3:0 Los Angeles MetroStars Ruiz 3 08.31.02 · League

Carlos Ruiz scored a hat trick and Mamadou Diallo was carried off the field late in the first half as the Metros lost to LA, 3:0. The loss leaves the Metros in the 8th playoff slot, just three points up on New England with a game in hand, and just 6 points up on DC. Since ESPN has decided it's more important to show college football and SportsCenter than live MLS matches, and MetroFanatic staff has no intention of watching a 3:0 debacle on 1 AM tape delay, we present extracts from MetroStars.com game tracker:

3:00 - Carlos Ruiz knocks home the goal past Tim Howard. Ruiz began the play by sending the ball wide right to Elliott. He then sent a roller across the box, until it found Ruiz again for the goal. Victorine could have attempted a shot with the roller, but he fell in a tangle with a Metro defender that enabled the ball to roll to an open Ruiz.

23:00 - Cobi Jones sent a high, spinning cross outside the penalty arc into the box. Victorine managed to get a piece of the ball in an aerial battle to head it behind him to Ruiz for the shot and goal. Galaxy up 2-0.

39:00 - Diallo is being taken to the hospital with an apparent ankle injury.

62:00 - Ziadie is red carded for a hard foul on Jones. Several Galaxy players get in Ziadie's face and causes players to begin pushing and shoving each other. Initially, Ziadie did receive a yellow, but the got a red after the referee consulted with his linesmen. MetroStars bench livid.

80:00 - Mamadou Diallo's x-rays shows a bruised left ankle and nothing more.

83:00 - Ruiz gets his third for the hat-trick. Jones, who has been all over the field tonight, sends a cross into the box that Ruiz powers with a header past Howard.

Lineup: Howard, Akwari, Petke, Jolley, Ziadie, Moore, Paule, Williams, Mathis, Faria, Diallo. Subs: Davis, Lisi.