Galaxy Blanks Earthquakes, 3-0
Published on October 18, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
CARSON, CA - Forward Alejandro Moreno scored two goals, his fourth and fifth of the season, as the Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 3-0 in front of a sellout crowd on Saturday night at The Home Depot Center. The Earthquakes' loss guarantees that the Eastern Conference leading Chicago Fire capture the MLS Supporters' Shield as they have mathematically secured the best record in MLS following a 4-3 win over Colorado earlier Saturday (the Fire also own the head-to-head tiebreaker vs. San Jose with a 1-0-2 record in season series).
Saturday night's match was the first of four consecutive matches in the "California Clasico". In addition to the home-and-home series to close out the season, it has already been determined that they will be matched up in the Western Conference Semifinals in the No. 1 vs. No. 4 matchup. The win ended the Galaxy's three-game losing streak but also added to the Earthquakes scoreless streak of 322 minutes dating back to a 5-2 Sept. 27 win over the Dallas Burn.
The Galaxy opened the scoring in the sixth minute off a short corner played by Hong Myung-Bo to Mauricio Cienfuegos. The Salvadoran midfielder lifted a cross into the box where Moreno arched over a defender to head the ball home for an early 1-0 lead.
Buoyed by the goal, Los Angeles enjoyed a positive spell in attack in the opening stages of the game, threatening the goal defended by Canadian international goalkeeper Pat Ontad on several occasions. Shots by Carlos Ruiz (18th minute save by Pat Onstad, 24th minute heel deflection saved by Onstad) and Sasha Victorine (19th minute wide left) were among the seven shots on goal registered by the Galaxy in the opening half.
The Earthquakes registered a positive stretch of their own. In the 27th minute a Brian Mullan point blank shot struck defender Tyrone Marshall on its path toward goal. In the 31st minute forward Rodrigo Faria sent a header high and wide right and that was followed two minutes later by a spectacular Landon Donovan volley from close range which sailed high over the crossbar. The teams combined for 20 shots in the first half alone.
Just when San Jose seemed to be growing increasingly dangerous the Galaxy got their second goal as Moreno again proved decisive in the penalty area. Ruiz collected a long ball from the back by Danny Califf and delivered a low cross from the left side of the San Jose penalty area. Moreno connected with the pass in stride as the Venezuelan forward poked the ball inside the near left post, charging in between two defenders and beating them both to the ball. With his two goals on the night Moreno became the Galaxy's second leading scorer behind Ruiz (15 goals).
Down 2-0, the Earthquakes' chances at making a comeback were not aided by the ejection of defender Craig Waibel, who was sent off for a late tackle on Moreno deep down the right flank of the Galaxy's own defensive half.
The Earthquakes' best chance at reducing the deficit in the second half came in the 56th minute as forward Dwayne DeRosario pounced on a loose ball and sent a first-time, right-footed shot from near the top of the box. However, Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, who picked up his fourth shutout of the season, saved the shot destined for the low right corner as he dove in full extension.
But five minutes later 10-man San Jose would suffer yet another blow as midfielder Simon Elliott netted the home team's third goal of the game in the 61st minute. Ruiz once again delivered the decisive pass into the direction of Elliott, who beat the offside trap and advanced alone on goal. The New Zealand international took his shot from 25 yards out and it got by Onstad, who was charging off his line, and trickled into the back of the net.
In a game which grew increasingly tense, Ruiz would have several chances to pad the Galaxy's 3-0 result. However, he misfired in the 82d minute, his 84th minute shot from a difficult angle struck the right post and Onstad stopped his 87th minute effort from the top of the box.
Midfielder Richard Mulrooney eclipsed John Doyle's club mark (11,385) for most minutes played in a San Jose jersey and also tied Doyle's all-time mark for matches played (132).
The Galaxy honored Cienfuegos with a pregame ceremony in the final regular season home match of his career and he was substituted in the 87th minute to a standing ovation.
Despite missing the likes of Cobi Jones (right hip strain) and Diego Serna (right knee sprain), the Galaxy welcomed Sasha Victorine who made his first appearance since being sidelined by a hip fracture on Aug. 16. Goalkeeper Dan Popik made his MLS debut in the 75th minute when he entered the match in place of Hartman with the score 3-0.
The teams meet for their regular season finale next Saturday, October 25 at 10:00 p.m. ET (HDNet) at Spartan Stadium. The Galaxy will look to avoid becoming the first team to go winless on the road as they carry a 0-9-5 mark into San Jose. The worst record away from home in MLS history was recorded by D.C. United in 2002 (1-10-3).
MLS Man of the Match: Alejandro Moreno (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Major League Soccer Stories from October 18, 2003
- Galaxy Blanks Earthquakes, 3-0 - MLS
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