Ruiz, Galaxy Storm by Crew, 3-1
Published on August 9, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
CARSON, CA - The Los Angles Galaxy waited until late in the game to defeat the Columbus Crew, 3-1, Saturday night at The Home Depot Center. Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz had a hand in all three Los Angeles goals, scoring a pair and assisting on Diego Serna's insurance goal in the closing minutes. Crew forward Edson Buddle scored the lone goal for Columbus, his second of the season.
Much of the match proved to be a duel between goalkeepers, as both Columbus netminder Jon Busch and the Galaxy's Kevin Hartman made spectacular saves throughout the game. Both `keepers made key saves, keeping the score sheet empty despite flurries of intense activity.
The Galaxy broke the deadlock in the 69th minute, as forward Carlos Ruiz coolly finished off a penalty kick. Newly acquired Galaxy forward Diego Serna earned the conversion attempt for the home side when he was fouled in the box by Crew defender Mike Clark. The goal was Ruiz's ninth of the 2003 season, and his fifth from the penalty spot.
The Crew's Edson Buddle and Clark connected in the 74th minute of play, notching the equalizing goal for Columbus. Clark played the ball to Buddle, who was stationed with his back to goal about sixteen yards out. Buddle handled the pass well, turning to face goal and drilling a powerful half-volley shot past Hartman for the equalizer.
Ruiz notched his second goal of the evening in the 86th minute, finishing off a spectacular bicycle kick to put the Galaxy back on top. Cobi Jones pounced on a failed Crew clearance, rushing the ball forward to the right side of the six-yard box. The veteran Galaxy midfielder played a hard chip back across the mouth of the goal, seeking out Ruiz at the far post. Ruiz got airborne, blasting a full bicycle kick past Busch for the 2-1 lead.
Serna added his first goal of the season minutes later, banging home a Ruiz chip to make the score 3-1. Ruiz fired a shot on goal from twelve yards out, but Busch made the initial save. Ruiz recovered the loose ball and laid the ball off in the center of the box. Serna took the quick shot, beating Busch in the 89th minute to give Los Angeles some insurance.
The Columbus Crew managed to keep the Galaxy off of the board in the first half largely due to the outstanding performance of goalkeeper Jon Busch. In the 19th minute of play, Busch was forced to make a flurry of saves on close-range attempts by Los Angeles, who had flooded the box with attacker. Midfielder Chris Albright sent a cross in from the corner, where Sasha Victorine fired off a point-blank, one-touch shot on net. Busch made a diving save to block the attempt, but the ball ricocheted out to Ruiz at the penalty spot. Busch scrambled back quickly, making the desperation save on the second attempt before falling on top of his rebound to smother any further chances.
Five minutes later, Busch made another great save to deny the highly active Alejandro Moreno from inside the penalty area. Moving away from the near post to cover a service, Busch had to dive back against the grain of the play to punch away Moreno's shot.
In the 36th, The Galaxy converted a Crew turnover into a fast break downfield. Again, Moreno got a close range shot off, but Busch ably went to ground to make the initial save. Again, the beleaguered Crew `keeper Busch allowed a rebound, but Busch was able to make the second save from the prone position.
The best chance for the Crew came just before the halftime interval when defender Brian Dunseth sent a booming pass upfield to an overlapping Frankie Hejduk. Hejduk, who had been one of the Crew's most active and dangerous players in the opening stanza, took advantage of the lighting transition and cracked off a shot on goal. Hartman made a diving save on the play, leaping to his left to push Hejduk's stab to safety.
The Crew came out strong in the second half, as Buddle got underneath a Hejduk service in the 48th minute of play, twisting his body to put a quality shot on goal. Alex Pineda Chacon, making his first start for the Crew since being traded by the Galaxy before the All-Star break, picked up the rebound and deftly flicked it to his left foot to rip off a quick shot on net. Pineda Chacon's shot had Hartman beat, but L.A. defender Danny Califf recovered in time, tracking back and clearing the ball off of the goal line.
The Galaxy (5-6-7, 22 points) play host to the Conference MetroStars on Saturday, August 16th. The MetroStars are currently neck-and-neck with the Chicago Fire in battle for the top of the Eastern Conference.
Columbus (5-8-5, 20 points) are currently in the basement of the East, trailing fourth-place New England by two points. The Crew face Chicago (29 points) on Wednesday, August 13th at Columbus Crew Stadium.
MLS Man of the Match - Carlos Ruiz (Los Angeles)
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