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 Thursday, August 30, 2001 14:39 EST

Hernandez makes immediate impact

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.

Luis Hernandez
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.



MLS Scoreboard

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 Carey Talley heads the ball into his own net for the Galaxy goal.
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 Judah Cooks scores the lone United goal.
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 Greg Vanney scores on the penalty kick.
avi: 573 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN
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