Ruiz Is Galaxy’s One-Man Show With Hat Trick, 3-0
In his astonishing rookie season, a campaign that could end with his being named the league’s most valuable player, Carlos Ruiz had scored a goal against every team in Major League Soccer except one--the New York/New Jersey MetroStars.
It took the Galaxy forward less than five minutes to rectify that Saturday night. Then he did it again 19 minutes later. And in the game’s 83rd minute, Ruiz’s demolition of the MetroStars was complete as he scored his third goal of the night.
Ruiz’s first hat trick not only gave the Galaxy a 3-0 victory over the MetroStars in front of 19,854 at the Rose Bowl, it gave the Galaxy (13-9-3) a share of first place in the Western Conference with three games left.
“I want what’s best for the team,” Ruiz said. “If the goals help that out, that’s even better. At the end of the road, we all want what’s best for the team. I think we’re getting better as the playoffs get closer.”
It was the first hat trick for a Galaxy player since Cobi Jones did it at New England on Aug. 22, 1998, and the 11th in team history.
Ruiz’s three goals also gave him a league-leading 20 this season, one behind the team record set by Eduardo Hurtado in the league’s inaugural season of 1996. Ruiz, who now has 41 points, also pulled ahead of New England’s Taylor Twellman (39) in the MLS scoring race.
“That’s what he does,” Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid said of Ruiz. “He scores goals. I think his biggest motivation is when Twellman scores. Carlos feels he has to keep up with him.”
While the Galaxy clinched its seventh playoff berth in the league’s seven-year history--only the Galaxy and the Dallas Burn have been in the postseason every season--with New England’s tie earlier in the day, the victory was sweet redemption. The Galaxy had been handed its worst loss in team history, 5-0, by the MetroStars on June 15.
Ruiz gave the Galaxy a 1-0 lead in the game’s fourth minute.
Bringing the ball up the middle of the field, Ruiz found Simon Elliott on the right wing and Elliott quickly passed back to the middle of the goalkeeper’s box, where Sasha Victorine collided with MetroStar defender Craig Ziadie.
The ball trickling through, an opportunistic Ruiz rushed forward and his left-footed shot found the left side of the net.
Ruiz’s second goal came in the 23rd minute.
Jones passed to Victorine in the middle of the penalty box and Victorine headed the ball back to Ruiz, who immediately blasted a right-footed shot into the net.
Ruiz’s third goal came when, with Jones lofting a high pass into the middle of the goalkeeper’s box from the right side, Victorine drew MetroStar defender Mike Petke to the near post and an unmarked Ruiz headed the ball in.
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In other MLS games:
Washington 4, San Jose 2--Eddie Pope broke a tie in the 84th minute as D.C. United (7-12-5) defeated the Earthquakes (13-9-3) in front of 14,158 at Washington to end a 10-game winless streak.
Kansas City 2, Chicago 1--Chris Brown beat goalkeeper Zach Thornton with a 20-yard shot in the 90th minute to lift the Wizards (9-9-8) over the Fire (10-11-4) in front of 20,173 at Kansas City, Mo.
New England 0, Columbus 0--Goalkeeper Jon Busch of the Crew (10-10-5) got his fourth shutout of the season, and Adin Brown of the Revolution (9-14-2) got his third in front of 24,422 at Columbus, Ohio.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
