Galaxy close in on title

Beckham inspires Galaxy to Western Conference final victory

Last updated: 14th November 2009  

Galaxy close in on title

All smiles: David Beckham and Landon Donovan celebrate after the club captain scored from the penalty spot.

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The Los Angeles Galaxy are within touching distance of their first MLS title since 2005 after a 2-0 extra-time victory over the Houston Dynamo on Friday.

The Western Conference final was halted twice for floodlight failure before David Beckham inspired the Galaxy to success, with Gregg Berhalter and Landon Donovan scoring the goals.

The Galaxy will now meet the winner of Saturday's Eastern Conference final between Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake City in next Sunday's MLS Cup final.

It is a major achievement for the side after a season which saw Beckham jeered by his own fans amid reports of dressing room unease.

But the England winger, who will join AC Milan on loan in January, believes that period helped the team gel.

"There is nothing wrong with a bit of controversy in a club - it brings players together and it did that," he told ESPN.

So important

"Its so important for us to do well, we have had so many disappointments over the past four years ... we have a great bunch of guys who work hard for each other."

As well as praising his team-mates, Beckham also hailed Tim Leiweke, president and chief executive of Galaxy owners AEG, for putting the MLS team within reach of their first title since 2005.

"It's so important for us to do well, we've had so many disappointments over the last four years and Tim Leiweke and everybody have put so much behind this team, this club and this franchise and the players are doing them proud," Beckham said.

"We've got a great bunch of guys that are working hard for each other and it's been tough, so we're happy."

After the game ended goalless in regulation time, the Galaxy went in front in the 13th minute of extra time when Beckham floated a free-kick into the box, Omar Gonzalez headed the ball down and defender Berhalter slid the ball home.

The Galaxy then wrapped up the win when Houston midfielder Ricardo Clark brought down Alan Gordon and Donovan confidently converted the penalty in the second period of extra time.

Floodlight problems

The floodlights had earlier gone out in the 18th minute, causing a break of almost 20 minutes, and the same happened again six minutes after the interval with stadium officials blaming the local grid for the failure.

Opening goalscorer Berhalter admitted the delays had made staying focused difficult.

"It wasn't easy. It was a choppy game with the lights going out and it was hard to get warm again and you just have to stay concentrated.

"I think both teams did that but we got the breaks."

Club captain and second goalscorer Donovan said his team would be watching Saturday's Eastern Conference final between Chicago and Real Salt Lake with keen interest to learn which side the Galaxy would meet next Sunday.

"It will be interesting, we'll watch the game and see what happens. They're two teams we obviously know well having played them a lot but either way we're happy to be there and we think we can win."