Back in Action

After a day off on Wednesday, the players were back in action at The HDC today, but with a slightly different twist.

Typically when the team has a double session, they lift weights and do fitness work in the morning, before heading out to the training field after lunch. But today, the coaches threw everyone for a loop when they took the guys out to the Track Stadium for some technical work in the morning before going in for lunch and then coming out to do their fitness work with Athlete's Performance.

In between sessions, a couple of the guys went out to the stadium to get a look at the X Games motocross events that had begun earlier. Massive ramps and mounds of dirt cover the entire surface, with riders getting massive air off the jumps. There is so much dirt on the field that more than one guy said that the field reminded them of Pizza Hut Park last weekend!

Joe Franchino and Troy Roberts stayed inside today to work with the training staff as the attempt to overcome injury, while Brandon McDonald was back on the field for the first time in about a month. He was joined by Mondou Bojang who is beginning his second week with the club and Mike Munoz, who played for the Galaxy Reserves last weekend and will be in the lineup again on Sunday.

Bryan Jordan was also not in attendance as he has returned to Portland on loan for the rest of the USL First Division season. BJ flew to Portland on Tuesday and will be available for them this weekend, as he hopes to lead the Timbers back to the postseason.

We'll have some preview audio and photos tomorrow and the team will be heading to San Jose on Saturday ahead of Sunday afternoon's game.

All Shook Up

As most of you who live here in Southern California already know, we experienced an earthquake here today, with the epicenter located just outside of Chino Hills, the hometown of Mike Randolph.

Mike left the HDC shortly thereafter, but we were able to catch up with a few of the guys to see what they thought of the quake.

Edson - It was crazy, I was pretty nervous. When it happened the ground was shaking, my locker was shaking and I was shaking too. I'm okay now but I got a lot of text messages from people after it happened checking on me.

Cobi - Just another day in paradise.

Ruud - It was the first time I have experienced this and I had my kids with me so I was worried sick. I didn't know what it was. People had told me to stand in a doorway so I went to my office and hid there. I have to say, it was a really scary experience. I hope it is the last one.

We'll have more for you later on.

Reserves Draw 2-2

Bryan Jordan and Alan Gordon scored second half goals as the Galaxy Reserves played the FC Dallas Reserves to a 2-2 draw at Pizza Hut Park.

Dallas led 1-0 at the half through a Ricardinho goal, only for the Galaxy to score twice in a row to take a 2-1 lead.

Despite a string of fine saves from Josh Wicks, the Galaxy were unable to pick up their second consecutive win, as Michael Dello-Russo scored in stoppage time to earn a share of the points.

A full match summary and boxscore will be available shortly at lagalaxy.com.

Galaxy Fall 4-0 at Dallas

LA Galaxy 0, FC Dallas 4
July 27, 2008
Pizza Hut Park – Frisco, Texas

Scoring Summary:
FCD – Kenny Cooper 10 (Unassisted) 15’
FCD – Kenny Cooper 11 (Dominic Oduro 2) 17’
FCD – Dominic Oduro 5 (Arturo Alvarez 3, Kenny Cooper 3) 36’
FCD – Abe Thompson 3 (Chase Wileman 1) 89’

Misconduct Summary:
None

Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Steve Cronin, Chris Klein, Eduardo Dominguez, Greg Vanney (Alan Gordon 80’), Ante Jazic, Alvaro Pires (Sean Franklin 46’), Peter Vagenas, David Beckham©, Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle, Carlos Ruiz.

Subs Not Used: Josh Wicks, Mike Randolph, Josh Tudela, Ely Allen.

FC Dallas: Dario Sala, Drew Moor, Duilio Davino©, Aaron Pitchkolan, Adrian Serioux, Pablo Richetti, Andre Rocha (Michael Dello-Russo 66’), Eric Avila, Arturo Alvarez (Chase Wileman 75’), Kenny Cooper, Dominic Oduro (Abe Thompson 72’).

Subs Not Used: Mike Graczyk, Bobby Rhine, Blake Wagner, Ricardinho.

