Western Conference Semifinal: New York at Galaxy from Home Depot Center

Galaxy 3 New York Red Bulls 1 (on aggregate)

Staff Writer Phil Collin has the game story.

Highlights:

Quotable: Mike Magee said that last year the Galaxy took it for granted they would win an MLS Cup after unexpectedly facing Real Salt Lake in the 2009 MLS Cup game, but this year is different:

"It's not time to celebrate just yet. ... We were talking about (championship) rings (last year)," he said. "We thought it was going to be handed to us and we got something else handed to us."

Can RSL beat the Galaxy? Read this.

Excerpts from the post-game press conference:

"He's involved in almost every build-up," NYRB Coach Hans Backe said of the loss of Teemu Taino, calling his hamstring injury early in the game a massive blow the Red Bulls could not overcome.

Main difference between the teams, he said: LA has been together longer.

*"The first 10 or 15 minutes of the game we didn't do a good job of recognizing their presence on the field," said Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena at the post-game news conference, adding that Chris Birchall started slow, but came to grips with the game as it wore on.

"That goal was big," Arena said of Mike Magee's goal. "I thought he started the game slow ... but he's obviously scoring some important goals and some timely goals."

Miller Mugging: Roy Miller introduces his boot to David Beckham and concedes the spot kick Landon Donovan converted for the second Galaxy goal (Photo: Getty Images).

"His effort was great tonight," Arena said of Beckham. "He's a player with an unbelievable desire to win and compete. ... David was an inspiration to our team tonight."

Arena also noted that MLS clubs are not ready for the CONCACAF Champions League because the rosters are not deep enough to deal with the level of play and the travel.

******************************

Now that was a playoff game - and it's over.

The Galaxy hosts Real Salt Lake at 6 p.m. Sunday in the Western Conference Championship with a spot against either the Houston Dynamo or Sporting Kansas City in MLS Cup on the line.

The game will be on ESPN, although plenty of tickets are available and the capacity will be back up to 27,000.

More later.

*************************

Three minutes of stoppage time added.

******************

The capacity 20,000 in attendance have risen to salute Robbie Keane, replaced in the 89th minute by Paolo Cardozo.

*******************

Adam Cristman is in for Chad Barrett in the 81st minute and Jan Gunnar Solli's name has gone in the ref's book.

********************

Michael Stephens has come in for a tiring David Beckham in the 79th minute to kill the game off. A huge round of applause for Beckham.

*********************

A Landon Donovan pemalty kick awarded after Roy Miller brought down Beckham from behind has given the Galaxy a two-goal cushion with 75 minutes gone.

It was a nasty little challenge too, but Beckham wisely hit the deck and drew the PK.

**********************

With 20 minutes to go, Beckham is dropping ever deeper - he's practically a member of the back line - and is no longer running as the Galaxy try to maintain possession.

************************

NYRB's Juan Agudelo has come in for Dax McCarty in the 64th minute as the visitors search for the tying goal.

************************

Thierry Henry, who fouled Beckham from behind earlier in the half, has gone in the ref's book in the 62nd minute for a challenge on Omar Gonzalez.

******************************

There's an hour gone and the action is so fast and furious I don't have time to blog.

In the last few minutes Luke Rodgers (who is getting booed everytime he touches the ball) almost outpaced Omar Gonzalez again as he did in the first half and nearly scored again, while Landon Donovan of all pople needed a crucial touch in front of goal to halt a NYRB breakaway.

**********************

The second half is under way; possession in the first half was 50:50.

**************************

We're at the half in this one.

The Galaxy gradually asserted control of the game as the half wore on. But Robbie Keane, who pledged he would be sharper tonight, has missed several goal scoring opportunities, most notably a 42nd minute inch-perfect pass from Mike Magee that found the Irishman alone on the penalty spot; he couldn't get a shot off though.

There's also a nasty undercurrent to the game as one might expect after the events in the wake of the final whistle Sunday.

Landon Donovan was booked for a late challenge on goalkeeper Frank Rost in first half stoppage time and there have been a few other hard challenges, too.

NYRB striker Luke Rodgers in particular has not endeared himself to the home crowd, almost taking a spectator's head off with an unnecessary crack of the ball with his instantly visible fluorescent lime-green cleats and clipping Magee's ankle on a challenge earlier in the half. Rodgers picked up a yellow in the fifth minute.

In case you were wondering Magee has nine goals on the season in all competitions and, of course, has successive goals this postseason from Beckham-created passes.

Key stat: The Galaxy outshot NYRB 9-3.

I'm not sure whether the Galaxy have missed Juninho much so far. In fact, his replacement, Chris Birchall, smacked a shot goalward in the 38th minute from all of 40 yards out. NYRB goalkeeper Frank Rost bobbled the ball and Keane could not finish off the chance. Keane has been credited with four shots.

***************************

The Galaxy have reclaimed the lead in the 42nd minute, Mike magee enhancing his ever-growing cult-like status with a header from seven yards out off a David Beckham corner. He was completely open and it appeared Dane Richards just let him go.

****************************

David Beckham, who was questionable tonight with back spasms, required treatment shortly after the half hour mark after apparently hurting his back when he went up for a header with Dane Richards; he's back on the field now.

BTW: Houston beat the Philadelphia 1-0 tonight in the earlier game and 3-1 on aggregate; they play against Sporting in Kansas City Sunday with a spot in MLS Cup at stake.

****************
The wifi is spotty tonight.

New York equalized at the 3:25 mark exactly, Luke Rodgers getting on the end of a Thierry Henry through ball. The Englishman outpaced Omar Gonzalez and slid the ball home.

David Beckham almost replied in the ninth minute; his shot whizzed past the post.

New York's Teemu Taino (right hamstring tightness) was replaced by Stephane Auvay in the 16th minute.

********************************

The forecast cold front has yet to move into the South Bay here in Carson.

Real Salt Lake awaits the winner of this series that the Galaxy lead from a Mike Magee goal in the 15th minute of last Sunday's game.

If the score is tied at the end of regulation, we'll have 30 minutes of OT, followed by PK's if the score is still tied.

The Galaxy are forced to make just one change due to the red card suspension of Juninho, with Chris Birchall moving into the midfield.

Galaxy XI (4-4-2): Josh Saunders; Sean Franklin, Omar Gonzalez, A.J. DeLaGarza, Todd Dunivant- David Beckham, Chris Birchall, Landon Donovan, Mike Magee-Chad Barrett, Robbie Keane

New York makes two changes from the first leg, with Jan Gunnar Solli returning to the lineup after suspension in place of Carlos Mendes and Dax McCarty replacing the newly-suspended Rafa Marquez, who is done for the year after MLS extended his suspension earlier today.

New York will play in their road blue jerseys with gold shorts.

NYRB XI (4-4-2): Frank Rost, Jan Gunnar Solli, Stephen Keel, Tim Ream, Roy Miller-Dane Richards, Teemu Tainio, Dax McCarty, Joel Lindpere-Luke Rodgers, Thierry Henry

The game is live on ESPN2 at 8 p.m.

Refresh this post for updates throughout the game or as long as the HDC wifi holds out.