EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – Clint Mathis had a goal and an assist to lead the New York-New Jersey MetroStars to a 2-0 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night.

The MetroStars (5-1-1) won their fourth straight victory and snapped the Galaxy's four-game unbeaten streak.

Mathis, the league's leading scorer, has seven goals and four assists.

"He's perhaps the best player in the United States right now and playing with Tab Ramos has been mutually beneficial for both of them," Galaxy defender Paul Caliguri said of Mathis.

"We didn't deserve to win. They were very motivated, and we certainly didn't play our best."

After Galaxy defender Danny Pena fouled Petter Villegas, Mathis' free kick from 25 yards dropped to the feet of Villegas, who knocked the ball past Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman in the 53rd minute.

Eight minutes later, MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard made a diving save on a glancing header by Sasha Victorine.

Mathis made it 2-0 in the 77th minute when he ran onto a pass from Pedro Alvarez and scored just inside the far post.

"We were looking for one good run from him," MetroStars coach Octavio Zambrano said. "And he got it late in the second half and made the most of it."

The MetroStars outshot the Galaxy 8-2.

Howard finished with five saves in his first shutout of the season.