Galaxy silences Sounders’ rally, reaches MLS Cup

L. A. will play host to Houston in 2011 final rematch

Eddie Johnson and Zach Scott scored to give host Seattle a 2- 0 lead, but Robbie Keane was awarded and converted a penalty kick in the 68th minute Sunday that clinched the Los Angeles Galaxy’s 4- 2 aggregate win and a spot in the MLS Cup final for the second straight year.

The Sounders tried to come back from a 3- 0 deficit after getting routed in the first leg of the Western Conference finals last week. Johnson’s early goal and Scott’s header in the 58th minute pulled Seattle within one on aggregate.

But referee Mark Geiger, who had been the subject of complaints from both sides, called Seattle defender Adam Johansson for a handball in the penalty box, and Keane converted his fifth goal of the playoffs before 44,575 fans.

The Galaxy was without midfielder Landon Donovan ( hamstring).

Los Angeles will host the final Dec. 1 against Houston, a rematch of last year’s final won by the Galaxy.

The Dynamo tied host D. C. United 1- 1 for a 4- 2 aggregate win in the Eastern Conference final. Boniek Garcia scored in the 33rd minute for Houston, and Branko Boskovic got a goal in the 83rd for D. C.

Houston, which won MLS Cup titles in 2006 and 2007, might be without midfielder Ricardo Clark for the final as he reinjured a groin.

Golf

Tommy Gainey birdied No. 18 for a 3- under 69 and a one- shot win in the Pebble Beach Invitational. Gainey, who won $ 60,00, finished at 11- under 277. Kirk Triplett ( 68) and William McGirt ( 69) tied for second. McGirt and Triplett, playing one group ahead of Gainey at Pebble Beach Golf Links, both missed birdie attempts on 18. Annika Sorenstam ( 69) finished at 1 over.

Na Yeon Choi closed with a 2- under 70 and won the season- ending LPGA Title holders by two shots over So Yeon Ryu ( 70) in Naples, Fla. Choi won the two biggest paychecks on tour this season — $ 585,000 from the U. S. Women’s Open and $ 500,000 from the Titleholders. She finished at 14under 274.

Miguel Angel Jimenez, at 48 years and 316 days, became the oldest European Tour winner by shooting a 5- under 65 to take his third Hong Kong Open title. He finished at 15- under 265, a shot ahead of Fredrik Andersson Hed ( 64). The tour also confirmed John Daly will face a fine for hurling his putter into the trees from the 11th green Friday.

Henrik Stenson held on to his three- shot overnight lead to win the European Tour’s South African Open in Johannesburg. He finished with a 1- under 71 for a 17- under 271. George Coetzee ( 71) placed second.

Adam Scott shot a 5- under 67 to win the Australian Masters in his native country. He had five birdies on the front nine and another on No. 18 for a 17- under 271 total in Melbourne. Ian Poulter ( 72) was second at 275.

Miscellany

The Czech Republic won the Davis Cup for the first time as an independent nation, beating defending champion Spain 3- 2 after Radek Stepanek upset Nicolas Almagro in the last reverse singles. Stepanek won 6- 4, 7- 6 ( 0), 3- 6, 6- 3, converting his second match point before 14,500 fans at O2 Arena in Prague. The Czechs’ only previous victory came in 1980 as Czechoslovakia, which split in 1993, with a team led by Ivan Lendl. David Ferrer kept alive Spain’s hopes of winning a fourth title in five years by beating Tomas Berdych 6- 2, 6- 3, 7- 5 in the first reverse singles.

The NHL and players association plan Monday to return to the bargaining table for the first time in eight days. Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said this new round of negotiations in New York was initiated by the union, just days after commissioner Gary Bettman suggested the sides take two weeks off .

Four- time overall World Cup champion Lindsey Vonn resumed training as she went through a series of slalom gates in Vail, Colo. She was hospitalized two days last week for an intestinal problem.