CARSON, Calif. – Facing a difficult situation against a challenging team, the LA Galaxy responded and closed out the season with a 2-1 victory over FC Dallas to claim the Supporters' Shield in the final game of the regular season.
The win pushed the Galaxy to 59 points, three clear of Real Salt Lake and alone atop the league standings for the third time in league history and their first since 2002.
HIGHLIGHTS: LA vs Dallas
About the only negative for the hosts on Sunday night was Edson Buddle's missing out on winning the Golden Boot. San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski scored a goal Saturday to push his total to 18 and finished one ahead of Buddle, who had led the league in goals since the start of the season.
The Galaxy fell behind early after defender Sean Franklin turned the ball over deep in the Galaxy’s third. Dallas' Eric Alexander pounced on the ball and swung a cross towards the right post that Atiba Harris slammed a header into the back of the net.
But the Galaxy battled back and leveled terms just 11 minutes later. Landon Donovan raced Jackson Gonçalves to a loose ball near FC Dallas’ end line and appeared to have shoved the defender in the back with both hands. No call was made and Donovan entered the penalty area unguarded to then passed the ball to David Beckham, who powered a 22-yard shot into the back of the net.
The Galaxy, who had failed to pick up a come-from-behind victory until September, took the lead about one minute into the second half. Juninho slammed a ball from the top of the penalty area between the legs of a defender and past goalkeeper Dario Sala, who couldn't keep out the eventual winner.
Dallas were unable to get back into the match as the Galaxy’s defense held firm.
With one minute remaining in the game, Galaxy coach Bruce Arena turned to his bench for the second and third time. Arena took out Beckham and Buddle in favor of Chris Klein and Eddie Lewis, who played their final regular-season games as each player is retiring after the season.
The Galaxy will now face Seattle in the first round of the playoffs while FC Dallas will play Real Salt Lake.
Scoring Summary:
FCD – Atiba Harris 4 (Eric Alexander 3) 24’
LA – David Beckham 2 (Landon Donovan 16) 33’
LA – Juninho 2 (Unassisted) 46’
Misconduct Summary:
FCD – Atiba Harris (Yellow Card) 45’
LA – Landon Donovan (Yellow Card) 58’
Lineups:
LA
Galaxy: Donovan Ricketts; Sean Franklin, A.J. DeLaGarza, Omar Gonzalez,
Todd Dunivant; Juninho, Dema Kovalenko, Juninho, David Beckham (Chris
Klein 89’), Landon Donovan©; Mike Magee (Jovan Kirovski 84’), Edson
Buddle (Eddie Lewis 90’).
Subs Not Used: Josh Saunders, Leonardo, Alex Cazumba, Tristan Bowen.
FC
Dallas: Dario Sala; Jackson (Ugo Ihemelu 75’), Zach Loyd, George John,
Jair Benitez; Atiba Harris, Dax McCarty, Eric Alexander (Eric Avila
60’), Marvin Chavez; David Ferreira©, Jeff Cunningham (Brek Shea 67’).
Subs Not Used: Kevin Hartman, Daniel Hernandez, Bruno Guarda, Milton Rodriguez.
