PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- Luis Hernandez fulfilled his twin responsibilities in his Los Angeles Galaxy debut Saturday night -- helping the Major League Soccer team put fans in the stands and balls in the net.
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Luis Hernandez, right, celebrates L.A.'s first goal with new teammate Paul Caligiuri. |
The high-scoring Mexican national team forward contributed to
both goals in a 2-1 victory over D.C. United before a season-high
crowd of 40,303 at the Rose Bowl.
"I was very happy with the support the fans gave me and my
teammates," Hernandez said through an interpreter. "It was good
they motivated me."
Hernandez was signed by MLS Tuesday and allocated to the Galaxy.
In the 35th minute of Saturday's game, United defender Carey
Talley sprinted to beat Hernandez to Mauricio Cienfuegos' long
pass, intending to head it to goalkeeper Mark Simpson, who was
rushing forward.
But the ball went past Simpson toward the goal. Defender Carlos
Llamosa ran toward it, hoping to clear it before it crossed the
goal line, but he didn't make it.
In the 59th minute, Cienfuegos sent a through ball to Hernandez
just outside the penalty area. Double-teamed, Hernandez tapped the
ball forward to Cobi Jones, who was tripped by Llamosa inside the
penalty area. Greg Vanney scored on the ensuing penalty kick.
Hernandez left the match in the 72nd minute because of a sprained right shoulder and was taken to a hospital. No word was immediately available about his condition or if he would be able to play in Los Angeles' next match, Wednesday night at New England.
Hernandez arrived in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon and conducted a news conference. He did not practice with his new teammates.
"Once I practice with the team they will understand me better," Hernandez said. "They will know when I will run up the sideline or take a cut."
The two goals matched the Galaxy's combined output for its
previous four matches. The victory ended a stretch of three
consecutive ties for Los Angeles (6-0-5), which trails Western
Division leader Kansas City (9-0-2) by six points.
Judah Cooks had a 75th-minute goal for United (2-9-1), which
lost its fourth consecutive match, tying a record the team set
during its inaugural 1996 season.
"We are playing too well right now for this to continue," D.C.
coach Thomas Rongen said.
United led 10-6 in shots, with both teams taking three shots on
goal, all in the second half. Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman made
two saves and Simpson made one.
Galaxy defender Robin Fraser sustained a severely sprained left ankle as a result of a second-half collision with D.C. midfielder Geoff Aunger and will miss Wednesday's game.