MLS Playoffs: Galaxy Win One For The Ages

CARSON, Calif. -- A spot in the Western Conference final was up for grabs when the Los Angeles Galaxy lined up against Chivas USA on Sunday at Home Depot Center, but in reality there was more to the game than just that.

Potential all-time bragging rights were on the line, and Landon Donovan ensured that his team would be the ones left gloating.

Donovan converted a penalty kick midway through the second half and the Galaxy beat Chivas USA 1-0 to claim their aggregate-goals series by a 3-2 score. The win put the Galaxy into the Western Conference final, scheduled for Friday against Houston at 8 p.m. local time.

But it also ensured the Galaxy’s dominance over Chivas USA would live on.

"There may never be another opportunity to play them in the playoffs and you have to think of the historic value of it too," Donovan said. "It’s similar to when we beat Mexico in the World Cup – that might never happen again. So you want to take advantage of these opportunities. Obviously you are living in the moment but when you think about it from a historical perspective it’s huge."

For Chivas USA, it was the same tired tale. The Goats lost to the Galaxy – again – and lost in the first round of the playoffs – again. This is now the fourth consecutive season that Chivas USA crashed out in the conference semifinals as the club is still searching for its elusive big-game victory.

To lose to the Galaxy adds quite bit of salt to the wound.

"It’s disappointing to lose but to lose to the Galaxy makes it a little worse," striker Justin Braun said. "Now we have to sit around here all next year and know they beat us and now we have to wait that whole next year to have a chance to play them again. The team’s a little down right now."

The Galaxy had a 10-3-5 regular-season record against Chivas USA entering the postseason and had won four of the five season series against their Home Depot Center brethren. Add to that the 2005 U.S. Open Cup win and now the playoff series triumph and the club is truly and unquestionably the superior team in Southern California.

But for Galaxy manager Bruce Arena, what was most important was the ability to deliver a win to the team’s supporters. The Galaxy played in front of a pro-Galaxy crowd, as opposed to last week’s pro-Chivas crowd that saw a 2-2 draw.

"They were a Galaxy crowd tonight. This was a real home-field advantage as odd as it is. We both debated over the last two weeks, who has the home-field advantage and who doesn’t but I think [Sunday] the Galaxy supporters were there," Arena said. "It was a real crowd, a capacity crowd and they made a difference. It was a great night for our players, our supporters and our organization. We worked real hard to try and get this thing right."

Galaxy midfielder David Beckham was taken out of the game shortly after the goal with back spasms. Beckham, though, said he was not very concerned about his pain.

"It’s sore. I got a knee in my back and went into spasms and also twisted my ankle. I’m sure it will be fine," Beckham said. "We’ll see how it is tomorrow but an injection, a cold bath, have a sleep tonight and maybe a glass of wine to maybe numb the pain."

The Galaxy got their goal via the penalty spot after referee Ricardo Salazar ruled that Chivas’ Yamith Cuesta had fouled Mike Magee in the penalty area. Donovan then easily converted the penalty kick for the decisive goal in the series.

For Chivas USA’s Jonathan Bornstein, losing that way made the loss even tougher to accept.

"You lose on a penalty kick like that, it’s always tough to lose but in those circumstances… it’s tough to have your season be over with a penalty kick," he said. "Is it a PK? Is it not? It’s tough to say but it’s a late call when he already fell down. It looked like it was a delayed reaction."

Teammate Carey Talley was also upset about the call.

"I feel a little cheated to be honest but that’s the way things have gone when we play them," Talley said. "One call changes everything and I think it could have been left alone."

Luis Bueno, Goal.com

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