Galaxy’s Ruiz Finds Mark
There are nights when Zach Thornton is unquestionably the best shot-stopper in Major League Soccer. Unfortunately for the Galaxy, Saturday was one of those nights.
Unfortunately for the Chicago Fire, Los Angeles has Carlos Ruiz in its lineup, and no matter how imposing the opposing goalkeeper is, the Guatemalan striker seems to find a way to beat him.
In only his second MLS game Saturday night, Ruiz put the Galaxy ahead in the 81st minute, watched Chicago tie it in the 89th, and then stole a 2-1 victory with a goal 1:09 into overtime.
Ruiz repeated the feat he pulled off in the season opener against D.C. United two weeks ago, when he scored in regulation and 39 seconds into overtime to give the Galaxy a 2-1 victory.
On Saturday, the 14,887 fans at the Rose Bowl had all but given up hope of Los Angeles finding the back of the net after seeing Thornton deny it time and again. For 80 minutes, the Galaxy threw everything it had at Thornton but came up empty.
A few examples:
* Ruiz hammered a 25-yard volley that had goal written all over it until Thornton got in the way.
* Cobi Jones unleashed a shot from long range that Thornton--remarkably agile for a 6-foot-3, 230-pound netminder--leaped to tip over the crossbar.
* Simon Elliott unloaded from 28 yards but Thornton was able to fling himself to his left and turn the shot around the post.
* Ezra Hendrickson crossed the ball in for Gavin Glinton to head powerfully from point-blank range. Again, Thornton was in the right place at the right time.
Halftime came and went and still there was no breakthrough. Finally, in the 81st minute, the Fire defense gave Thornton some help he didn’t need.
Defender Billy Sleeth stepped in to cut out a cross from Glinton, misplayed the ball and, to his dismay, saw Ruiz sneak in to stab it into the open net, with Thornton having moved to cover the initial cross that Sleeth should have left to him.
The Galaxy appeared headed for a deserved victory when its defense fell asleep, failing to clear the ball and allowing Ante Razov to stick out a foot and poke it past goalkeeper Matt Reis.
Regulation ended and Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid sent Tyrone Marshall into the game in place of Sasha Victorine. The former Miami Fusion defender wasted little time in having an impact in his Galaxy debut.
His cross from the right found Ruiz in front of the Chicago net and the Guatemalan forward doesn’t squander chances like that. Thornton, who deserved better, was beaten from close range and was left sitting on the ground in disbelief while the Galaxy celebrated another improbable turn of events.
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In other games Saturday:
San Jose 2, New England 1--The Earthquakes were presented with their 2001 MLS championship rings before the game, then went out and beat the Revolution in front of 10,104 at San Jose. Midfielder Manny Lagos put them ahead in the second minute, taking a pass from Ariel Graziani and beating goalkeeper Juergen Sommer. Mamadou Diallo, the league’s 2000 scoring champion, tied it in the 38th minute with his first goal for the Revolution. Denmark’s Ronnie Ekelund netted the winner in the 79th minute off a pass from Landon Donovan, who, according to an Associated Press report Saturday, is considering an offer to return to Bayer Leverkusen in Germany after the World Cup.
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New York/New Jersey 2, Columbus 1 (OT)--The MetroStars’ “Turnpike Triangle” offense of Clint Mathis, Rodrigo Faria and Diego Serna caused the Crew defense all sorts of problems, but it was rookie Brad Davis who scored the game-winner seven minutes into overtime in front of 11,103 at Columbus, Ohio.
Dante Washington gave the Crew the lead 13 minutes into the second half, but Faria tied it 11 minutes later.
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Dallas 2, Washington 1--The Burn came from behind to win its first game of the season and hand D.C. United its second defeat in three games. Teenager Santino Quaranta put the visitors ahead in the 61st minute in front of 8,565 on a rainy night in Dallas. Jason Kreis pulled the Burn even less than two minutes later and Jorge Rodriguez scored the winner with six minutes to go.
D.C. United’s Milton Reyes was ejected after getting a second yellow card.
