South Korea Routs the Galaxy, 3-0

The Galaxy, playing its first competitive match since winning the Major League Soccer championship in November, was beaten, 3-0, by South Korea’s national team Wednesday night at the Home Depot Center.

The Koreans, preparing for this summer’s World Cup, featured five players from the team that reached the semifinals of the Korea/Japan World Cup in 2002, plus a mix of youngsters hoping to earn a ticket to this year’s tournament in Germany.

South Korea took the lead in the 22nd minute on a superb 25-yard shot by Lee Dong-Gook, who faked Galaxy defender Tyrone Marshall before unleashing a left-foot drive that flew just inside the right post and beyond the reach of goalkeeper Steve Cronin.

The goal, a quality strike, might have earned Lee serious consideration for a place on South Korea Coach Dick Advocaat’s World Cup roster.

Five minutes before Lee’s goal, the Galaxy came close when a header by Marshall was deflected onto the foot of the left post by goalkeeper Lee Woon-Jae, the ball rebounding clear.

Cronin had no chance in the 76th minute when Lee Dong-Gook powered a shot off the crossbar, Galaxy defender Ugo Ihemelu slipped while trying to clear the ball, and Kim Do-Heon slammed a low shot into the net from 16 yards.

It became 3-0 three minutes later when another 2002 veteran, winger Lee Chun-Soo, beat the offside trap and slipped the ball beneath Cronin.

The Galaxy, which released its 2006 MLS schedule Wednesday, opens league play at home on April 1 against the New England Revolution, the team it defeated in last year’s final.

Chivas USA opens the next day, also at the Home Depot Center, against Real Salt Lake.