Donovan lifts LA to conference final

Los Angeles tops rivals Chivas USA, wins series on aggregate

Landon's Donovan's penalty kick in the 73rd minute was the difference as the Galaxy defeated Chivas 1-0 on Sunday in the second game of their Western Conference Semifinal Series. The Galaxy, who advanced on 3-2 aggregate, will play the Houston Dynamo, who defeated the Seattle Sounders FC 1-0 in the other semifinal earlier Sunday, on Friday at The Home Depot Center. The winner advances to the MLS Cup Final on Nov. 22 in Seattle.

Donovan scored the game-winner after Yamith Cuesta collided with Mike Magee deep in the penalty area in the 70th minute. Referee Ricardo Salazar called the penalty and Donovan calmly sent the ball down the center of the goal past Chivas USA's goalkeeper Zach Thornton for the goal.

It his 16th postseason goal, which tied Donovan for most playoff goals in MLS history with former Galaxy teammate Carlos Ruiz.

Sunday's victory gave the Galaxy victories in the last eight meetings overall with Chivas and improved the Galaxy's playoff unbeaten streak to six games, dating back to their last appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2005 -- when they went on to win the championship.

The loss marked Chivas USA's third consecutive season in which they were knocked out of the postseason in the first round.

There were no quick strikes as in last week's series opener, when Chivas USA's Maicon Santos scored just four minutes into the match, but that doesn't mean there weren't quality chances.

There were a number of them, with the Galaxy having the majority.

It took just two minutes, in fact, before the Galaxy mounted their first threat after a combination between Edson Buddle and Chris Klein -- starting in the place of ailing Chris Birchall at midfield -- gave Buddle a chance from about 15 yards. His header, however, easily was saved by Thornton, although he did momentarily bobble the ball.

It was only four minutes later when the Galaxy pressured again. This time it was Buddle and Donovan getting into the mix, and Donovan let loose with a 12-yarder that barely went wide of the net.

The Galaxy kept up the attack in the 14th minute, when Todd Dunivant's centering pass to Buddle was punched out of trouble by Thornton, and Chivas finally had their first threat two minutes later, compliments of a poor clearing effort by Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez. His attempt led to a header by Santos, but the effort missed the net.

Chivas USA was at it again six minutes later after a poor back pass by Donovan. Jesus Padilla took possession and headed deep into the penalty area, but his shot from a sharp angle was saved by Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.

Then it was the Galaxy's turn to threaten in the 26th minute, when Beckham sent a cross into the penalty area to Buddle, who collided with Chivas' Carey Talley. Buddle got the ball, but his shot missed the mark.

Chivas had perhaps their best chance of the opening half in the 32nd minute when Justin Braun let fly with a left-footed 25-yarder that appeared to be going just wide of the net but Ricketts, taking no chances, dove to his left to bat the ball away.

Beckham had his own good scoring chance just two minutes later when, after taking short pass from Dema Kovalenko, took aim with blast from just to the top of the penalty area that missed the crossbar by inches.

Klein barely missed himself in the 35th minute when he took a pass from Donovan, collected the ball at his feet and tried to chip the ball over Thornton with his right foot. His attempt forced the Chivas goalkeeeper to make a leaping save.

The Galaxy finished with a slight edge in first-half shots (8-6), but the teams were tied for attempts on goal (2-2).

As the second half wore on the Galaxy continued to have the advantage. In the 67th minute, a nice passing sequence was concluded when Donovan laid the ball back for Klein at the top of the area, and his first-time shot again brought out a leaping save by Thornton to his left.

Then in the 70th minute, Beckham hit a remarkable pass from the midfield stripe that swerved directly into Donovan's path at the left side of the penalty area. Donovan looped a cross to the back post for Magee, and as he tried to cut back and go in alone on Thornton, Chivas defender Yamith Cuesta caught Magee with a flying leg and brought him down. Donovan's conversion meant Bruce Arena would be a winner in an MLS Cup Playoffs game for the first time since winning the Eastern Conference Final in 1998 with D.C. United.

Larry Morgan is a contributor to MLSnet.com.

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