Ruiz's double trouble for Crew
GAME COVERAGE | |
 0 |
-
2  |
| |
Ruiz scored from the penalty spot in the 59th minute to give the Galaxy the lead, then scored the second eight minutes from the final whistle as he ran his 2004 total to five. The win kept the Galaxy undefeated on the season, while the Crew have now dropped each of their opening three matches, the worst start to a campaign in club history.
Galaxy rookie Joseph Ngwenya made his first professional start and was particularly active on the Galaxy's right flank. His initiative led to Ruiz's opening goal.
Ngwenya was brought down by Columbus' Eric Denton as he penetrated the right side of the Crew penalty area and referee Ricardo Salazar pointed to the penalty spot. Ruiz calmly placed the spot kick to the right of goalkeeper Jon Busch for a lead the home team would not give up.
The Crew saw their best opportunity to equalize come in the 72nd minute as the Galaxy cleared the ball off the goal line on two occasions.
Crew forward Jeff Cunningham chipped the ball over charging goalkeeper Kevin Hartman in the penalty box but Galaxy defender Ryan Suarez made a desperate sliding lunge to clear the ball out of the air and off the goal line. On its way back down the ball then deflected off the face of the crossbar and Galaxy right back Chris Albright headed the ball out of danger.
Columbus coach Greg Andrulis made two substitutions in the 81st minute to add to his team's attacking pressure, but two minutes later, and after Columbus forward Edson Buddle placed a header high of the crossbar, Ruiz foiled the Crew's plans with a spectacular goal.
The Guatemalan international started the play by feeding left back Paul Broome on the left flank. Broome then dribbled by Oughton, sending a cross into the center of the box where Ruiz perfectly timed a right-footed volley through the legs of defender Robin Fraser and past Busch.
The Galaxy presented a new-look midfield to start the match, giving first-year players Marcelo Saragosa, Ned Grabavoy and Ngwenya their first career MLS start. Regulars Peter Vagenas (groin) and Sasha Victorine (right ankle) were unavailable due to injury, while right midfielder Arturo Torres started the match off the bench.
Despite the changes, the Galaxy's best opportunities at goal in the first half came off the feet of two of their most active contributors this season: forward Jovan Kirovski and midfielder Andreas Herzog. Kirovski nearly put his team in the lead after just two minutes when his header bounced off the base of the left post. He followed that up with another close-range shot off a Ruiz layoff that sailed just wide of the left post.
Herzog was especially dangerous in the first half from his preferred position on the left flank. In the 23rd minute the former Austrian international made a powerful run into the box but his shot was tipped wide by Busch at full stretch. Seven minutes later Herzog hit a first-time volley on an Ngwenya cross from the right but his powerful low drive finished against the outside of the net.
The Crew also had their opportunities to break the scoreless deadlock in the first half through dribbling bursts by Cunningham and the aerial prowess of rookie Chad Marshall on set pieces.
In the sixth minute and again in first-half stoppage time, Hartman was forced to stop Marshall headers. Cunningham's penetrating dribbling slalom runs created good chances for Kyle Martino in the 28th minute and Buddle in the 35th, but neither one could get their shot on target.
Both teams return to action on Saturday, May 1 ,for 7:30 p.m. ET kickoffs. The Galaxy will meet the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium while the Crew return home to host the undefeated Dallas Burn (HDNet).
MLS Man of the Match: Carlos Ruiz (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Scoring Summary:
LA -- Carlos Ruiz 4 (penalty kick) 59
LA -- Carlos Ruiz 5 (Paul Broome 1) 83
Columbus Crew -- Jon Busch, Steven Herdsman, Robin Fraser, Chad Marshall, Eric Denton (Erick Scott 81), Duncan Oughton (David Testo 88), Simon Elliott, Kyle Martino, Brian Maisonneuve (Ross Paule 81), Jeff Cunningham, Edson Buddle.
Substitutes Not Used: Clint Baumstark, Chris Wingert.
TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Jeff Cunningham 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Chad Marshall 2); FOULS: 15 (Brian Maisonneuve 5); OFFSIDES: 3 (Jeff Cunningham 3); CORNER KICKS: 9 (Simon Elliott 8); SAVES: 3 (Jon Busch 3)
Los Angeles Galaxy -- Kevin Hartman, Chris Albright, Danny Califf (Ryan Suarez 67), Tyrone Marshall, Paul Broome, Joseph Ngwenya (Arturo Torres 73), Ned Grabavoy, Marcelo Saragosa, Andreas Herzog (Alejandro Moreno 88), Jovan Kirovski, Carlos Ruiz.
Substitutes Not Used: Josh Gardner, Guillermo Gonzalez, Ricky Lewis, Hong Myung-Bo, Dan Popik, Scot Thompson.
TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Carlos Ruiz 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Carlos Ruiz 3); FOULS: 24 (Marcelo Saragosa 4); OFFSIDES: 3 (Jovan Kirovski 2); CORNER KICKS: 4 (Ned Grabavoy 2, Andreas Herzog 2); SAVES: 3 (Kevin Hartman 2)
Misconduct Summary:
LA -- Jovan Kirovski (caution; Pushing, Holding) 32
LA -- Marcelo Saragosa (caution; Professional Foul) 41
CLB -- Robin Fraser (caution; Reckless Foul) 42
CLB -- Brian Maisonneuve [caution; Interference (GK or Throw-in)] 46+
CLB -- Eric Denton (caution; Reckless Foul) 58
Referee: Ricardo Salazar
Referee's Assistants: -Nathan Clement; Richard Eddy
4th Official: Ramon Hernandez
Attendance: 20,317
Time of Game: 1:52
Weather: Sunny-and-79-degrees
