GALAXY SETTLES FOR DRAW IN OPENER SAPRISSA HEADS HOME WITH EDGE IN CONCACAF CHAMPIONS' CUP GALAXY 0, SAPRISSA 0.

Byline: Larry Morgan Staff Writer

CARSON - The Galaxy battled Costa Rica's Deportivo Saprissa to a scoreless tie in the opening leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals Thursday night in front of 8,103 at Home Depot Center, and it figures to get tougher for the Major League Soccer champions.

The hard-luck Galaxy, which had several near-misses in the second half, must travel to San Jose, Costa Rica, for the second leg of the two-game, total-goals series. Forward Landon Donovan, who has played in Estadio Ricardo Saprissa with the U.S. national team, said the atmosphere will be nothing like most of his teammates have seen.

``That's one of the hardest places to play,'' said Donovan, whose 57th- minute shot was cleared off the goal line by Saprissa defender Jervis Drummond. ``It would have been nice to have that attacking, bombarding-the-goal mentality from minute one, and I think we paid for it.''

Saprissa, part of Chivas USA owner Jorge Vergara's stable of clubs, dominated the first-half action, but the Galaxy outshot the reigning CONCACAF Champions' Cup titlists 13-4 in the final 45 minutes and clearly dictated the pace of play.

Donovan's effort was the Galaxy's best chance, but hardly the only one. There was a header by second-half substitute Alan Gordon in the 78th minute stopped with a brilliant, diving save by goalkeeper Jose Francisco Porras. Herculez Gomez also had a good look from in front of the goal after a wild scramble, but his attempt went high over the crossbar.

Saprissa coach Hernan Medford, understandably, was pleased with the tie.

``I'm happy with the way the team played here,'' he said. ``The lucky thing for us is now we're the home team for the second leg.''

Three-time tournament winner Saprissa's best chance arrived in the 84th minute, when Cristian Bolanos got behind the Galaxy back line. Tyrone Marshall ran Bolanos down and put his foot on the ball as Bolanos prepared to shoot. The ball rolled harmlessly away.

The Costa Ricans nearly scored at the start, after Galaxy defender Ugo Ihemelu's mis-clearance went directly to Jose Pablo Fonseca. His hard shot was blocked by an alert Troy Roberts, who was playing in place of Todd Dunivant, out with a left hip-flexor strain suffered earlier this week. Dunivant, who has made a strong bid for inclusion on the U.S. World Cup team, will reevaluated today.

Larry Morgan, [phone]

larry.morgan(at)sgvn.com