CCL: LA Galaxy vs Isidro Metapan (8/23)

[acosta19]

LA Galaxy vs Isidro Metapan
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Home Depot Center
Kick-off: 7:00 p.m



The 2012-2013 edition of the CONCACAF Champions League is already underway, and on Thursday night the LA Galaxy make their debut in the region’s most important tournament. After a disappointing elimination in Quarterfinals in the last tournament, the Galaxy will start all over and try to earn their way into the 2013 Club World Cup.

For this edition of the Champions League, the format has changed. Rather than having the top two teams of each group advancing to the elimination rounds, now only the top team of each group will continue in the tournament. Twenty-four teams have entered the competition and have been split into eight groups containing three teams each. Teams will face each other in a home-and-away series, and in the end, the team that leads the group in points advances to the knock-out stages.

The LA Galaxy are in Group 5, and will be facing Isidro Metapan and the Puerto Rico Islanders. Isidro Metapan and the Islanders already faced each other, with Isidro Metapan getting the 3-1 victory. It will be crucial for the Galaxy to win the first game if they want to have a serious chance of advancing to the Quarterfinals.

***Season ticket holders: This is Bonus Game C

THIS IS LA!

[MotorJohn]

God I hope that EVEN THOUGH no one shows up to the games, the team takes it serious.

[acosta19]

with the change in format and only one team advancing from each group, LA needs to win the home games and continue to get positive results on the road.

[acosta19]

Hector Jimenez talks CCL:

Heading into Thursday’s match, Jimenez admits that the Galaxy expect to advance in the tournament.

“We definitely expect to qualify, there’s less teams in the group and they’re very important games for us and we’ve got to get results. It’s very important for this organization to do well in this tournament.”

(On the importance of the idle weekend...)

JIMENEZ: “Definitely, for some of the guys, it’s been taxing on their legs because we’ve been playing a lot of games and it’s definitely relaxing to get our legs freshened up and get started again.”

(On potentially going 90…)

JIMENEZ: "Hopefully, I know Bruce is going to change the lineup here and there and hopefully I’ll be able to get a few more minutes because we’ve got a heavy schedule coming up. He’s definitely going to try new things and see how the team can do best. If he gives me the chance then I’ll do my best to take advantage of it."

more here

[acosta19]

there are a bunch of tickets floating around..i'm sure some won't be used sadly..

buy $10 tickets from the Galaxy..or go to any of these stores, they're all selling them....

[Bubba71]

Looks like a must win. Metapan is capable of getting all six points at home, so we need to get all six at home as well. Then it will come down to how we do in Puerto Rico. The Islanders just re-modeled their stadium and have been getting good support lately. And of course, when the famous Galaxy are in town everyone and their brother shows up.

[XcollinX]

I was really bu,med I thought I was not going to be able to make it to the match but looks like I will be able to now!!!!

If you can make it you should! This is still the galaxy and you should support them at home in the CCL!!!!

[Sergio121]

Ccl>usoc>mls

[acosta19]

Few clubs in CONCACAF can match the consistent string of successes compiled by Metapán over the past six years. This small club located in the northern reaches of El Salvador near the Guatemalan border has won six titles since lifting the 2007 Clausura. The prolonged run at the top of the league under former player Edwin Portillo marks a significant reversal in fortunes for a side that featured in the second division as recently as 2001.

Metapán built on its consistent domestic form by securing its first berth in the Champions League quarterfinals last season. Two goals by Uruguayan midfielder Paolo Suárez (the older brother of Liverpool striker Luis) clinched a 3-2 victory over Honduran side Real España in the final round of group play and ultimately secured second place in the group when Colorado failed to win at Santos Laguna. The dream run ended at the first knockout hurdle as UNAM Pumas emerged with a 9-2 victory on aggregate, but the 2011 Apertura title clinched a fifth consecutive berth in the tournament.

The international setback did not impact Metapán's form during the 2012 Clausura campaign (finished first in the regular season before suffering a 2-1 defeat to second-seeded Águila in the final) or the start of the 2012 Apertura slate. Metapán currently sits in first place alongside Alianza with 11 points from six games. The efforts to claim yet another title hit a minor snag on Saturday as Milton Molina rescued a 1-1 home draw against struggling Juventud Independiente in the final quarter of an hour.

In addition to its perch at the top of the Salvadoran table, Metapán also currently rests in first place in Group 5 after a 3-1 victory over ten-man Puerto Rico Islanders on August 1. Former D.C. United striker Nicholas Addlery stunned the crowd at Estadio Jorge Calero Suárez by opening the scoring after 25 minutes, but Islanders defender Jay Needham received a red card for an elbow ten minutes later to invite the home side forward in the second half. Panama international striker Nicolás Muñoz scored a hat trick after halftime to ensure the Salvadorans entered the potentially decisive home match with the Galaxy with the necessary three points.

Muñoz will play a critical role in Metapán's chances to snag a surprising victory on Thursday night. The Panama international striker has scored five goals in six league appearances since his summer arrival from Águila. He will receive plenty of attacking support from Uruguayan striker Jorge Ramírez (four goals in six league appearances since his summer arrival) and Suárez as Metapán commits numbers forward in search of goals. Former D.C. United man Eliseo Quintanilla (another recent addition from Guatemalan giants Municipal) provides additional ideas from midfield.

Most of the potential problems stem from a defense that has posted just two shutouts in league play this season. The back four appeared susceptible to clever movements in and through the line and robust center forward play against the Islanders. Metapán will have to address those potential liabilities and funnel the play toward the wide areas going forward to creates the best possible opportunity to retain its unblemished record.

More here

[MotorJohn]

What sad attendance do you guys think we'll get?

3,000 I say. The galaxy doesn't make these games sound important.

[Bubba71]

What sad attendance do you guys think we'll get?

3,000 I say. The galaxy doesn't make these games sound important.

I'm hoping 15,000. There are a lot of tickets out there.

[Metal_Avenger]

yea im hoping for a good turnout as well. I hope we at least start villareal and jimenez.

[Rob]

I'm honestly thinking about 5,000.
I really do hope Jimenez and Villareal start.
Foos can play!

[Bubba71]

10,000 free tickets floating around? El Salvador? I think you guys are sandbagging attendance numbers!

[Rob]

10,000 free tickets floating around? El Salvador? I think you guys are sandbagging attendance numbers!

I'm not counting the Masapan people in my attendance.
We SHOULD have the stadium packed in our favor because of the free tickets and all but I just don't see the normal STH going to these games.