2:0 MetroStars Los Angeles Villegas Mathis 05.12.01 · League

In what was by far their easiest victory this year, the Metros took care of the Los Angeles Galaxy, beating their former nemesis 2:0 for their fourth victory in a row. Tim Howard earned his first shutout of the season and Clint Mathis scored in a fourth straight game to bring his league-leading total to seven.

A rejuvenated Petter Villegas opened the scoring for the Metros with his third goal of a season, after picking off a rebound from the woodwork of the Mathis free kick in the 53rd minute. Mathis got the second goal of the game in the 77th, taking a feed from Pedro Alvarez and blasting a shot past Kevin Hartman to put the game out of reach.

The Galaxy could not create anything offensively, putting forth a rather lifeless effort throughout the game. In the end, an easy victory which gives the Metros sole possession of first in the league. The only blemish came in the 84th minute when Villegas was ejected, ending his consecutive minute streak and forcing him to sit out the next game just when the once-maligned Petter was starting to tear it up.

Lineup: Howard, Perez, Petke, Jolley, Chung, Alvarez, Williams, Villegas, Ramos, Mathis, Comas. Subs: Semioli, Shak.