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Former police officer earns fastest red card in MLS history

The LA Galaxy beat the Colorado Rapids 6-0 Friday night thanks, in part, to Rapids goalkeeper Joe Nasco getting sent off just 34 seconds into the match. Nasco wrapped up the legs of Galaxy forward Alan Gordon to try and prevent him from finishing a Todd Dunivant cross right in front of his goal and the referee responded by making Nasco, a former police officer who just made his MLS debut six days earlier at the age of 30, an MLS record setter.

You can see the incident about 53 second into the video below...

Landon Donovan scored the first of LA's six goals with the ensuing penalty and scored with another spot kick in the 47th minute. Baggio Husidic and Gyasi Zardes also had braces to round out the scoring for Los Angeles.

Nasco claims the record for fastest MLS red card from New York Red Bulls defender Carlos Johnson, who was sent off in the second minute of a match against Kansas City in 2009. As far as on the job mistakes go, Nasco has experienced worse, though.

From USA Today:

"I ended up wrecking a patrol car chasing a motorcycle," Nasco said, laughing. "Nothing in my mind said I couldn't do it. I just went. I almost had him -- until I hit a bench."

Getting sent off 34 seconds into an MLS match is definitely better than ramming a patrol car into a bench.

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Brooks Peck

is the editor of Dirty Tackle on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him or follow on Twitter!