LA GALAXY
Matches:
Round 1: vs. CD Motagua, Tuesday, Aug. 16 at The Home Depot Center at 7 p.m.
Round 2: vs. LD Alajuelense, Thursday, Aug. 25 at The Home Depot Center at 7 p.m.
Round 3: at Monarcas Morelia, Tuesday, Sept. 13 at Estadio Morelos at 5 p.m.
Round 4: at LD Alajuelense, Wednesday, Sept. 21 at Estadio Alejandro Morera at 7 p.m.
Round 5: vs. Monarcas Morelia, Wednesday, Sept. 28 at TBD at 7 p.m.
Round 6: at CD Motagua, Thursday, Oct. 20, at Estadio Tiburcio Carias at 7 p.m.
Year club was founded:
1994
Who are they:
- One of Major League Soccer’s (MLS) original clubs, the LA Galaxy were founded on June 15, 1994. The club plays all of their home games at The Home Depot Center on the campus of California State University - Dominguez Hills in Carson, Calif.
- Boasting a host of top national and international stars, the Galaxy are one of the premier teams in MLS history.
- The Galaxy have won the MLS Cup in 2002 and 2005, while also claiming the U.S. Open Cup title in 2001 and 2005 and the 2000 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
How they qualified:
2010 Supporters Shield winner; drawn into Group A.
Notable players:
1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cup veteran midfielder David Beckham (England); 2008 MLS MVP and 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cup veteran forward Landon Donovan (USA); 2006 World Cup veteran Juan Pablo Angel (Colombia); 2010 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and 1998 World Cup veteran goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts (Jamaica); 2009 MLS Rookie of the Year and 2010 and 2011 MLS All-Star defender Omar Gonzalez (USA); 2008 MLS Rookie of the Year and 2011 MLS All-Star Sean Franklin (USA); 2011 MLS All-Star midfielder Juninho (Brazil).
CD MOTAGUA
Matches vs LA Galaxy:
Round 1: Tuesday, Aug. 16 at The Home Depot Center at 7 p.m.
Round 6: Thursday, Oct. 20, at Estadio Tiburcio Carias at 7 p.m.
Year club was founded:
1928
Who are they:
- CD Motagua is the second-most successful club in Honduras history.
- CD stands for Club Deportivo, which translates into Sporting Club.
- They are making their second appearance in the CONCACAF Champions League after winning the 2011 Clausura title, its 12th domestic title.
- The blues (Los Azules) are coached by former Motagua midfielder Ramon Maradiaga, one of five Motagua players on the 1982 Honduras World Cup team. Motagua’s Director of Football, Hector Zelaya, was also a member of that 1982 team, even scored against host Spain in a 1-1 draw.
How they qualified:
Winner of 2011 Honduran Clausura championship; beat CSD Municipal in the Preliminary Round, 4-2 on aggregate score.
Connections to the LA Galaxy:
Midfielder Guillermo “Pando” Ramirez played for the Galaxy in 2005, came off the bench in the second half of MLS Cup 2005 against the New England Revolution to score the game-winning goal.
Previous meeting:
CONCACAF Champions Cup 2003, Round of 16. Galaxy beat Motagua, 3-2, aggregate score. After getting a 2-2 draw in Honduras in the first leg on March 16 (Ruiz 21’, Lalas 68’; Guevara 33’, Guevara 85’), the Galaxy got a goal from defender Alexi Lalas in the second half of the second-leg to advance to the Quarterfinals.
All-time series:
Galaxy lead series, 1-0-1.
Notable players:
2004 MLS MVP and 2010 World Cup veteran midfielder Amado Guevara (most capped player in Honduras national team history); forward Jerry Bengston (Hondruas); Guillermo “Pando” Ramirez (Guatemala and former LA Galaxy player).
