CARSON, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Galaxy once again showed why they are the best team in the league with a 4-1 defeat of the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night at The Home Depot Center.
On the same day that the Galaxy's Edson Buddle scored his first two international goals for the US National Team, Los Angeles put four goals past the visiting Dynamo. Jovan Kirovski scored the first two goals as the Galaxy extended their undefeated streak to 12 games to start the season, tying the league record.
The Galaxy got on the board early as Kirovski opened the scoring after just 46 seconds with a header off a Sean Franklin cross. The tandem struck again in the 21st minute as Franklin once again delivered to Kirovski from the exact spot, giving the Galaxy a lead that they would not relinquish. This time an unmarked Kirovski deposited home with his right foot.
Tristan Bowen added a third just three minutes after the break, beating a Dynamo defender and then goalkeeper Pat Onstad on the near post. The goal was the second of his MLS career for the 19-year-old and his second in two matches. The Galaxy put the game out of reach with a fourth goal as Brazilian Alex Cazumba scored his first career MLS goal on a diagonal shot that beat Onstad.
The Dynamo had momentarily equalized when striker Cam Weaver collided with goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts at the top of the Galaxy penalty area. The Jamaican 'keeper delivered a cleat to Weaver's midsection as the ball continued to roll toward the goal for a 1-1 tie. The Dynamo striker lay on the ground for several minutes but was eventually able to return to the match.
It was the third consecutive league defeat for Houston while the Galaxy moved to a league-best 10-0-2 record that puts them 11 points clear atop the Western Conference.
Scoring Summary:
LA -- Jovan Kirovski 2 (Sean Franklin 3, Michael Stephens 4) 1'
HOU -- Cam Weaver 1 (unassisted) 7'
LA -- Jovan Kirovski 3 (Sean Franklin 4, Michael Stephens 5) 21
LA -- Tristan Bowen 2 (unassisted) 48
LA -- Alex Cazumba 1 (Michael Stephens 6) 56
Misconduct Summary:
LA -- Gregg Berhalter (caution; Persistent Infringement) 60
Houston Dynamo -- Pat Onstad, Craig Waibel (Brian Mullan 60), Eddie Robinson, Bobby Boswell, Andrew Hainault, Danny Cruz (Dominic Oduro 60), Brad Davis (Richard Mulrooney 67), Lovel Palmer, Corey Ashe, Brian Ching, Cam Weaver. Substitutes Not Used: Ryan Cochrane, Joseph Ngwenya, Francisco Navas Cobo, Tally Hall.
Los Angeles Galaxy -- Donovan Ricketts, Sean Franklin, Omar Gonzalez, Gregg Berhalter (A.J. DeLaGarza 78), Todd Dunivant, Michael Stephens, Chris Birchall, Juninho (Chris Klein 61), Alex Cazumba, Jovan Kirovski (Clint Mathis 70), Tristan Bowen. Substitutes Not Used: Alan Gordon, Bryan Jordan, Eddie Lewis, Josh Saunders.
Referee: Paul Ward
Referee's Assistants: Sean Hurd; Eric Boria
4th Official: Alejandro Mariscal
Time of Game: 1:51
Weather: Clear, 71 degrees
Attendance: 20,826
