Galaxy 2, Sounders 1

Beckham lifts Galaxy

Associated Press / November 8, 2010

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CARSON, Calif. — David Beckham set up goals by Edson Buddle with a corner kick and Omar Gonzalez with a free kick in an eight-minute span of the first half to lead the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders in Major League Soccer’s Western semifinal last night.

Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts made three saves for the Galaxy, who will play host to FC Dallas after winning the two-game series against Seattle, 3-1.

Buddle scored his second goal of the playoffs in the 19th minute. He escaped defender Tyrone Marshall’s grasp to head Beckham’s corner kick inside the left post and past Kasey Keller from 8 yards.

Gonzalez made it 2-0 in the 27th minute. After Beckham took a 32-yard free kick, Gonzalez dived to head the ball inside the left post from 7 yards.

Seattle’s Steve Zakuani ended the scoring with a 7-yard shot in the 86th minute, ending the Sounders’ goal drought at 386 minutes over two years.

Ricketts kept the Sounders from scoring in the 32d minute by deflecting Osvaldo Alonzo’s 29-yard line drive with both palms past Zakuani and Blaise Nkufo.

Then in the 67th minute, a sliding Ricketts used his chest to block Zakuani’s point-blank shot at the edge of the 6-yard goalkeeper’s crease.