The LA Galaxy announced today that the club has selected midfielder Andrew Green of Valencia, Calif. and defender Abdul Razzaq Juma of Anaheim, Calif. from over 200 participants in the 2010 Galaxy Open Tryouts at The Home Depot Center. Over two days, the Open Tryout participants were evaluated in a series of 7v7 games in Round 1 before concluding with an 11 v 11 game against the Galaxy U-18's in Round 2.
By being selected, Green and Juma have been invited for a trial in May with the Galaxy’s U-20 team, which competes in USL Super-20 League.
After several days of evaluation and deliberation, the Galaxy Open Tryouts Assessors selected Green and Juma as the two top players from the Open Tryouts based on their technical, tactical and athletic abilities.
The Galaxy Open Tryouts Assessors were lead by a distinguished group of coaches and former players including Ralph Perez (Former Assistant Coach - U.S. National Team and LA Galaxy, Current Head Coach - University of Redlands), Rolando Uribe (Head Coach - California Institute of Technology, Head Coach U-14 U.S. National Team), Bill Swartz (Head Coach - Pomona-Pitzer College) and Paul Broome (Former Defender - LA Galaxy, Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas).
“On day one, we looked for players that caught our eye, in particular those demonstrating elite physical condition with the speed, power and agility to compete for a roster spot, and at the players’ tactical skill, positioning and touch on the ball," said Perez, an assistant coach with the 1990 U.S World Cup team. "We felt both Andrew and Abdul should have another chance to try and compete for a spot.”
Currently, Green is training with the Hollywood United Hitmen of the Premier Development League (PDL), while Juma recently played at Cypress Community College.
Here are a few facts about this year’s Open Tryouts…
• More than 200 players participated including wait listed players
• 9 players from outside of the United States participated
• Two Players from United Kingdom, France and Mexico and United Kingdom as well as Brazil, Japan and Taiwan
• Furthest distance traveled to attend – 5,680 miles (Japan)
• Players from out of California - 23
• State with the most players from outside of California - Nevada (four)
• Furthest distance traveled within U.S.A. – 2,285 miles (Key West, Florida)
Friday, March 12, 2010
Green and Juma Selected in 2010 LA Galaxy Open Tryouts
Ending the Week on a High Note
Dave Sarachan led the Galaxy through their final training session of the week this afternoon at The Home Depot Center. With Bruce is Las Vegas for the day presenting at the Soccer Champions Coaching Clinic, Dave led the squad through a quick warmup and then a series of drills before concluding the 75-minute session with a number of fast-paced, small-sided games.
Those games were played in five, three minute intervals with the team of Gregg, Omar, Alex Cazumba, Sean, Dema, Ian Sarachan, Tristan and Juninho coming out on top thanks to a Sean Franklin Golden Goal in the tie-breaking sixth contest.
At the end of the session, most of the guys did some fitness followed by stretching, while the ever-competitve Dema teamed up with his Wednesday's game-winner Chris Birchall to take on the team of Todd, who missed the start of the week and Wednesday's game while attending the MLS/MLS Players Union negotiations in Washington D.C., and Juninho in a quick game of horseshoes, which the latter went on to win.
Additionally, with the sun shining bright above, Clint Mathis and Alan Gordon each made their way outside to complete their rehab work with the training staff while the rest of the squad trained. Both players continue to make progress and are expected to be ready for the season opener, which is now just more than two weeks away.
Finally, be sure to check back here later today to discover the identities of the two players that were selected from last weekend's Open Tryout at The Home Depot Center.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Photos and Reaction From Wednesday's Win
Chris Birchall's late goal sealed a 1-0 win over Puntarenas on Wednesday night at Titan Stadium in Fullerton. We spoke with him and a few of his teammates, as well as Bruce Arena to get their reaction to the win.
Chris Birchall:
Edson Buddle:
Donovan Ricketts:
Bruce Arena:
Here are some more images courtesy of German Alegria from last night's game...
We've uploaded more photos from last night's game onto facebook. If you're are not one yet, become a fan of the LA Galaxy on facebook!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Birchall Blast Gives Galaxy 1-0 Win
LA Galaxy 1, Puntarenas FC 0
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Titan Stadium — Fullerton, Calif.
