GALAXY RELIES ON FRESH FACES TO STAY UNBEATEN GALAXY 2, COLUMBUS 0.

Byline: Fred J. Robledo Staff Writer

CARSON - Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid doesn't read Internet message boards, but he's reminded enough about them to know that fans haven't been particularly fond of his team's midfield play.

Schmid spoke earlier this week about his midfield not finding 35-year-old playmaker Andreas Herzog enough, so what he did was change the entire cast around him, citing nagging injuries to sit two of his three starters.

Regulars Peter Vagenas (groin strain), Sasha Victorine (ankle sprain) and Arturo Torres (coaches' decision) were left on the sidelines Saturday when the Galaxy kicked off against the visiting Columbus Crew in front of 20,317 at the Home Depot Center.

Starting in place were three newcomers making their first first MLS starts - Ned Grabavoy, Joseph Ngwenya and Brazilian Marcelo Saragosa.

Ngwenya, the Galaxy's first-round draft choice, led the NCAA in scoring last season with Coastal Carolina, and it was his aggressiveness that started the Galaxy on its way to a 2-0 victory, which kept Los Angeles unbeaten (2-0-2, eight points) and on top of the Western Conference.

Incidentally, the last time the Galaxy started 2-0-2 was in 2002, when it went on to win the MLS Cup title.

``Hopefully it's a good omen,'' Schmid said. ``Hopefully you guys will get off my back a little bit and stop reading the message boards.''

Standing a yard outside the right penalty area, Ngwenya took on Crew defender Eric Denton, and was tripped up entering the penalty area in the 58th minute, setting up a penalty kick.

Carlos Ruiz, perhaps the best spot-kicker in the league, slotted it home in the 59th minute for a 1-0 lead.

Later, Galaxy defender Paul Broome worked some magic along the left side to free himself, turning Crew defender Eric Denton inside-out, and then delivering a beautiful swinging pass to the far side for Ruiz, who ran on and one-timed a right-footed shot threw the legs of Crew goalkeeper Jon Busch for his league-leading fifth strike in the 83rd minute.

``I got behind Duncan, and got a pretty good ball (to hit), and as you guys all know, we have a world-class finisher in Carlos, and he did the rest,'' said Broome.

Ruiz's second goal came after the Galaxy was fortunate in not allowing the equalizer in the 72nd minute, thanks in part to a bit of work by defender Ryan Suarez, who had just checked in for Danny Califf, who limped off with right MCL sprain.

The Crew's Jeff Cunningham was free and racing in from the right side, poking a shot past goalkeeper Kevin Hartman that was ready to cross the goal line. However, Suarez, racing toward the goal, flicked it upward just before it crossed, sending it gently off the crossbar, where Chris Albright was there to head it out of danger.

``Even though we had a good game in week one against New England, I thought tonight was our most complete performance,'' Schmid said. ``Tonight you saw us play with a midfielder tucked in a little bit more, and that allowed Andy to be a little bit higher, and as a result we created a number of chances in the first and second half, and got rewarded with two goals.''

Fred Robledo, [phone]

fred.robledo(at)sgvn.com