"EL MATADOR" LUIS HERNANDEZ IS COMING!!

MEXICAN STAR TO LEAD LOS ANGELES GALAXY AGAINST RAPIDS IN DENVER SATURDAY AFTER PLAYING FOR MEXICAN NATIONAL TEAM LAST NIGHT

DENVER (Thursday, June 8, 2000) - Mexican National Team star forward Luis "El Matador" Hernandez is coming to Denver to play when the Los Angeles Galaxy face the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, June 10 at Mile High Stadium. Tickets for the game begin at only $13 and are available at all King Soopers locations and by calling the Rapids at (303) 299-1599.

Hernandez will travel to Denver for the game with the Galaxy after starting and playing 68 minutes for the Mexican National Team in a 4-2 win over South Africa in Dallas last night. Hernandez left Dallas this afternoon to rejoin the Galaxy in Los Angeles.

Hernandez joined the Galaxy in May after spending his last four seasons with Tigres of Monterrey of the Mexican First Division, where he tallied a total of 38 goals in 64 games, including 13 during the recently completed 2000 Summer Season. His 13 goals were the second most goals scored this season in Mexico and marked more than half (52%) of Tigres' total goals (25).

Hernandez got off to a quick start with Los Angeles, setting up two goals in his first game to lead the Galaxy to a 2-1 win over D.C. United on May 20. Hernandez' pressure led to an own goal by United in the first half, then he was tripped in the box for a penalty kick in the second half.

The 31-year-old Hernández, who began his professional career with Cruz Azul's reserve team in 1990, has won two Mexican League Championships (1994-95, 1995-96) with Necaxa, a CONCACAF Champions Cup title with Monterrey (1992-93) and was named the Mexican Player of the Year in 1997 and 1998.

Hernández, whose 35 goals in 73 international appearances ties him with former Galaxy striker Carlos Hermosillo as the top national team goal scorer, made his international debut in Los Angeles on February 1, 1995 in Mexico's 1-0 win over Uruguay. He exploded onto the international scene during the 1997 Copa America in Bolivia, scoring six goals and being named Player of the Cup. Hernández, who tallied six of Mexico's seven goals, was the tournament's top goal scorer, finishing ahead of Brazil's Ronaldo who tallied five.

The 5-7, 160-pound striker made his most significant global impact by leading the Mexican National Team to the quarterfinals of the 1998 World Cup in France, tallying four of Mexico's eight goals. Hernández's goals included a strike in injury time against Holland in a 2-2 draw and Mexico's only goal in the team's 2-1 quarterfinal loss against Germany. His four goals earned him a tie for fourth place among the World Cup leading scorers with Brazil's Ronaldo and Chile's Marcelo Salas.

LUIS HERNANDEZ BIO INFORMATION:

#15   LUIS HERNÁNDEZ
Full Name: Luis Arturo Hernández Carreon
Nickname: "El Matador"
Position: Forward
Height: 5-7
Weight: 160
Date of Birth: December 22, 1968
Birthplace: Poza Rica, Veracruz
Citizenship: Mexico
National Team Debut: February 1, 1995 vs. Uruguay in Los Angeles, California

(1-0 win)
International Appearances: 73
International Goals: 35
Last Club: Tigres de Monterrey (Mexico)
 
Former Club's: Cruz Azul (1990-91), Santos Laguna (1991-92), Monterrey (1992-94), Necaxa (1994-97, 1998), Boca Juniors (1997) and Tigres (1998-2000)

Allocated: Allocated to the Galaxy on May 16, 2000.

Additional Notes: Hernández has been part of several of Mexico's recent championships, including the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup in Mexico; 1997 and 1999 US Cup; 1996 and 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States; 1999 Carlsberg Cup in Hong Kong and third place finishes in the 1997 (Bolivia) and 1999 (Paraguay) CONMEBOL Copa América...his individual honors include being the top goal scorer in the 1997 Copa America in Bolivia and 1998 Gold Cup in the United States, tying for fourth in scoring during World Cup 1998 in France with four goals and being named a member of the FIFA World All-Stars team...was a member of Mexico's Under-23 silver medal squad that participated in the 1995 Pan-American Games in Mar de Plata, Argentina, scoring two goals in six games...signed with Argentine First Division club Boca Juniors in 1997 following his stellar performance in the 1997 Copa America...trained with the likes of Diego Maradona and Claudio Caniggia while with Boca before returning to Necaxa...Hernandez's father and two of his uncles played in the Mexican First Division during the 1960's and 70's.

(Thanks to the Los Angeles Galaxy for the above information)

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