What are your favorite Galaxy moments/days that you experienced at the Home Depot Center? Here are mine: 1) Chris Klein's bicycle kick to send the game against Pachuca in the Superliga final into overtime. We were in the midst of a terrible season, and really shouldn't have even been in that tournament. Meanwhile, Pachuca was winning everything. It shouldn't have been a close game, but we kept it close, and Klein gave us something to remember from an awful season. 2) Real Madrid's first visit. We are all sick and tired of these Euro teams coming in the middle of our season to play meaningless games, but this was a long time ago, and a first super team to visit the HDC. It was also the first time that I have seen the HDC truly packed. It helped that we managed not to get destroyed. It truly felt like an event. 3) MLS Cup 2011. The stadium was REALLY packed, and the atmosphere was rocking. And then we won. I was worried that there would be lots of no shows because of the rain. I had nothing to worry about. 4) Opening game of the HDC. Pele comes out. Crowd chants "Pele, Pele, Pele". Very memorable moment. And then proceed to get our first win of that season. 5) MLS Cup 2012. I didn't think the atmosphere could match 2011. It did and then some. And we won again. Honorable mention: This might be a strange one, but I really had a lot of fun at the game against Metapan in the 2012 CCL. Beckham scores an Olympico. The ref is absolutely the worst ref ever! He ejects Keane for "diving" (he was fouled three times on the play) then gives Stevens a yellow as he jogs onto the field for the first time. Crowd starts up a "What the ********" chant. Never heard that before Very entertaining.
4) Opening game of the HDC. Pele comes out. Crowd chants "Pele, Pele, Pele". Very memorable moment. And then proceed to get our first win of that season. Happy to say I was there for number 4
I was there for 1, 3, 4 and 5. I’ll add 2003 Ruiz Bicycle. I have this vague notion it was a dull season and a dull game, but that set the stadium off First (few) Chivas USA match. After 2011 and 2012 MLS Cups the best atmosphere at The Home Depot Center The 2005 U.S. Open Cup Final. The stadium wasn’t even a quarter full, but it was the first Cup we won at Home Depot Beckham’s first game against Chelsea; things would never be the same That one game against (Colorado?) where the referee gave three penalties in stoppage time, Landon took both and we won. It was Landon’s first season and there was still some skeptics about a former San Jose player who forced the exit of Ruiz. Landon too was a bit stand-offish with the fans. It all changed that game; fans were elated and Landon was too. Funny considering how dreadful 2005 was three of those five moments cam from that season.
1. Ruiz bicycle vs Columbus - concur w/Dashiel. It got the stadium rolling. 2. Klein bicycle vs Pachuca - Chris Klein? Are you kidding me? 3. Game vs KC in the early HDC years. Gato stoned a stoppage time PK by Preki. 4. First Chivas game (or one of the first)- took my dad, who knows nothing about soccer. Five minutes in, he turns to me and says "Number 10 is pretty good, huh?" 5. 2009 WCF vs Houston, aka The Power Outage Game. Power outages, extra time, disallowed goal...this game lasted about four hours and sucked the life out of me. 5a. NGR - 2004 College Cup Final, UCSB vs. Indiana. There were about 12-13,000 in attendance, 98% Gauchos. As an alum, I got chills hearing the "UC---SB" call-and-respond chant echoing through the HDC.
I think they've already been mentioned, but outside of the obvious choices - the two MLS Cup victories, the USOC victory and the first game with Pele' doing the coin toss - my favorite individual moments were the Klein Bike, the Gato stoppage time PK save (on an utterly bogus PK call from the ref) and Ruiz's Bike.
Oh wait a sec, how could I forget Juninho's stoppage time goal last season to keep us alive in the 2011 CCL group stage? Only about 5,000 people were there, but that was totally epic. We were jumping up and down on the bleacher seats and going nuts.
Thanks for reminding me, i could not remember his name. And yeah he did score both,, after missing a couple good chances if i remember correctly. Nothing like the joy of hearing pure silence from a chivas fan after they've been riding you the whole game
One that hasn't been mentioned was the Beckham 70 yard goal. KC had pulled the goalie (Hartman?). Just a few minutes left, LA up 2-1 I think. I was standing at the rail on the concourse behind the LA goal, ready to head out to the car. I watched the ball come out to Becks, and had the perfect angle to see Becks on the ball, looking at the empty goal, way at the other end of the field. I remember thinking SHOOT IT! And then he did. Great moment.
That Beckham goal was a great moment. I think for me his other one was his set piece goal against DC United in one of his first games. It was so...inevitable! Other great moment for me was one of those early Chivas games, don't remember exactly which one. Cobi scored late in the game to seal it after coming in as a sub (I think) and ran into the goal shaking the net in celebration. We were right behind the goal and just went nuts.
Greatest moments so far that I've witnessed: The very first game in 2003 versus Colorado. 2012 MLS Cup (unfortunately could not attend 2011) 2007 friendly versus Chelsea Yep, that's all I can think of.
I'm glad several of you remember the Hartman penalty save in injury time against KC...it was a BS call on Lalas that led to the PK. That was the 2nd match ever at the HDC...the first ever night match.
I remember this one too, the atmosphere was great & so was the result! And the goal from Cobi was the icing! We were behind the opposite goal when Kevin Harmse scored on a sweet give & go from Donovan in the first half, don't think we sat down after that one.
Sorry to revive an old thread, but I think we missed Gomez' celebration with the Riot Squad and the Chivas Girls dolls. Can't close the thread w/o remembering that one!
I remember that - I was sitting up on the second deck in the second or third row, in line with the 18 yard line just above Hartman. The place went absolutely bonkers, and I screamed my head off. What a thrill. I saw the MLS Cup 2011 from the upper deck, too, and for me the atmosphere far exceeded the one in 2012, when I was sitting in a corner. I think it must just be louder up there. Just pinching myself here that I got to see us win the last two MLS Cups in person. If we go for #3 I don't think any sports experience will ever top it, unless we win the World Cup.