Galaxy-Chivas USA Postgame
Galaxy 1 Chivas USA 0
The Houston Dynamo are up next at 8 p.m. Friday in the Western Conference Championship. (live ESPN2).
Notable: This will be the first ever postseason meeting between the Galaxy and Dynamo (the former Earthquakes, of course), which advanced to the Conference Championship today with a 1-0 aggregate goal series win over the Seattle Sounders. The Galaxy beat the Dynamo 1-0 June 28 at the HDC and played to a scoreless draw against them Oct. 18 in Houston.
Quotable:
"I don't screw them, y'know (smiles wryly)," said Dema Kovalenko after being asked what his post-whistle gesture that sparked the melee meant. "It's good to win, y'know. I love winning. I'm very competitive. I don't care. Sometimes I don't think straight when I'm on the field, y'know. But it feels good because we're still playing and there's only four teams left and everybody else home. Nothing to take away from Chivas because they're a good team, have good players, but we're better. That's why we are here, y'know?"
Yeah, Dema, we know.
AP Photo
Here's David Beckham on the effort:
"We defended great tonight, y'know, because after the last game we had to work on a few things. And I thought our back four tonight was exceptional. And when we defend like that there's always a chance we're going to win."
Here's Beckham on his knocks that prompted his substitution:
"It's sore. I got a knee in the back. And I went into (back) spams. Also I twisted my ankle. It will be fine. I'm sure it will be fine, we'll see how it is tomorrow. I've had an injection and a cold bath and I'll have a sleep tonight and maybe a glass of wine to numb the pain."
Here's Beckham on his pass that provoked the PK:
"I've played longer ones before. It's what I do. If I see a pass, maybe I can play it. Maybe that's what caused my back to go into spasms I'm not so sure, but it was worth it anyway."
Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan just tweeted: "bummed we lost...some things are just ridiculous."
Landon Donovan scores from the penalty kick. 
AP Photo
For columnist Jill Painter's view on Donovan's performance, click here.
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
YAAAYYYYY!!! I'm still pumped up with the win!
Poor Becks! Hope to see you this Friday! Great game and great ball from you as always. I hope your injury is nothing serious and that you'll be on field again by today!
Good luck Galaxy! I know you can win! You have the strength, now you just need to improve a bit on your game intelligent and then you'll win it for sure!