Ruiz Kicks Galaxy by Revs in OT
August 23, 2003 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
CARSON, CA - The Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the New England Revolution 2-1 Saturday afternoon at The Home Depot Center, recording their first overtime win of the season. Forward Carlos Ruiz notched both goals for the Galaxy, while New England's Jose Cancela successfully converted the Revolution's first penalty kick of the season to send the match into overtime.
Carlos Ruiz put the Galaxy ahead in the 22nd minute of play, netting his 11th goal of the season. Cobi Jones corralled a Hong Myung Bo header at the midfield circle, slipping an early pass through the New England defense to spring Ruiz. Kept onside by a withdrawn Carlos Llamosa, Ruiz evaded the attention of Shalrie Joseph and rushed into the penalty area. With a sudden cut inside, Ruiz shook off defender Jay Heaps and caught goalkeeper Adin Brown wrong-footed on the goal line. Ruiz finished the chance perfectly, slotting the ball out of reach at the near post and into the back of the net.
The Revolution equalized in the 86th minute, as Jose Cancela successfully converted New England's first penalty kick of the 2003 season. Galaxy defender Ryan Suarez was whistled for a foul on Brian Kamler inside the box as the Revolution midfielder rushed to the post on a scoring chance. Stepping to the penalty spot, Cancela sent a soft shot right up the middle as goalkeeper Kevin Hartman dove to his right. The equalizer was Cancela's first goal of the campaign and sent the match into sudden death overtime.
Ruiz and Hong connected in the 98th minute of play to give the Galaxy the golden goal and the team's first overtime win of the season. Hong sparked the sudden counter-attack from just outside the L.A. penalty area, stepping up to intercept a slow New England pass and sending a ball over the top to Ruiz. Ruiz got underneath the booming long ball, taking the pass straight down the center of the field. Ruiz got around his marker with a series of quick cuts and stopovers that took Heaps out of the play, leaving the Guatemalan striker a clear shooting lane. With just Brown to beat, Ruiz hammered the shot off the bottom of the crossbar for the sudden death win.
The Galaxy improves to 1-0-8 in overtime, while the Revolution (0-1-8) suffer their first loss in the extra periods.
The Revolution lost forward Taylor Twellman to injury shortly after the goal, as the team's leading scorer suffered a concussion in a collision with Galaxy defender Danny Califf. Twellman took a boot to the face when he made a low, diving header attempt near the post, as he and Califf converged on a dangerous ball from Joe Franchino.
New England missed a golden opportunity early in the game, when Revolution newcomer Dario Fabbro lost control of the ball on a breakaway chance in the 11th minute. Unmarked and with plenty of space, Fabbro sold Hartman on a shoulder fake, taking the `keeper out of the play and opening up the goal mouth. As he attempted to move into shooting position, however, Fabbro lost control of the ball, stalling the Revolution attack.
Brown came up big for New England in the 35th minute, making a quick reflex save to keep the Revs in the game. Galaxy midfielder Simon Elliott dropped a free kick inside the penalty area, where Ruiz flicked it wide to a lurking Chris Albright. Albright took the low, hard shot to the far post, but the athletic Brown managed to drop down in time to clamp down on the chance.
Los Angeles (6-7-8, 26 points) next faces the Dallas Burn on Saturday, August 30th at The Home Depot Center (10:00pm ET, Tape Delayed on ESPN2 at 2am Sunday morning). Saturday's match will mark the first time the two clubs have squared off since executing a five-player trade on July 11th. Defenders Ryan Suarez and Paul Broome, both involved in that trade, made appearances for the Galaxy in today's match.
The Revolution (5-8-8, 23 points) will face the Eastern Conference leading Chicago Fire on Saturday (6:00pm ET, Tape Delayed on Fox Sports World at 7:30) at Gillette Stadium. The Revolution will be without the services of team captain Joe Franchino in the match, as the rugged defender received a yellow card in the 58th minute, putting him over the caution point mark.
MLS Man of the Match - Carlos Ruiz (Los Angeles)
Major League Soccer Stories from August 23, 2003
- Crew Hold off Burn, 2-1 - MLS
- Ruiz Kicks Galaxy by Revs in OT - MLS
- D.C. United Acquires Midfielder Trevor Perea - D.C. United
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