PASADENA, Calif., July 28 (UPI) -- Carlos Ruiz scored twice Saturday night to grab the MLS goal-scoring lead and carry the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Crew.
The Galaxy wasted little time taking the lead, scoring in the ninth minute. Cobi Jones set up Ruiz for his 15th goal by slipping the ball ahead in the penalty area. Ruiz flashed a shot across the face of the goal and beat goalkeeper Jon Busch.
The Crew settled down and grabbed the momentum in the 42nd minute. Brian McBride took a service from Brian West and snapped a quick header to the feet of defender Mike Clark inside the six-yard box. Clark took the bouncing ball with a one-touch strike, burying it into the side netting to tie it at 1-1.
The game-winner came off the foot of Ruiz, who hammered in a 76th-minute side volley. Jones fed the ball to Alejandro Moreno, a developmental player out of North Carolina-Greensboro. Moreno sent a diagonal ball in front of the net for Ruiz, who powered a close-range shot past a helpless Busch.
Ruiz's second goal placed "El Pescadito" at the top of the MLS goal-scoring chart ahead of New England Revolution sensation Taylor Twellman. With 32 points, Ruiz still trails Twellman by two in the scoring race.
Los Angeles moved into a tie with Colorado for third place in the MLS Western Conference, one point behind Dallas.
