Edson Buddle scored two goals to give the Los Angeles Galaxy a 2-1 victory over Real Salt Lake on Saturday night.
Buddle has seven goals in four games. The Galaxy (4-0-0) ended a six-game winless streak to Real Salt Lake (1-2-1) and is off to its best start since 1998.
Buddle broke a 1-1 tie in the 76th minute on a sailing 18-yard shot inside the left post.
Buddle's 7-yard header off Landon Donovan's corner kick put Los Angeles ahead 1-0 in the 12th minute. Kyle Beckerman tied the score with a 26-yard shot in the 41st minute.
Beckerman's goal was the first allowed by Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts this season after 310 consecutive scoreless minutes.
Real Salt Lake had two chances to tie in the 65th minute. But Robbie Findley's 18-yard line drive hit the right post and Alvaro Saborio's 5-yard header bounced off the crossbar.
The meeting was the first this season between the teams that played in MLS Cup 2009, which Real Salt Lake won on penalty kicks.
Galaxy defender Sean Franklin left the game in the 43rd minute with a sprained left heel.
Real Salt Lake played without three starters: leading scorer Javier Morales, Ned Grabavoy and Chris Wingert.
