Edson Buddle scored twice and Donovan Ricketts had his third straight shutout to start the season as the Los Angeles Galaxy beat the Houston Dynamo 2-0 on Saturday night in a rematch of last year's Western Conference final.
Buddle, who has scored all five of the Galaxy's goals this season, gave Los Angeles a 1-0 lead in the 27th minute on an unassisted goal from the left side. Houston's Mike Chabala and Eddie Robinson got tangled up trying to handle a cleared ball, and Buddle took advantage, taking it in from 35 yards out and striking a line drive along the end line off the far post and in.
Buddle upped the lead to 2-0 in the 45th minute after getting a pass from Sean Franklin on the right and sending a bullet from left of the middle box into an empty left net. Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad, who kicked the far post in frustration after the goal, blocked Mike Magee's initial shot and was trying to stop Franklin's cross, which left the left net open.
Already without forward Brian Ching, who will miss four to six weeks with a left hamstring strain, Houston played a man down starting in the 43rd minute.
Striker Luis Landin was red carded after throwing an elbow at Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez's back and tripping him from behind as the two went after a loose ball in the corner.
Houston missed Ching with no shots on goal and only five shots total compared to 12 shots from L.A., with four on goal.
