PASADENA, Calif., March 24 (UPI) -- Newcomer Carlos Ruiz scored twice Saturday night, including the game-winning penalty kick in overtime, as the Los Angeles Galaxy defeated undermanned D.C. United, 2-1, in the MLS season opener for both teams.
Ruiz's heroics spoiled the United debut of second-half substitute forward Ali Curtis, who put D.C. in front with less than 15 minutes remaining.
Against the run of play, United took the lead when Curtis took a pass near midfield and capped a 50-yard solo dash by rolling a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Matt Reis. After getting the ball near midfield, Curtis outran three defenders before shaking Danny Califf with a hesitation move as he entered the box. Curtis, who trained with the Galaxy during the preseason, used the space between him and Califf to beat Reis.
Los Angeles got the equalizer in the 85th minute off brilliant work by Ruiz. With defender Eddie Pope on his back, Ruiz took a pass from Ezra Hendrickson at the top of the box before turning on the U.S. National team defender and firing an 18-yard left-footer past Nick Rimando.
Just two minutes into overtime, two players making their MLS debuts combined to create the decisive play. Galaxy rookie Gavin Glinton, a forward from Bradley University, was brought down by defender Milton Reyes inside the penalty area. A member of the Honduran National team, Reyes clipped Glinton from behind after the rookie eluded him. Ruiz stepped up to take the penalty kick and beat Rimando low to the right side.
During the scoreless first half, Los Angeles dictated much of the play, only to see an organized United defense and some timely goalkeeping by Rimando deny them.
United's fortunes took a turn for the worse shortly before halftime when midfielder Bobby Convey received a red card for a hard tackle on Ruiz. Convey's ejection forced D.C. to play shorthanded for the remaining 50 minutes.
A frantic second half saw Los Angeles apply intense pressure, with Cobi Jones attacking repeatedly down the right side. Playing with Abdul Thompson Conteh as their lone forward, D.C. tried rapid counterattacks after winning possession defensively.
The pressure nearly paid dividends in the 52nd minute, when a cross from Jones drew Rimando off his line. The ball fell to the feet of Hendrickson, but the United goalkeeper smothered the ball near the penalty area.
Rimando came up big again in the 67th minute with a diving stop to thwart a point-blank header from former United forward Chris Albright. A minute later, the Galaxy were denied of a goal when a header by Alexi Lalas was cleared off the line by midfielder Richie Williams.
