Carson, Calif. - The Los Angeles Galaxy, coming off their berth in Major League Soccer's Western Conference Championship, will host Mexican Primera Division side CID Necaxa on Friday, December 3 at 7:30 pm (PT) at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California, the MLS club announced today.
The game will be the third international friendly on U.S. soil for the Galaxy in 2004, after playing to a 1-1 tie against Tecos de UAG (Mexico) on April 20 in Nashville, Tennessee and dropping a 1-0 decision to Sao Paulo FC (Brazil) in Carson on June 2. Los Angeles also played in three matches during a preseason tour of Southern France this year. Overall, the Galaxy have amassed a record of 22-11-15 (.615 winning percentage) in international matches in the nine years since the club's inception in 1996.
"We are excited to give Galaxy fans one more chance to see us play in 2004," said Galaxy President and General Manager Doug Hamilton. "We look forward to a great game against one of Mexico's top clubs."
The international encounter will be Bonus Game #4 for Galaxy 20-game full season ticket plan holders - to whom the club will be sending their tickets. All other Galaxy fans interested in purchasing tickets to the match between two of North America's premier clubs, which range from $15 to $45 (in advance), may do so by calling the Galaxy ticket office toll-free at 1-877-3GALAXY. As with any other Galaxy match at The Home Depot Center, special group discounts are also available.
The match will be the sixth between the clubs and the first since a sweep of a home and home series for the Mexican side in the 2003 CONCACAF Champions Cup. The teams also played to a 2-2 deadlock in a friendly on August 7, 2001 at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento. They previously met in a Champions Cup Qualifier on August 18, 1999, where Necaxa prevailed on penalty kicks (4-2) after the sides drew 1-1 in regulation at the Rose Bowl. In the first meeting between the two, Necaxa edged the Galaxy, 2-1, on August 14, 1996, also in Pasadena.
Founded in 1922, Necaxa was Mexico's Primera Division "Team of the Decade" in the 1990s, after winning the league championship in 1994-95 and 1995-96 and 1998, when they defeated CD Guadalajara for the title. Also, Necaxa came in third in the 2000 FIFA Club World Championships - upsetting the Spanish 1st Division Real Madrid and tying European powerhouse Manchester United. Currently, Necaxa is in third place in Group Three of Mexico's Torneo Apertura. Despite a solid season, "Los Rayos" were just outdistanced for a spot in the Liguilla (playoffs), which will begin later this month.
Los Angeles Galaxy season tickets are already on sale for their tenth season in 2005. For more information or to purchase tickets, which start as low as $300 for adults and $240 for children, call the Galaxy ticket office toll-free today at 1-877-3GALAXY.
