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Buddle enables Galaxy to rout FC Dallas

May 18, 2008 - 10:59 PM By Ken Costlow PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

FRISCO, Texas (Ticker) - The only thing hotter than the temperature at Pizza Hut Park were the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The Galaxy scored four goals - including two by Edson Buddle - within a 15-minute span midway through the first half en route to a 5-1 victory over FC Dallas on Sunday.

Buddle went on to complete a hat trick five minutes from the end on a header at the left goalpost off a cross from David Beckham.

"I just had to stay in motion and the ball would find (me)," Buddle said. "That's the way we've been doing it in training, finding me where I need the ball."

The win moved the Galaxy (3-3-2) into sole possession of second place in the MLS Western Division standings. FC Dallas (2-3-3) dropped to fourth place in the division with the loss, their worst ever at Pizza Hut Park.

It also was the Galaxy's first road win in the series.

The game was reminiscent of a one-goal Galaxy win over FC Dallas last year during SuperLiga competition, which saw Los Angeles jumped out to an impressive 4-0 lead.

Chris Klein, starting his MLS record-tying 93rd consecutive match, opened the fireworks in the 25th minute by taking a short pass from Brandon McDonald on the right side and hitting a short volley past FC Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala.

Six minutes later, Buddle got his first goal of the match on a right-footed shot from 19 yards in front that dropped into the left corner of the goal.

On the Galaxy's next attack, Landon Donovan chipped a short shot from the left side that grazed defender Duilio Davino and went in for an own goal that made the score 3-0.

Buddle secured his second goal in the 39th minute on a dink shot at the right post off a short set up by Alvaro Pires, whose pass came off a corner kick from Donovan for the left side.

"I think our team played excellent today and our game plan worked to perfection," Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit said. "Putting key people in the right position seemed to make it hard for (FC Dallas) to play their game. We could play our game. The first half was excellent. It was important to have Alvaro (Pires) back."

Dallas tallied nine minutes into the second half as halftime substitution Dominuc Oduro drilled in a header from seven yards in front off a cross from Kenny Cooper.

The goal was the first of the season for Oduro, who has played most from off the bench. It was also Cooper's first assist of the year.

Cooper had three chances at goals in the first half, but hit the side netting on one and had a 45-yard volley tipped over by Galaxy netminder Steve Cronin on another attempt.

"This was obviously not the result we wanted," Cooper said. "We just have to stay positive and move on. We've got another game coming up against Salt Lake. They beat us out there, so maybe we can put things right."

Tempers flared in the last 15 minutes when FC defender Adrian Serioux was sent off with a red card after a dangerous tackle from behind on Beckham in front of Dallas' bench.

Beckham and FC's Arturo Alvarez were also issued yellow cards as a brief skirmish between the two sides ensued.

It was the first red card of Serioux's career.

"I think it was a bad tackle, personally," Beckham said. "Sometimes, you make tackles that you get away with, and, sometimes, you make tackles that make the referee give you what he thinks you deserve. That's soccer. There are bad tackles in soccer, ones that we don't want. But at the end of the day, you have to get up and get on with the game."