Galaxy and Dynamo to meet for MLS title
Robbie Keane stood next to the conference title trophy, politely smiled for the picture and let the confetti rain down.
Just as quick, Keane, David Beckham and the rest of the Los Angeles Galaxy were rushing off the stage at midfield and ready to get out of Seattle, thankful there is still one more game in their surprising season.
“Certainly, they were the better team tonight. There’s no question,” Keane said. “At the end of the day, we’re in the final, that’s all that matter.”
Eddie Johnson and Zach Scott scored to give Seattle a 2-0 lead, but Keane converted a penalty kick in the 68th minute Sunday night that clinched the Los Angeles Galaxy’s 4-2 aggregate victory over the Sounders in the Western Conference finals and a spot in the MLS Cup final for the second straight year.
Frantic and desperate, Seattle rallied from a 3-0 deficit after getting overwhelmed in the first leg of the Western Conference finals the previous Sunday.
And it was on the verge of completing the huge comeback after Johnson’s goal just 12 minutes in, and Scott’s header in the 58th minute cut Seattle’s deficit to one in the aggregate count.
Just when Los Angeles needed something, anything to stem the wave of momentum the Sounders were on trying to find a tying goal, Keane controlled the ball along the end line and was able to send a cross that caught Seattle defender Adam Johansson’s hand.
There was no hesitation from referee Mark Geiger, who was the subject of complaints all night from both sides, and he called a handball in the penalty box. Keane then converted his fifth goal of the playoffs and all but ended Seattle’s chances at a rally. Dynamo 1, D.C. United 1: Houston advanced to its second straight MLS Cup final and fourth in seven years since leaving San Jose, tying D.C. United 1-1 for a 4-2 aggregate win in the Eastern Conference finals.
Boniek Garcia scored in the 33rd minute for the Dynamo.
Branko Boskovic scored in the 83rd minute for D.C., which has not won the MLS Cup since 2004.
Houston, which won consecutive MLS Cup titles in 2006 and 2007, qualified for the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League. The Dynamo might miss Ricardo Clark for the MLS final — the midfielder reinjured a groin and left in the 66th minute.
European leagues:
Arda Turan scored on a volley in the 61st minute, giving Atletico Madrid a 1-0 win at Granada that kept it three points behind first-place Barcelona in the Spanish league.
Struggling Sunderland capitalized on Brede Hangeland’s 30th-minute ejection for a reckless tackle to beat Fulham 3-1, earning only its second Premier League win of the season.
Fiorentina thrust itself into the race for the Champions League places with a 4-1 win over Atalanta. Secondplace Inter Milan needed a late own goal to tie 2-2 with visiting Cagliari in the Italy’s Serie A.