the to LA Galaxy’s game against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, October 16, the Galaxy will be hosting a Clothing Drive to benefit the Union Rescue Mission. The Galaxy are asking fans to donate their gently-used or new clothing and shoes to children and families in need. Fans are encouraged to support the drive by donating items such as coats, maternity clothing, sweatshirts, scarves, hats, gloves, socks and shoes. The donated items can be dropped off at the Galaxy drive series' booths located outside of each The Home Depot Center entrance.
The Galaxy Drive Series is a community initiative where the Galaxy's Community Development department conducts equipment, food, clothing, and school supplies drives aimed at assisting Los Angeles area youth and local non-profit organizations. For more information on the Galaxy Drive Series, please visit www.lagalaxy.com and click on the Community section.
FOR THE
FANS
CUP OF JOE WITH CHRIS BIRCHALL: Galaxy midfielder Chris Birchall will join Galaxy radio announcer Joe Tutino on Thursday afternoon at 12 p.m. for Cup of Joe, the Galaxy's weekly live web show. Birchall will stop by to answer all the questions that the fans are asking about the team’s push for the Supporters’ Shield and this Saturday’s match against the Colorado Rapids. 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 by asking questions either beforehand or live during the chat. Start submitting questions for Chris now by sending them via email to socialmedia@lagalaxy.com.
GALAXY TO HOST SOCCER TOURNAMENT AT GOALS SOCCER CENTER® ON OCT. 16: The LA Galaxy are hosting their first-ever, 5-A-Side Soccer Tournament this Saturday, Oct. 16 at new Goals Soccer Centers state-of-the-art soccer complex, 9599 Pinehurst Avenue in South Gate, CA. The men’s and women’s soccer tournament gives Galaxy fans and soccer players of all skill levels across Southern California an opportunity to compete for the ultimate team prize, including VIP Club Seats for the L.A. Galaxy vs. FC Dallas game on Oct. 24, and an opportunity to watch an LA Galaxy training session. The tournament includes a minimum of three games per team, and each team can have up to 10 players. www.goals-soccer.com
Five-a-side is the fastest growing form of soccer, and booming in popularity throughout Europe and South America. It’s five-on-five soccer, played on tennis court-sized fields, with lots of action for players of every age and skill level. Each field at the Goals Soccer Centers complex has rebound walls and netting. The result is a fast-paced, exhilarating form of soccer that anyone can play.
If you’re interested in attending or covering the event, please contact Christie Ly, for Goals Soccer Centers, Christie.ly@grayling.com, 213-624-1030 X 208.
YOUTH ACADEMY
GALAXY ACADEMY TEAM BACK IN ACTION THIS WEEKEND: After playing a pair of game in Northern California, the LA Galaxy Youth Academy U-16 and U-18 teams will be in action this weekend at The Home Depot Center in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
On Saturday, Erik Gonzalez’ goal was all the Galaxy U-16’s needed to earn their second consecutive victory in the season, a 1-0 win against De Anza Forze while the U-18’s fell 3-1 with the lone strike coming from Eric Verso. It was a different story on Sunday as both teams won the next day. The U-16s defeated the Santa Cruz Breakers Academy in a high scoring affair with goals from Sean Dhillon, Drew Murphy and two goals from Jack McBean. Meanwhile, the U-18s also were on fire earning the 4-0 win, behind two goals from Juan "Crabby" Gutierrez and one a piece from Angel Ayala and Neil Ignacio.
On Saturday afternoon, both Galaxy teams will take on the Seattle Sounders FC Academy before playing Cross Fire Premier the following day at The Home Depot Center.
While the U-16’s and U-18’s have returned to Southern California, both Galaxy U-14 teams will again be in action. Both teams were victorious on Saturday earning victories over Cosmos Academy (2-0) and Deportivo Moreles (6-0) and will look for another weekend sweep when they return to the field this weekend. The Galaxy A squad, who are 4-0-0 on the season, will take on Cruz Azul Academy, while the B squad, who are 3-1-1, will take on West Covina FC.
NEED TO
KNOW
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.
