CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP: VICTORINE CONVERTS FOR GALAXY.

Byline: Fred J. Robledo Staff Writer

FULLERTON - Galaxy striker Sasha Victorine, a late substitute because of nagging injuries, scored the decisive goal in a penalty shootout, giving the Galaxy a 5-3 penalty-kick decision over Honduras' Real CD Espana in front of 5,153 at Cal State Fullerton on the opening night of the CONCACAF FC Champions Cup.

In an earlier game, D.C. United beat LD Alajuelense of Costa Rica 2-1.

United, which beat the Galaxy in the 1996 and 1999 MLS Cup championships, once again stands in the way of another big prize. The winner of Friday's matchup at the Coliseum not only advances to the final of the FC Champions Cup on Sunday, but also earns an automatic invitation to the FIFA World Club Championships, which will be held later this summer in Spain.

Victorine, whose decisive penalty kick over Japan sent the U.S. to the semifinals of the Olympics, was preceded in the penalty kick phase by Greg Vanney, Simon Elliott, Peter Vagenas and Mauricio Cienfuegos, all of whom made their shots.

Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman stopped Real CD Espana's Hector Gutierrez's opening penalty kick.

``It felt like the Olympics all over again,'' said Victorine. ``Penalties are always nerve-wracking, especially when you're the final kicker, but you have to give credit to everyone because we pretty much dominated this match and deserved the outcome.''

Vanney, who was on the wrong end of both of the Galaxy's MLS Cup losses to United, said he can't wait for another game with United on Friday.

``We had the best of them last year, but let's face it, in any game that has meant something, they have owned us,'' said Vanney. ``We're going to think about that going into the next game. We're going to sit down, we're going to prepare.''

With Luis Hernandez back in Mexico and Victorine hobbled by injuries, the Galaxy had trouble creating scoring chances despite dominating the game.

One of the better opportunities came when Elliott fed Cobi Jones down the right sideline. With two defenders closing in, Jones sent a cross to the near post for Cienfuegos, who let the ball run behind as striker Adam Frye ran on the goal. However, Frye hit his shot over the bar in the 52nd minute.

The best chance for L.A. came in the waning moments as Jones fired a shot from 20 yards, but Flores tipped it over the net with 30 seconds left to play, sending the game to penalty kicks.

The Galaxy held most of the possession in the first half, but could only get one clean shot off Flores in the ninth minute.