Notes:
· With the loss, the Galaxy are now 6-7-5 on the season leaving them with 23 points. They remain tied for second place in the Western Conference with the Houston Dynamo.
· Ruud Gullit made one change to his team that drew 2-2 at New York on July 19, with Eduardo Dominguez replacing Troy Roberts in central defense.
· Roberts was originally in the starting lineup but had to be replaced following pregame warmups as a result of a right heel injury that he suffered last weekend in New York. Following Roberts’ injury, Greg Vanney was inserted into the starting lineup.
· Eduardo Dominguez made his MLS debut in the game. After being officially added to the Galaxy roster last week, Dominguez was in the starting lineup for the first time, playing in central defense.
· Sean Franklin came on at halftime, replacing Alvaro Pires. This was Franklin’s first appearance since suffering a strained right MCL prior to the 1-1 draw vs. Chivas USA on July 10.
· The three goals allowed by the Galaxy in the first half were the most allowed by the club in the first half this season. The last time the Galaxy gave up three goals in the opening 45 minutes was on August 26, 2007 in a 3-0 loss at Colorado. The Galaxy have allowed three goals in the second half of a game twice times this year.
· This is the third time this season that the Galaxy have been shutout in a regular season game, and their first time since May 31 in a 2-0 loss at Toronto FC.
· With his two goals today, Kenny Cooper became the third player to score more than one goal in a game against the Galaxy this season. Luciano Emilio of D.C. United was the first, scoring two in United’s 4-1 win on June 29 while New England’s Adam Cristman scored two in the Revolution’s 2-1 win over LA on July 4.
· The Galaxy are now winless in their last six games, going 0-3-3 over the span with losses to D.C. United, FC Dallas and New England, as well as draws with Chivas USA, Columbus and New York.
· The attendance for today’s game was 21,020.
· The Galaxy Reserves will take on the FC Dallas Reserves on Monday, July 28 at 8 a.m. (PT) at Pizza Hut Park.
· The Galaxy are back in action on Sunday, August 3, when they travel north to San Jose at McAfee Coliseum. The match will kick off at 12 p.m. (PT) and can be seen live on FSN West and Telefutura. The match will also be available live on the radio in English on AM 570 and in Spanish on KWKW 1330 ESPN Deportes.

Hot Hot Heat

It's another scorcher in Dallas as we're about to kickoff at Pizza Hut Park with a gametime temp of 102!

The Galaxy have scored 11 goals in their last two meaningful visits to Frisco and will look to put up another crooked number today.

Here is the lineup that Ruud has put out on the field today.

------------Ruiz-----------Buddle-----------------

Donovan-------------------------------------Beckham

-------------Pires---------Vagenas------------------

Jazic--------Dominguez-----Vanney-----------Klein

---------------------Cronin--------------------------

Subs: Wicks, Franklin, Randolph, Tudela, Allen and Gordon.

Troy Roberts was a late scratch from the lineup with a heel injury that he picked up late in the first half in New York. He trained yesterday and tried to give it a go through pregame, but the pain was too much and he was replaced by Greg Vanney.

As a result of the move, the Galaxy still have their full allotment of three substitutes, but only have six players available off the bench compared to the standard seven.

All Lies (UPDATED)

Remember when we said that we were off to Dallas and that we wouldn't be posting until we got to the hotel... well that was a boldfaced lie.

It was the plan, but as they say about the best laid plans of mice and men...they often go awry.

We all got on our American Airlines flight to Dallas, but a mechanical issue meant that our planned 2:20pm takeoff was merely a figment of our imagination.

Making it even better, we were told at about 3:15 that we would have to get off the plane and that a new and better plane would be found for us (the Ted Danson plane!).

Suffice to say, we're in a holding pattern for now. Wish us luck.

It's now 4:15 and it appears as though we might be in luck. We all just got on to a new plane and should be leaving shortly. Here's to hoping!

Off to Dallas

The team is on its way to Dallas with a full squad for Sunday's game (live on FSN West) and Monday morning's reserve game.

We won't have any news until we land in the Lone Star State, so to hold you over, check out the latest edition of This Week Inside the Galaxy.