Scoring Summary:
LA – Chris Birchall (Michael Stephens) 88’
Misconduct Summary:
PFC – Sherman Vasquez (Yellow Card) 17’
LA – Gregg Berhalter (Yellow Card) 31’
PFC – Jose Macotelo (Yellow Card) 54’
Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Donovan Ricketts; Alex Cazumba, Gregg Berhalter (Leonardo 46’), Omar Gonzalez, Sean Franklin; Dema Kovalenko (Michael Stephens 76’), Eddie Lewis© (Bryan Jordan 64’), Juninho, Tristan Bowen (A.J. DeLaGarza 81’); Mike Magee (Chris Birchall 70’), Edson Buddle.
Subs Not Used: Josh Saunders, Kevin Guppy, Yohance Marshall.
Puntarenas FC: Bryan Zamora (Olger Ruiz 46’); Sherman Vasquez (Heliut Farrier 56’), Dario Delgado©, Adrian Compan; Jason Pena (Hernan Perez 60’), Rafael Nunez, Pedro Leal, Mario Centeno (Franklin Chacon 60’), Ricardo Garcia; Carlos Gonzalez (Mario Viquez 46’), Joshua Diaz (Jose Macotelo 46’).
Subs Not Used: None
Notes:
• With the win, the Galaxy remain unbeaten in the preseason, improving to 4-0-2.
• The Galaxy are 2-0-0 against college teams, 2-0-1 against MLS opponents and now 1-0-0 against foreign opposition.
• Chris Birchall scored the Galaxy’s only goal, beating Puntarenas goalkeeper Olger Ruiz from 20 yards out with a right footed shot.
• LA has allowed just two goals in those six games, keeping five clean sheets.
• Donovan Ricketts made two saves to complete the clean sheet.
• The Galaxy outshot Puntarenas 20-6. They also held a 6-2 advantage in shots on goal.
• Eddie Lewis began the game as the Galaxy’s captain. He passed the captain’s armband on to Edson Buddle when he was replaced in the 64th minute.
• The Galaxy nearly took a 1-0 lead inside the game’s first minute with Miek Magee narrowly missing from close range off a Tristan Bowen cross.
• Bowen nearly scored one of his own midway through the first half, only to see his long range shot carom off the crossbar.
• Puntarenas forward Ricardo Garcia had a goal ruled out in the 52nd minute.
• Bryan Jordan entered the game in the 64th minute and
• This was the Galaxy’s first game against a Costa Rican club since June 9, 2009 when they defeated CS Herediano 1-0 at The Home Depot Center.
• Prior to tonight’s game, the Galaxy had not played at Titan Stadium since April 9, 2003 when they lost 4-1 to Necaxa of Mexico in the Quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
• The Galaxy are next in action in an international friendly on Sunday, March 21 when they host CD Aguila of El Salvador at The Home Depot Center. This game kicks off at 5 p.m.
• For more about today’s game, please visit www.lagalaxy.com.
Galaxy Set to Face Puntarenas
Warmups have begun here at Titan Stadium in Fullerton as the Galaxy prepare to take on Costa Rican side Puntarenas FC in a friendly. This is the Galaxy's first game against non-MLS opposition since last year's showdown with Barcelona at the Rose Bowl and the first of two international friendlies this year.
Here is the lineup that Bruce Arena will put out onto the field tonight...
---------------Buddle-------Magee--------------
Lewis----------------Juninho-------------Bowen
---------------------Kovalenko------------------
Alex Cazumba---Berhalter---Gonzalez---Franklin
----------------------Ricketts--------------------
Subs: Saunders, Guppy, Marshall, DeLaGarza, Leonardo, Birchall, Stephens, Jordan
And here is how the opposition, Puntarenas FC will line up...
-----------------Diaz-------Gonzalez--------------
Pena----------------Centeno----------------Garcia
-----------------Leal--------Nunez----------------
-----------Delgado----Compan------Vazquez------
------------------------Zamora--------------------
Subs: Ruiz, Viquez, Farrier, Chacon, Macotelo, Perez
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
First Look At Puntarenas F.C.
Costa Rica National Team defender and Puntarenas F.C. captain Dario Delgado Mora, pictured above on the left, was one of 18 players that arrived at LAX on Tuesday ready for Wednesday's friendly against the Galaxy.
