Galaxy Begins Key Stretch
After a three-week break from the Major League Soccer schedule, the Galaxy enters its latest -- and perhaps most important -- stage of 2003.
The weary Galaxy, which spent part of July in South Korea playing in the Peace Cup and was off for a week before returning to practice Monday, plays the Columbus Crew tonight at 7:30 at the Home Depot Center.
In this calendar year, the Galaxy also has played in the La Manga Cup in Spain, in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, and has endured an eight-game trip to start the MLS season.
The defending MLS champion is mired in fourth place in the Western Conference, 14 points behind first-place San Jose, but begins what should be a favorable stretch. Los Angeles will play eight of its next 10 games at home over a span of about two months.
Galaxy fans will get their first in-person looks at defenders Ryan Suarez and Paul Broome and midfielder Antonio Martinez, who joined the team July 11 after a five-player trade with the Dallas Burn. The players made their debuts in the Peace Cup.
Galaxy leading scorer Carlos Ruiz, who did not travel to South Korea because of commitments with the Guatemalan national team, will return to the lineup and probably will be paired up front with Chris Albright, who has improved his production.
Columbus has suffered a rash of injuries on its way to last place in the Eastern Conference -- although a victory tonight would put the Crew in third -- and last week lost U.S. team forward Brian McBride, who broke a bone near his left eye in a CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal game in a collision with Brazil’s Alex.
McBride, the Crew’s leading scorer with seven goals, will sit out as many as five more weeks.
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Zidane Sets Date
Zinedine Zidane, a two-time FIFA player of the year who led France to the 1998 World Cup title, said he would retire when his contract with Real Madrid expires in 2005.
Zidane, who will be 33 then, said, “I’ve got two years of my contract to go with Real Madrid and until then I will play as well as possible, whatever the competition. After that I’ll calmly take my retirement.”
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Milutinovic Wanted
After experiencing his greatest successes in this half of the world, well-traveled coach Bora Milutinovic is on the radar of the Honduran soccer federation.
Rafael Leonardo Callejas, president of the Honduran federation, said Milutinovic, who has coached the United States, Mexico and Costa Rica, among others, would be an ideal fit.
“Bora would be extraordinarily helpful for Honduras,” said Callejas, whose country last played in a World Cup in 1982. “[He] would open international doors to our soccer.”
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Quick Passes
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Sebastien Kiel was given a six-week suspension for shoving a referee in a 4-2 loss to Hamburg in the German League Cup final Monday.... Andy Swift, president and general manager of the MLS’ Dallas Burn, said he will step down at the end of the season.... Bundesliga defending champion Bayern Munich will be without German international striker Alexander Zickler for about six months after he broke his right shin during a practice collision.
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Times wire services contributed to this report.
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GALAXY TONIGHT
vs. Columbus, 7:30
Site -- Home Depot Center.
Radio -- KMPC (1540), KTNQ (1020, Spanish), Radio Korea (1230, Korean).
Records -- Galaxy 3-6-7, Crew 5-6-5.
Record vs. Crew -- 0-0-1.
Update -- The Crew, which tied the Galaxy, 1-1, in the season opener April 5 at Columbus, Ohio, is coming off a 1-1 tie against New England last week. Columbus has only one victory in its last six matches and is playing its first road game since June 21, a 2-1 loss at San Jose.
Tickets -- (213) 480-3232 or (714) 740-2000.
-- Jim Barrero
