Galaxy Will Gauge Itself Against Necaxa
The Los Angeles Galaxy takes a break from Major League Soccer play tonight to face an opponent with considerably stronger credentials than, say, the Columbus Crew or the Colorado Rapids.
In a 7:30 game at the Rose Bowl, the Galaxy plays two-time defending Mexican League champion Necaxa in the second of three international games on the Galaxy schedule.
While meaningless in terms of result, the game does offer the MLS team a way to gauge itself against an established professional club. In its first international game, the Galaxy tied El Salvador’s national team, 1-1.
Necaxa, which opened its 1996-97 season on Sunday with a 2-2 tie away to Pachuca, features several players from Mexico’s national team, including Alberto Garcia Aspe, Ricardo Pelaez, Edson Antonio Alvarado and Octavio Becerril Morales.
Its most dangerous player, however, is midfielder Alex Aguinaga, a teammate of Galaxy striker Eduardo Hurtado on Ecuador’s national team. Necaxa is coached by former Mexico national team coach Manuel Lapuente.
The Galaxy will be without winger Cobi Jones tonight. Jones twisted his left ankle and suffered severe cuts in a crude tackle by the Kanas City Wiz’s Uche Okafor at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.
