Galaxy Looks for an Escape
Only the Galaxy would need a 12-hour plane ride to compete in a three-games-in-five-days tournament to recharge its battery.
It has been that disappointing of a first half of a season for the defending Major League Soccer champions.
It’s really no surprise, then, that Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid sees the midseason Peace Cup Korea 2003 tournament, which begins today for the Galaxy against Uruguay national champion Nacional in Pusan, South Korea, as a respite for his team.
“It comes at a good time,” Schmid said on a conference call from Korea on Tuesday afternoon, “to get us out of the doldrums of MLS.”
It also comes shortly after the Galaxy’s five-player trade with the Dallas Burn that brought the Galaxy defenders Ryan Suarez and Paul Broome and midfielder Antonio Martinez for defender Ezra Hendrickson and forward Gavin Glinton.
“Sunday and Monday we had heavy legs from the travel but I was pleased with the intensity [in practice],” Schmid said.
The Peace Cup also is a homecoming for the Galaxy’s Korean import, defender Hong Myung-Bo.
“I’m very excited to go back to Korea,” Hong said last week through translator Tommy Kim. “The fans will be behind the Galaxy.”
In Tuesday’s games, host Seongnam Ilhwa opened with a 2-1 victory over Besiktas of Turkey and Olympique Lyonnais of France beat Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa, 2-0.
*
Howard to Start?
A day after Tim Howard signed a four-year deal with Manchester United that included a $3.6-million transfer fee, the coach of the English Premier League champion said he thought the goalkeeper had a “great chance” of taking the starting job from Frenchman Fabien Barthez, United’s starting goalkeeper the previous three seasons.
“The one thing you can never guarantee any footballer is his place in the team,” United Coach Alex Ferguson said. “They do that for themselves. But there is no question in my mind he’s got the material to do that. I’m confident he will.”
*
Female Referee a First
Nicole Petignat will become the first female referee to officiate a UEFA Cup match next month, European soccer’s governing body announced Tuesday. Petignat, one of Switzerland’s top referees for women’s matches, will officiate a qualifying-round game between AIK Solna of Sweden and Fylkir of Iceland on Aug. 14.
*
Gold Cup
Diego scored what proved to be the winner in the 85th minute to lead Brazil to a 2-1 victory over Honduras in a Group A CONCACAF Gold Cup match at Mexico City.
Honduras’ Julio Cesar Leon scored on a penalty kick on the last play of the game to trim the margin in half.
Honduras plays Mexico on Thursday. Mexico and Brazil will advance to the quarterfinals unless Honduras wins by at least two goals.
In a Group B match at Miami, Onandi Lowe and Andy Williams scored goals to lead Jamaica over Guatemala, 2-0.
Jamaica and Colombia will advance unless Guatemala can defeat Colombia by at least three goals Thursday.
Times wire services contributed to this report.
