Los Angeles Galaxy's Gregg Berhalter reacts to a call during the first half of their MLS Western Conference Championship soccer match against the Houston Dynamo, Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)
Gee, that didn't look so good for MLS, now did it?
Two lighting failures marred last night's Western Conference Final between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Houston Dynamo. Then the 0:0 stalemate went to overtime. Finally blood was drawn in the extra session: In the 103rd minute, the Galaxy won a free kick when Ricardo Clark fouled Gordon some 35 yards out. Beckham lined up the restart that eventually found its way into the back of the goal. It was an unlikely source who picked up the goal as Berhalter finally broke the Dynamo's scoreless streak.
Beckham swung the free kick to the front of the goal and Omar Gonzalez got a head on it. The ball deflected off Houston's Eddie Robinson and fell to an open spot in the box. Berhalter raced onto the ball and buried it into the back of the net.
After the teams changed ends, Gordon won a penalty kick when he was taken down by Clark after a dribbling run into the Dynamo area. Donovan stepped to the spot and rifled the spot kick into the back of the net for the insurance goal, his third of the postseason and 17th playoff goal of his career.
The Galaxy will play in Seattle at Qwest Field against either Real Salt Lake or Chicago Fire on November 22 at 5:30 PM in MLS Cup 2009. The Fire host RSL today at 5:00 PM.
Houston Dynamo (1-1-1) vs. Los Angeles Galaxy (2-0-1)
November 13, 2009 -- The Home Depot Center
Scoring Summary:
LA -- Gregg Berhalter 1 (unassisted) 103
LA -- Landon Donovan 3 (penalty kick) 109
Houston Dynamo -- Pat Onstad, Andrew Hainault, Bobby Boswell, Geoff Cameron, Wade Barrett, Brian Mullan (Corey Ashe 82), Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden, Brad Davis (Eddie Robinson 96), Brian Ching, Dominic Oduro (Luis Angel Landin 72),
Substitutes Not Used: Ryan Cochrane, Tally Hall, Craig Waibel, Cam Weaver
Los Angeles Galaxy -- Donovan Ricketts, Sean Franklin, Gregg Berhalter, Omar Gonzalez, A.J. DeLaGarza, Chris Klein (Jovan Kirovski 63), David Beckham, Dema Kovalenko, Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle (Alan Gordon 96), Mike Magee (Eddie Lewis 11),
Substitutes Not Used: Chris Birchall, Bryan Jordan, Yohance Marshall, Josh Saunders
| Los Angeles Galaxy | Houston Dynamo | |||
| total shots: | 16 | (Mike Magee 5) | 14 | (Brad Davis 4) |
| shots on goal: | 6 | (Landon Donovan 2) | 5 | (Brad Davis 2) |
| fouls: | 21 | (David Beckham 5) | 20 | (3 tied with 4) |
| offsides: | 0 | 7 | (Dominic Oduro 5) | |
| corner kicks: | 4 | (David Beckham 4) | 9 | (Brad Davis 6) |
| saves: | 5 | (Donovan Ricketts 5) | 4 | (Pat Onstad 4) |
Misconduct Summary:
HOU -- Brian Mullan (caution; Reckless Tackle) 26
LA -- Dema Kovalenko (caution; Reckless Tackle) 77
LA -- Landon Donovan (caution; Reckless Tackle) 89
HOU -- Bobby Boswell (caution; Reckless Foul) 111
HOU -- Luis Angel Landin (caution; Reckless Foul) 119
referee: Terry Vaughn
Referee's Assistants: Thomas Supple; Darren Clark
4th official: Paul Ward
time of game: 3:04
attendance: 25,373
weather: Clear -and- 62 degrees
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
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