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Ruiz Earns Win for Galaxy in OT

September 20, 2003 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


CARSON, CA - The Los Angeles Galaxy wrestled a 1-0 overtime victory from D.C. United Saturday night at the Home Depot Center, capping off an intense and free-flowing match with a golden goal by forward Carlos Ruiz. Ruiz's 99th minute tally was his League-leading 14th goal of the season, and his fifth game-winner for the Galaxy.

Taking the ball from Arturo Torres on the right side of the penalty area, forward Diego Serna chipped a pass into the center of the box for Ruiz. The Guatemalan striker headed the ball sharply down to the near post. United goalkeeper Nick Rimando managed to get a hand on the attempt, but could not stop the golden goal ball from crossing the line.

Serna and Ruiz connected just moments before, as Serna's work along the baseline opened up a passing lane to Ruiz at the near post. Ruiz took the close-range, one-time shot, but his attempt sailed over the crossbar in the 97th minute.

Defender Tyrone Marshall - starting in the place of Galaxy regular Alexi Lalas - drew the applause of the crowd as he unleashed a powerful long range shot from the right flank that missed the net by mere inches. Marshall's blast eluded the hands of a leaping Nick Rimando, but rang off of the crossbar.

United's best chance of the first half came in the 29th minute, as Eliseo Quintanilla sprung Ronald Cerritos with a well-timed pass into the center channel. Uncontested, Cerritos sprinted down the field to take a breakaway shot on goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, but "El Gato" was able to make the diving save. United midfielder Marco Etcheverry looked to take advantage of the rebound, but the Galaxy defense recovered in time to clear.

Galaxy captain Cobi Jones put in a solid performance for Los Angeles, figuring heavily in almost every dangerous chance the home side mounted. In the 51st minute of play, only a desperate diving header by Dema Kovalenko kept a Jones attempt from hitting the back of the net. Twenty minutes later, Jones' dogged defense paid dividends as the midfielder tracked back to deny Ben Olsen a close-range opportunity inside the penalty area.

In the 61st minute of play, a long range Kovalenko found its way through the penalty area, forcing a save out of Hartman. The `keeper bobbled the save, but was able to control his rebound and immediately launched the counterattack. Los Angeles drove quickly down the length of the field, where Jones laced a powerful blast to the far post, forcing a diving save by Rimando.

Los Angeles (8-9-8, 32 points) climbs into third place in the Western Conference with the victory, surpassing the Kansas City Wizards (29 points) who lost to the San Jose Earthquakes earlier in the evening. The Galaxy's position in the West comes under fire immediately, however, as the Wizards travel to The Home Depot Center to face Los Angeles on Saturday, September 27th (10:00 pm ET on Fox Sports World).

D.C. United (9-8-6, 33 points) remains in the middle of the pack in the crowded Eastern Conference, trailing the MetroStars by four points and leading the Columbus Crew by a narrow two-point margin. United can take advantage of a head-to-head affair with the Metros on Thursday, September 21st at Giants Stadium (7:30 pm ET, tape delayed on ESPN2 at 1:00 am Friday morning).

MLS Man of the Match - Carlos Ruiz (Los Angeles Galaxy)

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 20, 2003


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