Ruiz Leaves Galaxy in the Driver’s Seat

Carlos Ruiz had car trouble on Friday and missed the Galaxy’s morning training session in Carson.

New England defender Jay Heaps probably wishes that the Galaxy striker’s car was still out of commission on Saturday.

Ruiz had Heaps in a heap of trouble all afternoon, victimizing him twice -- including the 98th-minute game-winning golden goal -- in the Galaxy’s 2-1 overtime victory against the Revolution in front of 20,377 at the Home Depot Center.

“I don’t have my car anymore,” said a sheepish Ruiz, who has 12 goals on the season, four of them game winners, “so it’s not a problem anymore. But I wish to ask my teammates for forgiveness this week because this is the time in the season when they need me the most and I wasn’t there [Friday].

“When you don’t show up for training, you feel bad about it. But I couldn’t control the problem.”

The Revolution, certainly, could not control Ruiz.

The game-winning play began with an on-target 60-yard pass from Galaxy defender Hong Myung-Bo. Ruiz, who many thought may have been off-side, slightly over-ran the ball but he was able to hit a nifty back-heel pass to himself on the fly. Steadying himself, Ruiz found Heaps attempting to front him.

Ruiz juked Heaps, leaving him sprawled on the grass, and raced through the box where the Revolution’s imposing 6-foot-5 goalkeeper, Adin Brown, rushed to meet him.

No matter. Ruiz’s powerful shot hit the underside of the crossbar and bounded into the net.

“Both were equally good,” Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid said, “Bo finding him with the long ball and Carlos doing the rest from there. Me and Carlos sat down and we had a good talk before the game and I felt confident he was going to have a good game.”

Hong, who left the stadium before speaking with the media, had a good game as well, picking up the first two points of his Galaxy career as he was also credited with an assist on Ruiz’s first goal, along with midfielder Cobi Jones.

The Galaxy (6-7-8) led, 1-0, for most of the match, Ruiz scoring in the 22nd minute.

Running up the left flank, Ruiz took a perfectly placed, and just-as-well-timed, through ball from Jones.

Working the breakaway while bringing the ball toward the center of the field, Ruiz was confronted by Heaps.

Ruiz’s right-footed shot from about 15 yards curled to the left, fooling Brown, who was diving the other way when the ball cleanly hit the back left of the net.

The Revolution (5-8-8) was able to tie the score in the 86th minute on a penalty kick by midfielder Jose Cancela.

Cancela’s first goal of the year was set up when referee Michael Kennedy called Galaxy defender Ryan Suarez for taking down New England midfielder Brian Kamler in the box.

The Revolution lost its main threat, forward Taylor Twellman, in the 29th minute when he had to be carried off the field bleeding profusely from his face.

Twellman, the league’s leading scorer, was injured when he was accidentally kicked in the face by Galaxy defender Danny Califf as Twellman attempted a diving header off a Joe Franchino free kick in front of the goal.

Twellman was taken to Long Beach Memorial Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a broken nose, a fractured cheekbone and a concussion.

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Edson Buddle and Ross Paule each scored a goal to lead the Columbus Crew to a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Burn in Southlake, Texas.

The win ended a seven-game losing streak for the Crew (6-9-6).

Dallas (4-13-4) came close to tying it in the 80th minute, but Columbus goalie Jon Busch made a leaping save on a shot by Ali Curtis.

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Associated Press contributed to this report.