The Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the Houston Dynamo on Friday, outlasting them in a marathon game with two extra periods to make it to the Major League Soccer Cup championship in Seattle. The game included two unusual stoppages during the game, one in each half, when the lights just suddenly went out. The Home Depot Center said the outages were caused by two significant power dips in the Southern California Edison industrial grid which in turn caused the stadium lights to reset. Each stoppage lasted 18 minutes.
Houston Dynamo almost scored twice during regulation. Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts made an awesome save, reacting with lightning speed to a close-range header from Dynamo forward Brian Ching, tipping the ball up over the crossbar. Then, Houston's Andrew Hainaultut headed in ensuing corner kick into the net, but the goal was disallowed by referee Terry Vaughn who called a foul on Houston's Luis Angel Landin against the Galaxy's A.J. DeLaGarza.
The teams continued to duel to a scoreless tie at the end of regulation.
The Galaxy finally scored in the 103rd minute after David Beckham sent a free kick into the penalty area. Galaxy teammate Omar Gonzalez got a head on it and the ball bounced off defender Eddie Robinson and landed right in front of the Galaxy's Gregg Berhalter. The former U.S. national team defender drove in an easy shot, his first goal for the Galaxy in 28 games.
Landon Donovan scored the second goal on a penalty kick in the 109th minute. The penalty kick was awarded after Houston defender Ricardo Clark tripped up Alan Gordon. It was Donovan's 17th in postseason play, a new league record for playoff goals.
- Click on the "VIEW SLIDESHOW" link below for action photos from the game.
The Galaxy continues their remarkable turn around season. They tied for the league's worst record in 2008 and started this season with 11 ties in their first 13 games before getting in gear and finishing strong. Their defense is much improved this year and they are a more balanced team. The Galaxy gave up only 31 goals in 2009 after allowing 62 in 2008. They shut out seven of their last nine opponents in the regular season to earn the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
The Galaxy advance to the MLS Cup 2009 in Seattle on Sunday, Nov. 22. They will face the winner of tonight's Eastern Conference championship between the Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake. The Galaxy last won an MLS championship in 2005.
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